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Thanks! (actual Roku TV software engineer)

• scarface74 8y ago
  Well, don’t take that as an unqualified endorsement of Roku... The Roku software is top notch. It’s amazing what you all have done to optimize the software to run on really low end hardware. I’ve also heard good things about the SDK. I listened to a podcast interview of your CEO and he said that using low end hardware was a business decision to keep the cost down for the OEMs where the margins were already razor thin. That being said, I hate Roku’s business model. From the same interview he said that Roku isn’t in the hardware business or for that matter even in the software business. It’s business model is collecting user data to sell to advertising. Everything about that business model is irritating to me - from the remote with hard coded buttons to services that no one would choose - like CBS News and the defunct Rdio service to the ad that takes up half the screen. I have a 4K AppleTV connected to the one TV we use most frequently and I replaced the Roku stick I had in my home gym with another ATV 4K. The Roku business model is everything I hate about the consumer electronics business model outside of Apple. I like simple transactions - I give the company enough money to profitably stay in business and they give me stuff. That being said, if my other two non Roku TVs in my house ever need replacing, I would replace them with RokuTVs. The interface is great, the TCL Roku TVs are dirt cheap, the mobile apps are great and Roku has a history of keeping their software up to date. I couldn’t recommend that most people buy an $199 4K AppleTV box when you can buy a $399 55 inch Roku TV from Amazon.