I have an opportunity to get a new Apple TV streamer for a decent price and my Roku3 is getting up there in age, though we do love it and it works great.

We were given an older iMac I am going to refurbish and make into our house computer and both my wife and I use iPhones. I'm wondering if the Apple TV would work better for us?

Has anyone gone from Roku TO Apple TV?

The newest Roku ultimate is astoundingly better than my old roku.

Might want a newer Roku device.

I bought the top-end one and has addressed all the issues I had with the older unit.

Nope.
I have a Roku 3 and an LT that work just fine. Though the LT is getting a little long in the tooth and will likely be replaced soon as most of the apps have stopped updating for the LT. I also have an Amazon FireTV (1st gen) that I like better than the Rokus but my understanding is the newer ones aren’t as good.
Just got an XBOX One that will do all my 4K streaming.

My bro has an AppleTV and I see no need for it. The Rokus do what it does and more minus Airplay and iTunes but I don’t use those.

Love my Apple TV box, never get that stupid buffering pauses during streaming of movies..

I have both- have to say there are good things about both the Apple TV and the Roku. I like the aspect of being to use Apple devices with the TV pretty seamlessly. The Roku has been very easy to use, although some of the app "providers" require you to log back into their system on some schedule (monthly?) using the access code.

In my case I would probably swing towards a new Apple TV based on using/sharing the other devices-

Does your imac support Airplay? Most all Macbook Pros after 2010 support it, but I'm not sure about which iMacs.

I'm interested in this topic as well. I'm currently on a Roku 3. It does fine for Amazon and Netflix, but DirectTV Now at times buffers a lot. I know it's not my internet connection, so I figure it's the app, or DirectTV's systems.

quote:

Originally posted by rusbro:
I'm interested in this topic as well. I'm currently on a Roku 3. It does fine for Amazon and Netflix, but DirectTV Now at times buffers a lot. I know it's not my internet connection, so I figure it's the app, or DirectTV's systems.

I have Sony vue and it buffers a little, also have roku 3. If I stream showtime or Netflix it never buffers. I’m either going to upgrade to the new Apple TV or roku ultimate and going back and forth between the 2 since I have a lot of apple devices

I actually use both on both of our TV’s. Redundant, I know.. but I use Apple TV for all our movie purchases and iTunes related stuff. Roku for the things it’s good for too. Kind of a toss up if I had to choose. If youre entrenched in the Apple world, well then that’s the way I’d go. If your Roku is just old, then I’d try the newest/fastest one of those.

quote:

Originally posted by Rinehart:
although some of the app "providers" require you to log back into their system on some schedule (monthly?) using the access code.

I have seen that firsthand on my Roku 3. I assumed it happened everytime the app was updated or as a security measure to make sure that the logged in user was still credentialed to use the app. Meaning they still had a valid cable subscription. I have an iphone and have stuck with Roku because it works so well, and there seem to be more apps out there for it. One big negative for me was not having access to my itunes video library on the Roku, but now with Movies Anywhere that issue has been resolved. Personally I see no need to switch from Roku to Apple TV. I dont even really see a need to replace my Roku anytime soon, as it is still working like a champ.

I use Apple TV and had a Roku XS (I think) several years ago. No regrets. I do most of my watching on Amazon or Netflix so I don't really miss the other apps Roku had and of course iTunes can get me current season stuff.

iPhone/iPad/Mac work seamlessly with the Atv. You can run stuff right on your phone and display it on the tv, or simply use the phone as a remote.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
iPhone/iPad/Mac work seamlessly with the Atv. You can run stuff right on your phone and display it on the tv, or simply use the phone as a remote.

Roku has an app that you can use your iPhone or tablet as a remote for it as well. Can’t airplay though.

We swapped a few years ago and have been super happy with the Apple TV. We have iphones, ipads and two macbook pros and the whole experience is so convenient (airplay, itunes store purchases, shared media library, etc.)

If you are even partially in the Apple echo sphere it really is the best way to go. We never get buffering or wonky app logins.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
iPhone/iPad/Mac work seamlessly with the Atv. You can run stuff right on your phone and display it on the tv, or simply use the phone as a remote.

Roku has an app that you can use your iPhone or tablet as a remote for it as well. Can’t airplay though.

Yup. I use AirPlay an awful lot, especially to watch MotoGP races. The ATV allowed me to finally watch them on the TV instead of a computer. I have 3 of them. Two of them I got for free with points. The third I paid $79. I will upgrade to 4k versions the next time they release an updated box.

I have a love/hate relationship with our Roku 3. It works well enough, but...

• The UI during streaming sucks (FF/Rew)
  
• The wireless remote is "ok," but IR remotes don't work that well and have no "*" key, which limits usability
  
• The DLNA app is pretty poor
  
• They won't natively stream anything except HLS (HTTP Live Streaming). So, for example: Can't use it with the Silicon Dust HD HomeRun devices
  

I'd consider Apple TV, save the things are so bloody expensive.

From what I'm reading at amazon, most are very happy with Apple TV. Buffering doesn't seem to be an issue.

I'll be picking one up this weekend. Having my Roku 3 keep buffering DirectTV Now last night during The Americans, which is almost to the series finale, was extremely maddening. I missed big chunks of key conversations.

In researching the Apple TV vs the Roku, it seems like in all reviews I'm seeing the Roku always wins and while the Roku seems to get updates and new models all the time, the ATV seems pretty stagnant like Apple really isn't interested in it any longer?

quote:

Can't use it with the Silicon Dust HD HomeRun devices

This is why I use Apple TV

quote:

Originally posted by esdunbar:

quote:

Can't use it with the Silicon Dust HD HomeRun devices

This is why I use Apple TV

Not to haul this thread off course, but do you get DD/DTS from the Apple TV device from the HDHR?

Ok, so I'm just starting to research Apple TV devices. Probably going to go with 3rd Gen, because they can be had relatively inexpensively and they still had a digital audio output.

So I'm wondering: "Can I use my controls-everything-under-the-Sun programmable/learning remote?" Do a search and discover...

Your remote doesn't have to know or learn the Apple TV. The Apple TV can be taught whatever set of IR commands you want! Say you've got a remote that's got a "Sat" mode you don't use. You can teach the Apple TV to use that mode's set of IR commands.

How cool is that?

If Apple TV can get the past PBS programs my wife wants, and OAN, I think our Roku 3 may be going away soon.

Update

Well, that got killed right quick No OAN on Apple TV Gen. 3. Gen. 4 has no digital audio output and is too expensive.

The search for an acceptable streaming device continues.