Anyone buy and use a Chromecast?

[the86d]

Just trying to see if the $35 devices are worth it for Netflix... maybe Hulu too.
(Other than paying UNDER about 1/2 of what AppleTV costs, so you could get 2... )

[billofrights]

I'm sure a lot of people will recommend getting some android box that will do "so much more" but for $35, it works really well if that's all you want to do with it.

[atc4usmc]

I looked at it but it's very limited. Personally I would go with the Gbox for under a hundred bucks. Way more streaming capabilities. I have an apple TV and am looking at getting a Gbox also. I have wrote off the chromecast in favor of the Gbox.

Hope this helps!

[gabe123]

Think of chromecast as a HDMI cable that run from your phone to your Tv, or computer, letting you watch movies from certain apps and you can minimize that app and do something else on your phone while still watch movie on tv. Thats it. Im sure apple tv can do more but cost more and limited to apple eco system. Android box can do a lot out of the box too, but then u will run into app compabilities, updates, and all other things in the near future, as in 2-3 years.
Chromecast is cheap and limited, but it is very good at what it does. I love it. I can teach my mother to use it in 2 min. Thats very impressive.

[d4v0s]

I be my chromecast, I can stream Netflix and YouTube easily, just need to use chrome browser.

Also allows you to stream web pages, pics and video easily.

Your laptop and phone don't even need to be on once the chromecast is streaming, I close mine and then boot it back up when I need to change content.

The part I like is sitting around with 5 friends all streaming things one after the other with no setup or problems. Also I enjoy playing on calguns or whatever in another tab while I'm streaming.

For $35 its a pretty good deal, this replaced a remote desktop app on my phone and plugging my laptop in across the room.

Also neat that you can take it with you and do presentations on projectors, tvs with relative ease.

[tommyboy619]

Use it all the time to "cast" youtube videos (cartoons) for the kids. It's a lot more convenient than firing up the HTPC. Very convenient to cast from your phone too. Best $35 I've spent for my family's entertainment needs.

[ElvenSoul]

Minix Neo X7
Tronsmart 908 ll

These are the top performers

[gemoose23]

Chromecast just added some more sources for casting last month.

Vevo for music videos we use constantly, besides the normal hulu and youtube.

Supported Apps & Sites currently include:
YouTube app and YouTube.com
Netflix app and Netflix.com
Google Play Movies & TV
Google Play Music
Hulu Plus
Pandora
HBOGo
Vevo
Red Bull.TV
Songza
Plex
PostTV
Viki
RealPlayer Cloud
aVia
Revision3
BeyondPod

[smashycrashy]

I use mine all the time, I'd say its perfect with apps on an android phone and "pretty good" with apple based apps. If Amazon supported it it would fit all my needs very nicely but they are coming out with a competing product and so have held out support.

[Fifty226]

its really good if you like to watch netflix or hulu without plugging your laptop to your T.V then lost the function of your laptop. I use it often to watch movies and play with my phone at the same time. its counter productive but...
it doesnt kill your battery either, so that is another plus.

[sirgiles]

I use it to watch youtube on my old tv in the garage that doesn't come with pre-installed software. it's ok.

[devious21]

If you mainly just want it for Netflix and Youtube, it's great. I like mine. Does a decent job.

That said, I don't use it in my living room. I have a HTPC in there (mac mini). I wouldn't use the chromecast instead and it's not fair to compare the two.

But for $35, it's a great little device to have, especially if you have few requirements (netflix/youtube/hulu).

[redrex]

You can pick up a used Xbox 360 for $50 on CL. It will put netflix, amazon, youtube and a whole bunch more on your tv with zero hassles. You can also use it as an HTPC, streaming pics and videos from your desktop's shared folders.

Oh and it plays games ;-)

Seriously, it's pretty much the best solution out there. Ok, the PS3 does all of that as well AND plays blue ray movies.

I have the chromecast and it's a fun toy but if you want to "cast" all those sources you have to have another device up and running, tablet, pc, phone something. With the xbox you just run that. I've been looking for that killer htpc solution for years and I finally just admitted that the game consoles do it as good as any other solution.

[mavericksun]

You can pick up a used Xbox 360 for $50 on CL. It will put netflix, amazon, youtube and a whole bunch more on your tv with zero hassles. You can also use it as an HTPC, streaming pics and videos from your desktop's shared folders.

Oh and it plays games ;-)

Seriously, it's pretty much the best solution out there. Ok, the PS3 does all of that as well AND plays blue ray movies.

I have the chromecast and it's a fun toy but if you want to "cast" all those sources you have to have another device up and running, tablet, pc, phone something. With the xbox you just run that. I've been looking for that killer htpc solution for years and I finally just admitted that the game consoles do it as good as any other solution.

Xbox is the worst solution. You have to pay the xbox live gold monthly fee to just use netflix and other services. At least with the PS3, there is no need for that.

chromecast is a pretty good device with limited services. If you just need the netflix, youtube, and hulu services then you are good. The tablet, pc, or phone is pretty much your remote for the system. No need for extra plugs. If you happen to plug in the chromecast, then you can use your "remote" to turn on the TV and start playing a video. If it fits into the services you have, then it's a good buy.

[the86d]

Xbox is the worst solution. You have to pay the xbox live gold monthly fee to just use netflix and other services. At least with the PS3, there is no need for that.

chromecast is a pretty good device with limited services. If you just need the netflix, youtube, and hulu services then you are good. The tablet, pc, or phone is pretty much your remote for the system. No need for extra plugs. If you happen to plug in the chromecast, then you can use your "remote" to turn on the TV and start playing a video. If it fits into the services you have, then it's a good buy.

I AM in complete agreement with you. My son has a gold account, due to getting good grades again, but having worked on PCs and other hardware with internal fans and heatsink combos, I would prefer my streaming devices to be fan-free for longevity-reasons (less chance of a hardware-failure).

I do have a HTPC MK808B that will play Netflix, but the WiFi connection is terrible, and it has other reliability-problems that it didn't have when I first dropped a ROM on it. I have tried to reflash it a few times, to no avail.