Why The Roku 1 Over The Other Models:
I originally purchased a Roku 3 several months ago. I had problems with the motion control remote losing sync plus its movements didn't feel as fluid as a Wii remote. The Roku 3 would periodically reboot in the middle of watching something. I also wasn't happy with the audio quality from the headphone jack on the remote and I thought that the interface when connecting a portable drive to the Roku 3 was horrid. So I returned it and purchased a Roku LT instead. The LT may be bare bones but it worked perfectly and I was extremely happy with one exception, it didn't have 1080p video. Along comes the Roku 1. It is the perfect fit for me; it is simple but what it does it does well. Being only $10 more than a LT I would recommend anyone looking at the LT to spend a little more and get the Roku 1.
Set-Up:
If your looking to purchase your first Roku rest assured that set-up is easy. Simply plug the Roku 1 into your HDTV or receiver via a HDMI cable. A HDMI cable isn't provided so if you don't have an extra one you will need to purchase one. Then you connect the power cord to the Roku. There is a set-up menu that walks you through the process which pretty much consists of connecting the Roku to your wireless network. The final step is linking your Roku to your Roku account on your computer. You will need to create an account online and provide a credit card number like you do with an iTunes account. Like an iTunes account the credit card information is provided for any channel purchases that may be made in the future.
1000+ Channels:
You can select your favorite channels of the 1000+ available to show up on your Roku "My Channels" screen either through your account on a computer, directly through the Roku 1, or with the Roku phone app. To be honest most of the channels are what I'd consider "community access" programming. A fair amount of what's left over are subscription or paid channels, like Hulu Plus, Netflix, and Blockbuster On Demand, or channels which require a TV cable subscription like Fox Now and HBO Go. There is a large enough selection to start with that everyone will find some free gems in the 1000+ channels. For me it's PBS, PBS Kids, Smithsonian, and NASA. While many of the main channels that people seem to watch on the Roku, like Hulu Plus and Netflix, are standard on many devices, one of big reasons I looked at the Roku initially was to unify my channel/app programming onto one device. I had to turn the Blu-Ray player on to watch Amazon Instant Video, my WD TV Live for Hulu, and my computer for PBS or MLB. Now with the Roku I just turn on one device and can use my iPhone as a remote control.
Remote:
The remote with the Roku 1 is updated from previous Roku remotes. The Roku 1 remote adds 4 colored buttons toward the bottom that provide instant access to favorite channels. Normally if you want to switch to a different channel you have to hit the home button, go to "My Channels", and then select a new channel. 95% of the time I'm watching 1 of my 4 channels anyway so this is a nice update that saves time and steps.
Summary:
The Roku 1 is a compact, nicely designed media streamer. It may not have all the bells and whistles that its bigger siblings have but what it does it does well. The main features it does have are those that count the most; 1000+ channels, built in wireless, and 1080p video playback. At $60, the Roku 1 is very affordable and at that price it would be hard not to get your money's worth out of it.
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