Roku 3 vs. Amazon Fire TV
The Best Streaming TV Solution
By: James Oppenheim | Created: 2014-11-18 08:44:34 | (Updated: 0000-00-00 00:00:00)
There is no "best" streaming media device, as each has its own strengths and weaknesses. That said, you can't go wrong with the Roku 3 or AmazonTv. Both of these devices work similiarly. Setup is easy. You either plug them into an Ethernet cable connected to your router or follow the on-screen instructions to hook them up wirelessly.
Once on-line you simply choose the "channels" you want to stream. Though there is some free content, the real utility of these boxes is their ability to bring on demand and subscription services like HuluPlus, AmazonPrime, and Netflix to your TV. Given a fast enough router (we use an ASUS AC router and have no speed issues), and a fast enough internet connection and you will watch the Internet with hardly a glitch. Both of these models operated about equally in terms of performance.
They distinguish themselves one from the other in features and UI. As you might expect, the Amazon Fire TV tends to put Amazon content first. Though you can tune into most other services through the use of apps, the push is always toward the Amazon product. The Amazon Fire TV has a remote that handles voice recognition extremely well, and for those who hate to type on a strange TV keyboard, it will be a blessing. On the other hand, the Roku 3 comes with a remote that can accept a pair of headsets so that you can listen to your programming from the device without bothering anyone else in the room. This is a marriage-saving use of technology: when one of us wants to watch TV in bed and the other is trying to sleep, we just plug in the supplied earbuds. Because Roku is not a content provider it treats your media choices more democratically than the Amazon TV, so if you tend to use many different services it may be a better choice for you.
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