Roku 2 XS

This review was provided by Kevin T, from Lifting Underground.

Recently I had the opportunity to review the latest Roku product – Roku 2 XS, an upgrade to their overall lineup. The Roku is a streaming online player, allowing you to watch favorite TV shows, movies, sporting events and music to your TV from services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Video On Demand (VOD), Pandora, iTunes, and more. There are several positives to the product, which will be reviewed first and a couple FYI’s which should be noted also.

Pros:

Set-up was easy and there are two ways to set up the box.

HDMI – New televisions come with the HDMI plug for High Definition 1080 screen viewing. Simply plug into the box and your television.
A/V Cable – 3.5mm – Clarity won’t be as good as the HDMI plug, but for the older televisions this would work pretty good. (A lot of the other competitors do not offer this option for connectivity)

Variety of channels – Netflix and Hulu are the streaming choices of most people nowadays, but there are 300 different channels to choose from. Below are just a few of the channels available (special note – some stations require a subscription, while others are free; it’s best to check your current plan to make sure you avoid unnecessary charges)

Viewing – I was able use my Netflix account to watch programming and was overall pleased with the interaction and the simplicity of the device. Huluplus is another nice feature, especially for streaming current television shows you either missed or watch again.
Size – The device can almost fit into your pocket – 4.8×4.8 inches. In areas where clutter can build up, this is a major plus.
WIFI or Ethernet plug in options – Depending on your system, you can run an Ethernet line into the back or use the WIFI option for streaming content.
Angry Birds – Yes, this game is appearing everywhere and the game can be played on the remote – similar to Wii. It takes a little getting used to, but it’ll take a few tries to get used to it. This comes with Roku 2 XS as a bonus feature and not an added feature with the other Roku 2 editions.
Several price levels – on the shot below, depending on your budget and requirements there are several pricing models with the amenities on each device.

Some items of special note:

The device requires you to visit Roku’s website to sign up and put your credit card info before you start to view and work with the products. Once the information is inputted, it will place a $1.00 charge onto your card for verification. I didn’t catch this at first and saw it on my on-line banking. After a several days, the charge dropped off – a better heads up would have been appreciated.
The channels below are the ones that are free with the initial purchase – all others may incurre an additional fee. The fee can either require a special PIN to avoid an accidental purchase “Child Purchase”.

Amazon Instant Video
Netlix
Hulu; Hulu Plus
Facebook
Flixster
Crackle - Uncensored and free video streaming (had to look, since I wasn’t familiar with the service)
Pandora – Online radio: Choose the type of music you want and stream for free
Disney
Angry Birds

Network Sharing – other devices allow for in-house networking or viewing files or videos from a computer within the home. ROKU doesn’t have this feature currently and it is a nice feature to have for viewing pictures, home videos or purchased content on another device.

Overall, the product is simple, easy to use and non-techie friendly – which is nice when you just want to preview or watch a show without a lot of fuss. You can see a complete list of Roku products here: http://www.roku.com/roku-products. Prices range from $59.99 to $99.99, depending on the player you choose. The Roku 2 XS, the one featured in this review, is available for $99.99 and is a wonderful, affordable holiday gift idea.