Want to get rid of directv and go Apple tv, but

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. A Roku is like Apple TV except that you can't stream directly from your computer

It hooks up to your Internet connection either through wi-fi or Ethernet and then is hooked up to your TV like a DVD player.

It has a "Channel Store," which includes Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Video (you have to be a subscriber for the first two and have to pay on Amazon or be an Amazon Prime member), as well as a bunch of other channels, most of which you will not be interested in (fundie channels, channels in various Middle Eastern, African, and Indian languages). Some of the channels are free and show old movies and TV shows on which the copyright has expired. You can also stream Democracy Now and a channel that has news reports from around the world. New channels are being added all the time.

I watch Netflix and Hulu Plus almost exclusively.

I like the idea of streaming directly from the computer, though, and when my old analog TV finally dies, and I buy an HD set, I'll switch to Apple TV, because I'd probably watch my iTunes purchases more often if I could see them on a big screen.