Elderly friends have asked me to set up Netflix streaming on their TV. The TV has some apps (HULU, etc) but not Netflix.

My understanding is that the way to get there from here is via either a Roku or Firestick adapter/interface/thingamajig.

They do not have and are not interested in Amazon Prime. They already have a Nexflix account for DVD's, I assume they'll have to add streaming to that.

So my question is this: Is there any reason to pick a Firestick over a Roku or vice versa?

They both work about the same. The big difference is the interface. I like the user interface on the Roku better as it seems easier to navigate through.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
They both work about the same. The big difference is the interface. I like the user interface on the Roku better as it seems easier to navigate through.

That's an important point as they are a bit techno-phobic and learning a new procedure will take time.

If it's a smart TV you may not need either.

If it can connect to the house internet using a wire or wireless. Download Netflix app to the TV and off you go.

The Amazon FIRE CUBE you can talk to and it will work without a remote most of the time. It need to be rebooted occasionally by unplugging.

We have gone Amazon all the way. I used to have a roku.

Firestick vs Roku is just which interface you like better.

The menus are different the steaming is equal.

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:
If it's a smart TV you may not need either.

If it can connect to the house internet using a wire or wireless. Download Netflix app to the TV and off you go.

This ^^^^^

Though, if it can run Netflix I'm surprised it wasn't in the included apps already.

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:
The Amazon FIRE CUBE you can talk to and it will work without a remote most of the time. It need to be rebooted occasionally by unplugging.

The Fire Cube hasn't received exactly rave reviews on the forums dedicated to such subjects. Better the new Fire Stick, IMO. (But have an HDMI extension cable handy to get it out from behind the RF hell of the back of the TV, if necessary. The included cable for that purpose isn't long enough.)

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:
We have gone Amazon all the way. I used to have a roku.

Amazon Fire TV and a couple cheap Android TV devices here. Used to have a Roku. Never did like it. When it wouldn't play with our new network tuner its fate was sealed.

Main complaint I hear about the FTVs is the adverts. I haven't found them objectionable on our FTVs Gen 2's.

Going to try an Apple TV next, I think.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:
If it's a smart TV you may not need either.

If it can connect to the house internet using a wire or wireless. Download Netflix app to the TV and off you go.

This ^^^^^

Though, if it can run Netflix I'm surprised it wasn't in the included apps already.

There is a caveat to this and it's the date of the TV. My TVs are 2015 so they'll run Hulu but not Hulu Live, and they'll play YouTube but not YouTube TV. Generally, a TV needs to be 2017 or newer to able to do Hulu Live and YouTube TV.

When I made the decision to cut the cord in August, the overwhelmingly recommended product was Roku Streaming Stick+ for 4k TV and streaming.

Roku, especially if they don't want a prime account.

The Roku remote has a button for Netflix so there is precisely zero navigation required to even get in to the system. Obviously once you are in Netflix you have to navigate to get what you want to watch, but that's pretty self explanatory.

And yes they will need to add streaming to their Netflix account.

The firestick doesn't have Youtube, Roku does. That's a big one for me, not sure if it is for them.

As said, if it's a smart TV, see if you can install Netflix on it and let them try it. I don't particularly like the apps my Samsung TV runs, and prefer Apple TV.

quote:

Originally posted by Palm:
Roku, especially if they don't want a prime account.

The Roku remote has a button for Netflix so there is precisely zero navigation required to even get in to the system. Obviously once you are in Netflix you have to navigate to get what you want to watch, but that's pretty self explanatory.

And yes they will need to add streaming to their Netflix account.

The remote may be just as important as the interface to your friends. Last I checked the Amazon remote had some unlabeled/cryptic buttons, and required more intuition to master. The Roku remote (as of the Roku 3) had more traditional buttons older folks might find easier to understand.

We have a Roku TV, Roku 3, Roku stick, and Roku stocks.

It seems to have the better system overall and I’ve tried them all.

No question, Roku. That coming from someone who has two Fire Sticks and a Chromecast as well.

And just because they have a smart TV, that wouldn't deter me from installing a new ROKU stick. Older TV's like my family room Vizio set are dog slow loading anything. The ROKU stick makes it ten times faster.

Well, that seems fairly clear then. Roku it is.

Thanks for all your input.

We have an early Roku. I hate every second of it. Never works right, needs restarted daily to work even a little. Sucks. That being said, we have another identical one in the bedroom that works fine. Just beware of inconsistencies.

I used a Roku 3 for quite awhile and it was fine for Netflix and Amazon, but the Direct TV Now app had issues, so I switched to Apple TV. The Direct TV Now app on ATV still has some issues, but not as bad. Regardless, the Roku was fine for Netflix, and I prefer it's remote to Apple TV's and the Firestick's.

Upstairs TV has firestick, main floor has Roku. Really no difference for us and how we use it.

quote:

Originally posted by Palm:
Roku, especially if they don't want a prime account.

That's the answer. The Fire Stick is designed for Amazon prime accounts. If you don't have Prime, and don't want it, then don't buy a Fire Stick.

The Roku is the better option here.

If these elderly friends are really close friends, and you have Prime, then you can login to a fire stick for them with your account information and let them use it. Just put a password on it so they cant purchase content without your permission. But they can watch the hundreds of thousands of shows of free content...

Most elderly folks I know could hardly bother to even use a Roku or Fire stick and are perfectly content watching the news.... with the devices being completely unused mostly.

FWIW, Target has the original Fire Stick on clearance—$20.

My wife has Prime, so for very little, we have access to all of Prime’s programming at no charge. Just watched Season 1, Episode 1 of Jack Ryan. Helluva deal, I think.

Have a 55" Roku TV in the living room and a 40" Roku TV in the bedroom. Roku is built into the TV no boxes or sticks to add. Couldn't be happier with it. I do have Amazon Prime and there are Prime channels for the Roku. You don't need a Firestick to enjoy Prime.

I recently chose the Firestick 4K, after reading lots of reviews.

One consideration that played into it was the ability to use the Firestick remote to control both my TV and the my soundbar.

The remote is simple and easy to use, and I like having only one remote for everything.

To be fair I am now a "cord cutter," and get my "regular," TV service through the PlayStation Vue app, although I'm considering a switch to the Spectrum app. So I don't have to worry about controlling a traditional "cable box."

quote:

Originally posted by ryan81986:
The firestick doesn't have Youtube, Roku does. That's a big one for me, not sure if it is for them.

Not exactly true.
I watch YouTube all the time on my Amazon devices.

Granted looks like you have chosen Roku and it is a good choice and not a wrong one.
I have both but much prefer Amazons interface. One certainly need not have Amazon for their streaming devices all the other apps load just fine.