Mr_Gadget Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 Hi, I want to get my dad a streaming box mainly for Netflix as he has an old Panasonic Plasma. I think it may be possible to install Netflix on it but would probably be clunky to use. I am after the cheapest box that is easy to use and am leaning towards the Fetch Mini. Are issues using this without plugging in the antenna as he has a blu-ray recorder for recording purposes? Any other options? Apple TV is over budget and Telstra TV is slow after it was updated otherwise I would have gone for it (I have one of these). Thanks.
Mobe1969 Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 Maybe a cheap chromecast? Something that doesn't even need a separate power supply?
betty boop Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 My dad uses a fetch mighty. If you want simplicity I’d use the fetch for live tv and recording as well as that is primarily its role. 1
Mr_Gadget Posted January 23, 2019 Author Posted January 23, 2019 13 minutes ago, Mobe1969 said: Maybe a cheap chromecast? Something that doesn't even need a separate power supply? Good suggestion but my parents don't have smartphones.
Mr_Gadget Posted January 23, 2019 Author Posted January 23, 2019 7 minutes ago, betty boop said: My dad uses a fetch mighty. If you want simplicity I’d use the fetch for live tv and recording as well as that is primarily its role. Fetch mighty is well over budget. Looking to spend around $150
zippi Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 most bluray players these days support a NETFLIX app. Some of them would be below $100 mark but it would mean 1. adding a b-ray player on top of an already existing one (b-ray rec) and also 2. needing to be aware b-ray players in my experience tend to phase out the support for some (usually most popular) of their apps rather quickly (2-3 years time) as an incentive to upgrade. 1
blybo Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Mr_Gadget said: Apple TV is over budget $179 gets you a refurbished 1. Apple TV is hard to beat as the GUI is so easy to use for those who did not grow up in the digital age. Both my parents are 80 and have no problems with the Apple TV, and 95% of their use of it is Netflix, or the on demand commercial TV station apps. https://www.apple.com/au/shop/product/FGY52X/A/Refurbished-Apple-TV-4th-generation-32GB Edited January 23, 2019 by blybo 3
betty boop Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 Even an older 2nd hand appletv ? Won’t be 4K but would still do Netflix they go for $50 there abouts the havjabie ones a tad more
Mr_Gadget Posted January 23, 2019 Author Posted January 23, 2019 It's for his birthday so not keen on used models. Perhaps a refurb as listed above. I read that the ATV remote is very sensitive and might not be good for older people???
betty boop Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 19 minutes ago, Mr_Gadget said: It's for his birthday so not keen on used models. Perhaps a refurb as listed above. I read that the ATV remote is very sensitive and might not be good for older people??? There are some quirks !! are they on Optus because quite possibly can get a fetch mini/mighty for free avs buy them something else for the birthday. The atv remote can be quirky .. eg have to press to wake and such. Get used to. But my dad by preference prefers the all in one of the fetch mighty really took to Netflix since getting. Also not sure he records that much as most things accessible via fetch are now on catch-up tv which fetch has apps for note the atv has the catch-up apps too, but perhaps my dad just likes one box approach than switching between boxes and all. Don’t know
Decky Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 Can you buy Roku in Oz? That is way better than any Apple TV.
Mr_Gadget Posted January 23, 2019 Author Posted January 23, 2019 They are with Optus but on an old NBN plan. To get the Fetch Mighty they'd have to go on the $90 plan (which also includes calls) or the $70 plan and and the $5 call pack and Fetch mini for an extra $5 (so $80/month). They currently spend about $65/month on internet (calls included in plan but slow NBN and low quota).
Mr_Gadget Posted January 23, 2019 Author Posted January 23, 2019 That's for a 24 month contract. Not sure if they would still need to pay $5 per month for the Fetch Mini after that (on the $70 plan)
SteveC Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 2 hours ago, Decky said: Can you buy Roku in Oz? That is way better than any Apple TV. The Telstra tv is a Roku rebranded with some software tweaks.
Mr_Gadget Posted January 23, 2019 Author Posted January 23, 2019 3 hours ago, SteveC said: The Telstra tv is a Roku rebranded with some software tweaks. And it's very slow now since the software was updated.
Decky Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 8 hours ago, Mr_Gadget said: And it's very slow now since the software was updated. You can blame Telstra for that. The original Roku is absolutely seamless in all aspects. You can also blame slow internet speeds in Oz - that more than anything else.
Mr_Gadget Posted January 23, 2019 Author Posted January 23, 2019 27 minutes ago, Decky said: You can blame Telstra for that. The original Roku is absolutely seamless in all aspects. You can also blame slow internet speeds in Oz - that more than anything else. The UI is dreadfully slow compared to how it originally was Also, I'm finding that when watching something on iView (ABC Kids), I have to go back to Home to watch another episode. I just hangs if you try and watch next episode. Not sure if this is a testra tv issue or ABC iView issue.
Decky Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 iView apps were generally crap on almost all platforms I used them.
Mobe1969 Posted January 24, 2019 Posted January 24, 2019 Yeah the appletv remote is god awful and unintuitive. They had to go and do it there way with standard functions just not there or no direct way of getting to 1
blybo Posted January 24, 2019 Posted January 24, 2019 I actually don't mind the apple remote. I do turn the sensitivity right down though. It would be better if shaped so you intuitively know you have it the right way up, or if button labels were glow in the dark. In my HT and livingroom, our harmony remotes replace day to day remote use, I only really get it out to use the siri functions.
DavBiggs Posted February 10, 2019 Posted February 10, 2019 Amazon firestick could be an option, $69 and comes with a real remote control. I have also loaded Kodi onto it and it works a treat. Everyone in the house is able to use it. It's WiFi only, though if this doesn't cut it and you need hard wired (like I did), you can get a Ugreen network adapter for $25.
Mr_Gadget Posted February 10, 2019 Author Posted February 10, 2019 Gave my dad the Fetch mini last night, was in rush so only had to time to set it up and very quickly showed him to switch to right input and launch Netflix. I will have to write down some basic instructions for him until he gets used to it. 1
SLIMaxPower Posted March 21, 2019 Posted March 21, 2019 apple tv all the way... turn down the sensitivity on the remote..
Mr_Gadget Posted March 21, 2019 Author Posted March 21, 2019 Just an update, my dad seems to be coping well with the Fetch Mini with a little help from my written instructions
Recommended Posts