Mr Cholmondeley-Warner wrote:Can I actually watch any channels live, or is it restricted to catch-up services??
It is primarily catch up services, but if the 'channel' you install offers you a live service then it can be live. There are thousands of channels available for the ROKU, but we just basically have it for the ITV, All4 and demand5 channels.
Mr Cholmondeley-Warner wrote:What is quality likely to be like - will there be lots of drop-outs like there are if I try and watch stuff on iPlayer (despite having 30MB broadband, or something of that order)?
Which broadband you got? 30MB virgin should be fine depending on how many people try and use it at the same time. We have the upto 100mb virgin and its fine. Are you going over a wireless network or wired, a that could have a bigger impact than broadband stream if for instance wireless a fair way away from the router... we took the opportunity to lay cat5 cables everywhere when we moved in 10 years ago and needed to re-wire. Mrs gannet was what do you want to do that for... now so glad we did.
Mr Cholmondeley-Warner wrote:Now you've introduced two more - is there an infinity of such offerings? Any resources for comparing them that you recommend?
Freeview Play has only just been released so there is little out there in terms of reviews, but Youview has been around for a few years with the Humax youview recorders taking most gongs
what hifi review. But these are more expensive than the ROKU type plays
More info on
Freeview Play and links to some reviews etc...
Mr Cholmondeley-Warner wrote:Would you really ditch a "real" TV service (cable / dish / aerial) in favour of this
I haven't, it supplements it (aerial in our case) in the case where we forget to set the PVR to record a show, or for watching in places other than the lounge.