First, before I step into the ring with Boxee vs Roku, I would like to give a brief introduction to the two contenders. Even though their names may sound like boxers from an exotic country, both the Boxee and the Roku are actually media boxes that allow you to view different types of internet content or media stored on your personal computer on your television instead of. on your computer screen. .

While previously you used to download the media first on your computer and then watch it, with these two you will generally stream the media (rather than download it) from a large selection of streaming media providers such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon, Vudu. , Pandora etc. You will subscribe to these content providers at a very nominal monthly subscription fee or pay per view. However, if you already have downloaded material on your computer’s hard drive; Both players can also play popular multimedia formats like MPEG video, MP3 audio, and JPEG photos from your hard drive.

The Boxee Vs Roku Comparison

I’ve presented the product-by-product facts on this Boxee vs Roku showdown, but before I jump right into this Boxee vs Roku comparison, let me first describe what the common features are in both products:

  • Both have HDMI ports
  • Both can play common media like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video
  • Both can connect wirelessly to your home network
  • They both have apps that can connect to Facebook to allow you to share your photos, videos, and links.
  • Both allow the use of expanded memory through their micro SD slot

What are Boxee’s characteristics and weaknesses in this Boxee vs Roku showdown?

  • Boxee can play Vudu and Vudu with their latest Hollywood blockbusters and the 5.1 channel sound is great, especially if you are a movie fanatic.
  • Netflix interface is better on Boxee than on Roku
  • Hulu Plus is not supported. This is apparently not due to technical limitations but to trade agreements that must be finalized by both parties.
  • A big advantage of Boxee over Roku is that it uses open standards like SAMBA, DLNA and has a QWERTY remote control
  • It’s very impressive, especially if you have a lot of local content.
  • You can play all other media on your network and movies from your PC hard drive
  • The user interface feels a lot sleeker and looks a lot more refined than the Roku’s.
  • It’s more polished and for everything it does, it does it pretty well.
  • It is more geared towards browsing and internet content and searches the internet for apps, channels, and content and displays them in one location.
  • An HDMI cable is included in the package
  • Although this is subject to personal preference, overall I felt that Boxee has a more attractive interface than Roku.
  • Comes with 2 USB ports
  • It is compatible with all channels like Vudu, Vevo, YouTube, etc.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Roku In The Boxee Vs Roku Face Off?

There are many different Ruku models and with each of these models you pay a different price for a different feature. However, the basic features are common across these different models and the comparisons described here are based on common Roku features.

  • Vudu is not supported. This is unfortunate, as Vudu has a huge collection of the latest Hollywood blockbusters.
  • The Netflix interface is not as nice as the Boxee
  • Hulu Plus is available
  • It is very reliable and provides a more television-like experience.
  • HD processing is great
  • It is based on a “channel” model. Out of the box, your “Channels” are set up for shows like YouTube, etc. and add more “Channels” for your own services
  • In general, its interface is less elegant than that of the Boxee.
  • Local media streaming on a large TV is slow as it tries to scale to fit the entire TV screen.
  • You can use a remote app to control the box from your smartphone
  • The Roku is designed with gaming in mind; so your controller has a directional pad and A / B buttons for gaming
  • HDMI cable is not provided
  • Currently, there is no good way to access music, photos and videos stored on a NAS (Network Area Storage) box, but you can connect a portable hard drive directly to it via the USB port.
  • Comes with 1 USB port

In general, both media boxes do what they do well. However, their focus is slightly on different things. If your need is primarily to stream Netflix movies and watch Hulu Plus TV shows, then Roku fits the bill. It is affordable and allows you to view network media like a champ.