Roku Delivers

Well it has been quite some time since I've posted on this blog.  Likely a couple years.

I am just writing to update my strategy.  I have recently (1 week ago) purchased a Roku 2 XS.  This little device is awesome.  Due to my living in a wifi crowded apartment building I decided to purchase the XS model to get the built in ethernet jack.  This will remove the wifi interference that can plague a device like this.  Unfortunately the roku does not come with 5GHz band wifi.

So far, I really like what this box has done for me.  I am able to watch feeds of BBC, Al Jazeera, CNBC Europe, Bloomberg to name a few as well HBO Go (requires hbo subscription on a participating cable system of which I have access to) and Netflix.

Now the device processes more slowly when compared to the Playstation 3 that I've been using to stream Netflix but the power consumption of the Roku is in the 2.5 watts per hour range.  The playstation runs 80 or more.  So although not a ton of savings, it will add up over time mitigating the cost of buying the 2nd unit for a similar function.

But this small complaint is definitely overcome by the ability to find and add all sorts of channels that I previously was unaware of.

To me, any cable cutting move that still wants to watch programming should include a Roku box.

Unintended Consequences of Cutting Cable TV

As I just wrote below today is our first full day without cable TV and already we are seeing some unintended consequences to our action.

There are no more commercials coming because we are watching DVDs and BlueRays and Netflix. I like this. No more feeling hungry in the evening when I'm watching TV and seeing commercials for a Whopper. I have to admit, I love the Whopper but for obvious reasons no longer eat them. This however doesn't stop me from craving them when I see it on TV. Well no more.

Another thing we didn't count on is the elimination of the clock in the bedroom from the DVR. We both were late getting out of bed this morning because we had no idea what time it was. Time for plan B and using a cell phone on a docking station.

And lastly, we expect the power bill to go down. The DVR was always an item we did not unplug or switch the power strip off in case we had something set to record. This is no longer the case as the PS3 gets power cut. No need for a DVR when you watch TV on demand only from Netflix. Same thing goes for the home phone charging stations. They are no longer needed and have been removed from the household power grid.