Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsThe end is nigh!
Reviewed in Canada on August 11, 2023
I got a Roku because I needed an occasional break from satellite tv. If I hear that BK commercial one more time, I will lose my s#*t!
The pros: It was real easy to set up and it offers a convenient way to have many different streaming services in one place. The voice remote is cool and the mobile app is pretty nifty.
THE CONS
- The Roku remote controls the power and volume settings for your tv. There are ways to try and get around that but it doesn't work for everyone, and it's a real pain to even try.
- Since installation, I can no longer watch satellite tv. They are in different USB ports and should not affect each other but when I switch to the satellite input, the guide is still there but all my channels say I must have a subscription. I read somewhere that Roku can sometimes interfere with other signals in order to keep its bandwidth optimal.
- The Roku never sleeps. It only goes in power saving mode after 20 minutes. And since it's now one with my tv, it causes the screen to go black as well. If you're in the middle of a video game, you're screwed. I have not yet found the setting to disable this. I found the only way to kill it is by unplugging it. The remote still controls your tv though.
- The basic settings are available from the home screen but there are what Roku calls "secret pages" for more advanced settings. These are only accessible by inputting a sequence of commands from the remote. Kind of like old Nintendo games. Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start kind of stuff. You might be able to find the other codes somewhere in the Temple of Doom.
- There is a Roku support page dedicated to giving you driving you nuts by constantly redirecting to the same FAQ's or the Roku community. There you can browse through thousands of topics yet somehow not find one specific to your issue. When trying to find more direct support, Roku may determine that your device is not eligible for support. There are, oddly enough, the coordinates for the CEO and other company directors on the web page.
Conclusion: It looks like Roku is trying to make itself the center of my tv universe and it's all a little too invasive/insidious for me. It gives off huge Skynet vibes and I expect Judgement Day is just around the corner. Also, this has pushed me to the point where I will either accept Roku as my new overloard or throw it in the fire before it gets to the children.
I apologize for the long review but I felt it was my duty to warn others against this extremely iritating/terrifying experience.