Prizefight (week of December 07)
Apple TV vs. Roku XDS
Apple TV vs. Roku XDS
The fall of 2010 has seen the release of some high-profile Internet video boxes, including the Boxee Box and Google TV. But the updated Apple TV and Roku XDS have attracted the most attention, if only because of their ultra-affordable $99 price tags.
Both units are little black boxes that let users watch Netflix on their TVs. But the similarities end there. The Apple TV is very much part of the "iUniverse"--with support for iTunes streaming, iTunes rentals, and AirPlay (sharing content from Apple handhelds like the iPad, iPod Touch, and iPad). Roku, meanwhile, offers more than 100 "channels" of online content, including Amazon, Hulu Plus, and Pandora.
So without further ado, here is your Prizefight between the Apple TV (2010 edition) and Roku XDS.
Let's keep it a clean fight, fellas. Ding, ding!
Editors' note: The Prizefight scoring system is as follows: Each judge rates on a zero-to-five-point scale. At the end of each round, we will take an average of the three judges' scores. The final score for each will be an average of all five rounds.
Round 1: Design
Design and looks count, so here's where we examine the look, size, feel, and sex appeal of the devices.| player | David | John | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Apple TV (fall 2010) | 5When Apple does a black box, it's not just a black box. The remote is a work of art--but I kind of wish it was black instead of silver. | 5Apple TV is also just a black box, but it's even smaller and sleeker. The remote is also more slick than the Roku's. | 5Apple can even make a streaming box look sexy, and it's the smallest component you'll have near your TV. Plus, that's one sleek remote. | 5 |
 Roku XDS (2100X) | 4It's not as sexy as the Apple TV, but it's smaller and more attractive than the previous Roku Player. I like the tag. | 4The Roku is just a tiny black box. I just wish it didn't have the purple fabric tag hanging off the box and the remote. | 4The Roku's design is great; it's a little bigger, but this is the second smallest component you can find in your home theater. That fabric tag really belongs on a T-shirt. | 4 |
Round 2: Interface and navigation
These are both little black boxes on the outside. But how do the onscreen interfaces compare? And how easy (or difficult) to navigate are those interfaces?| player | David | John | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple TV (fall 2010) | 5The Apple TV interface exudes the usual Apple simplicity and smooth operation. | 5The Apple TV interface is typical Apple: minimalist, intuitive, and pleasing to the eyes. | 5The clean and elegant interface you expect from Apple is here with smooth animations to match, and it's easy to navigate. | 5 |
| Roku XDS (2100X) | 4Roku's interface is just fine. I remember it being more basic--at least it's been slickened up a bit. | 3Roku's menu design is strictly utilitarian. It gets the job done, but it won't win any beauty contests. | 4Roku's interface is as simple as you can get. It's not ugly, but it's not pretty, either. I like having the ability to customize services that I want to use. | 3.7 |
Round 3: Features (hardware and connectivity)
Looks matter, but it's what's inside--and the back panel--that really counts. Which box packs the most features and connectivity options into its tiny frame?| player | David | John | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple TV (fall 2010) | 3The Apple TV is perhaps too minimalist here: it only works with HDMI-equipped TVs, and it tops out at 720p. | 3Apple TV does allow you to stream iTunes content from PCs, which Roku can't do. It's a little limited by HDMI-only connection and 720p max output. | 3The Apple TV keeps it simple--really simple. HDMI up to 720p with Wi-Fi and Ethernet. | 3 |
| Roku XDS (2100X) | 5Built-in HDMI (up to 1080p), Wi-Fi (which version depends on which model you buy), and a component video option. There's a USB port for potentially streaming content off a thumbdrive or external hard drive in the future. | 5The Roku XDS can connect to any TV, including non-HD models. And it can output 1080p video if needed. | 5Every video connection under the sun, support for HDMI up to 1080p, and a USB port for future storage expansion options. Dual-band Wi-Fi is also an added bonus on the XDS. | 5 |
Round 4: Content
This is where the rubber meets the road. Hardware and design are all fine and good, but what can you actually watch--and listen to--on these boxes?| player | David | John | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple TV (fall 2010) | 3Beyond Netflix, Apple has YouTube and can stream content from your PC. Presumably, Apple will offer more expanded options in the future. | 3With only iTunes, Netflix, and YouTube, the Apple TV is thin on non-Apple content. | 3Apple TV brings Netflix and YouTube as its key services. Beyond that, it's slim pickings. If you live in the Apple ecosystem, you can stream content from PCs using iTunes with Home Sharing. AirPlay is here, but you can't watch every piece of media content from an iOS device on the big screen. | 3 |
| Roku XDS (2100X) | 5Though Roku offers a bunch of channels, the real advantage over Apple TV is the inclusion of Pandora, Amazon VOD, Hulu Plus, as well as sports options like MLB TV (except Pandora, all of these will cost you). | 5Roku offers more than 100 channels, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon VOD, and Pandora--none of which is available on Apple TV. | 5Content is king for a media device, and Roku brings the top services like Netflix, Amazon On Demand, Hulu Plus, and Pandora. Sports fans can truly use this to "cut the cord" to cable with MLB and NHL on-demand offerings that you can't find on Apple TV at the moment. | 5 |
Round 5: Value
Both the Apple TV and the Roku XDS cost $99. Which delivers the best bang for the buck?| player | David | John | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple TV (fall 2010) | 4We wish it had an App Store like the iPad, but for $99, there's a lot to like here. | 4It's thin on content, but the iTunes and AirPlay integration will hook those with iPads and iPhones. | 4For $99, if you live in the Apple world, you'll enjoy the experience--even if it's very limited. But you're missing out on so much content, which is one of the main points of getting a streaming box. | 4 |
| Roku XDS (2100X) | 5Already very good, Roku continues to evolve to "great" thanks to a string of ongoing firmware updates. | 5Roku delivers the best video- and audio-streaming services you can find on the Web today--all for less than $100. | 5Bottom line: this is the best group of mainstream media services you can find in one box for $99. | 5 |
The winner is...
Winner
Roku XDS (2100X) (4.5 pts)
Runner-Up
Apple TV (fall 2010) (4 pts)
In the end, it was a close fight. Apple TV had the edge on design and interface, whereas Roku offered better connectivity and--most importantly--much more content.
As we close out 2010, we're giving the edge to the Roku XDS. But--as always--the Apple TV may only be a firmware update away from taking back the crown. We have a feeling these two contenders may be returning to the ring very soon.
As we close out 2010, we're giving the edge to the Roku XDS. But--as always--the Apple TV may only be a firmware update away from taking back the crown. We have a feeling these two contenders may be returning to the ring very soon.
but as usual this is typical Apple designed fantastic, one of if not the best UI's but when it comes to nuts and bolts of the product there are better products to be had and normally at better prices.
Just wait until VUDU is available
The PlayOn private channel add a whole new dimension for the ROKU boxes. It allows you to stream literally any kind of media file flawlessly to your home network. It puts the ROKU on a whole new pedestal and its only getting better.
One thing I wish CNET would ad is the ability to add private channels. The ROKU is essentially limitless in its capabilities because developers are constantly adding new channels. The ROKU box does things a jail-broken Apple TV can only dream of.
Bottom line, the ROKU XDS is hands down the media player on the market and probably will be for a while. People can argue that Boxee Box will be king once it gets Netflix and Hulu, but it's also $100 more and will still be playing catch up with content.
The PlayOn private channel add a whole new dimension for the ROKU boxes. It allows you to stream literally any kind of media file flawlessly to your home network. It puts the ROKU on a whole new pedestal and its only getting better.
One thing I wish CNET would ad is the ability to add private channels. The ROKU is essentially limitless in its capabilities because developers are constantly adding new channels. The ROKU box does things a jail-broken Apple TV can only dream of.
Bottom line, the ROKU XDS is hands down the media player on the market and probably will be for a while. People can argue that Boxee Box will be king once it gets Netflix and Hulu, but it's also $100 more and will still be playing catch up with content.
'Design' carries the same weight as 'Content' and every other category, and it definitely shouldn't.
If the Roku was butt-ugly and was outscored 5-1 in design, but won the content category 5-1, it would break even.
That should not be.
The interface category was also a wash, in my opinion. No reviewer said the Roku interface was difficult to navigate or caused problems. In fact, the reviewers said, "It's just fine.", "It gets the job done.", and "...is as simple as you can get." If the interface makes operating the device difficult, then knock off some points. Don't knock off point just because you think the other interface looks nicer. Most users don't spend hours looking at the interface, they just want to watch the content.
In the categories that really matter to me - connectivity, content, and value - the Roku beats the Apple TV by 5 to 3.33.
If we start looking at Apple as a producer of appliances, a more accurate picture might emerge. Most non-technical people don't want to be bothered with all the options. They want plug it in and start up the thing. That's what Apple excels at.
Every time someone predicts the 'death of' this or that wildly successful Apple product, I get a chuckle. Do people really NOT understand WHY Apple is so successful?
"jlockwood" is right people don't want 1,000 options they want what works and they want it in a simple easy to use interface. That's how the ipod dominated the mp3 player segment by seamlessly intergrating the software (itunes) with the hardware (ipod).
I have an apple TV and love how in my living room I can stream from itunes music and music video playlist I've created on my computer. Or when I edited together a quick home video or photo show on my computer it is always in the right formate and can show up in my living room. it's not just about the TV shows or movies.
Buddy - http://wordspicturesweb.com/?p=1349
What I want to do is "streaM" movies and such which I rent or purchase from the iTunes store to the new TV (what ever it may be, most likely LED HDTV). So all this discussion is interesting. But for owners of laptops ( like me) what advantage does a ROKU Or APPLE TV give over simply connecting my MBPRo via correct cable to an HDMI port on the new TV?
Can someone explain why spend even the $99 for one of these devices if I own a very portable MacBook Pro?