Apple TV and SEC Network

Chromecast. $65 cheaper and does WatchESPN and Netflix

If he has DirectTV don't bother. No watchESPN.

Assholes are the lonely major provider not available.

FYI.

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Chromecast.

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splain this to me, can I use it stand-alone without a phone or computer involved?

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If he has DirectTV don't bother. No watchESPN.

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Yeah this really pisses me off

I have the Chromecast. It's not that simple.

You list the ideal conditions with a 100% available Chromecast and anyone that has a Chromecast knows that it is not reliable.

What is he going to do when the Chromecast loses it's configuration and he needs to run the config tool again to get it working?

What does he do when the wifi signal isn't strong enough for the Chromecast to connect to the source you cast to it and it flips out?

What is he going to do when the apps on the phone mysteriously stops allowing him to cast? This happens enough to make Chromecast not the ideal solution for his dad.

Trust me when I say get an AppleTv or a Roku for his dad. They are much more stable a platform.

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anyone that has a Chromecast knows that it is not reliable

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It really should come with a disclaimer that basically the whole product is in beta. The whole thing acts as a receiver and offers zero native UI for apps. If there was a version that came with a remote and the ability to browse something like Netflix (or any given app), I would recommend it over the current offering in a heartbeat.


As it is, however, I would shy away from it to a Roku 2xs, 2, 3, or AppleTV. Roku is probably the most friendly of the bunch. AppleTV does allow any remote to be programmed to it, but I think the WiDi remote on the Roku is tops (doesn't even need LOS). I find the Roku remote app and AppleTV app to be equal in function. However, in such a house that there are multiple iTunes accounts or lack of apple mobile devices, the Roku remote app becomes far superior for its connectivity options and ease of use. At my parents place, I bought my old man an AppleTV. It sits in a common room. They've actually broken two Apple remotes (we will call it user error and not count that as a negative). There are probably 10 Apple devices that frequently try to command the AppleTV. From them, there are 8 unique iTunes accounts. Using airplay to send Netflix, YouTube, etc works fine across accounts. When the AppleTV refuses to work and needs a manual update to be downloaded (much more frequently than I hoped for, given Apple's normal track record of "uptime" so to speak), settings need to be changed, or you want to actually scroll through the apps, you need the exact device that has Home Sharing turned on and connected to the AppleTV. Which is a very difficult thing to change without a working physical remote (even with a physical remote, I find the mobile app superior 2/2 the ability to type rather than scroll through characters with a cursor). It's also impossible to pair multiple accounts for this function. I will disclaim that this may hold zero relative value to your situation. If it does, however, be forewarned and know that with a Roku, there's only need for 1 account, people aren't going to be tied to extra ones from previous devices simply due to the nature of the two types of accounts we are discussing.


All that aside, I prefer the Roku 2xs (even with the Bluetooth remote) to the AppleTV. I own and frequently use both. For anyone who wants the least amount of trouble, they're both vastly superior to the Chromecast (which I also own and use on a regular basis).

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What is he going to do when the Chromecast loses it's configuration and he needs to run the config tool again to get it working?

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never happened to me.

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What does he do when the wifi signal isn't strong enough for the Chromecast to connect to the source you cast to it and it flips out?

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wait..so he's going to take his phone next door while its broadcasting the game & drop it off?

fwiw, chromecast launches a separate app and will keep running even if your phone crashes. happens to me all the time with netflix if i accidently turn my phone off while its playing

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What is he going to do when the apps on the phone mysteriously stops allowing him to cast? This happens enough to make Chromecast not the ideal solution for his dad.

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legit concern

Wound up just getting him the apple tv since it is easy to use. My dad isn't the most tech savvy and refers to the cloud as "the sky" quite frequently.

Thanks for the input.