Manage updates with the Download AppRoku XDS (2100X)
Manufacturer: Roku Part number: 2100X
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Thanks to its wide range of content offerings--including Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, and Pandora--the Roku XDS is the best all-around streaming media box you can get for less than $100.
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Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 05/14/2013 |
CNET editors' review
Roku XDS (2100X) price range: $299.99
- Reviewed by: John Falcone and David Carnoy
- Reviewed on: 12/03/2010
- Released on: 10/01/2010
The good: Affordable sub-$100 price tag; ultrasmall factor; streams more than a hundred Internet video and audio services, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon, Pandora, Major League Baseball and NHL games, and Mediafly podcasts; built-in dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi; works with all TVs, including non-HD models; upgradable firmware allows for periodic update of content and features; good HD video quality (on channels and programming that support it).
The bad: Most worthwhile services require monthly or per-use fees; some game consoles and ever-cheaper Blu-ray players offer many of the same Internet-viewing options plus disc playback; currently offers no official support for streaming from USB drives and home network sources; video quality varies from channel to channel, depending upon provider and source material; setup and content queues usually require at least some PC interaction; yet another box under the TV; currently offers no access to PC- and USB-based media; lacks official support for YouTube.
The bottom line: Thanks to its wide range of content offerings--including Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, and Pandora--the Roku XDS is the best all-around streaming media box you can get for less than $100.
User reviews
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Makes streaming and content management so easy
by wlsmith on November 11, 2010
Pros: Loading the queue at my computer on Amazon and Netflix is easy. Finding that content and navigating through it on Roku is slick and intuitive. The XDS model takes advantage of the higher "n standard" wifi, so shows very seldom pause for buffering.
Cons: I must periodically re-enter the activation code for Netflix. Don't know if this is a Netflix or a Roku issue. Because I occasionally want content not available through Roku, I still have a computer attached to my TV. Hulu for Roku might change that.
Summary: When I wax eloquent on the wonders of Roku, I no doubt sound like an early adopter of microwaves back in the 70s. A few years from now, people will ...
Summary: When I wax eloquent on the wonders of Roku, I no doubt sound like an early adopter of microwaves back in the 70s. A few years from now, people will say, "What was the big deal about that?" For now, however, Roku takes my TV watching enjoyment to a whole new level. No more flipping endlessly through 200 channels to find nothing to watch or to realize the one thing I wanted to see was on an hour ago. I haven't subscribed to cable for years now. Roku IS my cable.
8 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Love this little box
by jshop on December 12, 2010
Pros: Does Netflix really well. Easy to add USB-connected playback and even playing videos from networked drives. Plugs into the ol' SD tv with included compositie cable. Easy to set up.
Cons: The main downer really is that Netflix instant streaming catalog is somewhat limited. Playing videos from drives works okay but it's a bit clunky to fast forward--no chapter recognition either.
Summary: Although the USB feature hasn't been official enabled, it's so easy to turn it on. In fact, Roku has the instructions right on their support page. Within a ...
Summary: Although the USB feature hasn't been official enabled, it's so easy to turn it on. In fact, Roku has the instructions right on their support page. Within a day I was playing back movies off a USB stick and even from a networked hard drive. These features are enabled via private channels and instructions for this are all over the web. I was surprised by how easy it was to do.
5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best Bang for the Buck or Bye Bye Comcast
by man4pnw on December 3, 2010
Pros: Low cost. Simple Plug and play. Great quality video and sound.
Cons: Would have liked component video. Looking forward to additional stream providers
Summary: I was paying comcast $120.00 a month for cable that I rarely watched. Looked at all the options from wifi blu-ray players, PSP3, X-Box 360, to upgrading laptop. Blu-ray ...
Summary: I was paying comcast $120.00 a month for cable that I rarely watched. Looked at all the options from wifi blu-ray players, PSP3, X-Box 360, to upgrading laptop. Blu-ray with a wifi streamer looked attractive. When we consideredg the limited Blu-ray content. We are also resistance to another new technological investment that requires building a new video library.
Roku was the easiest and most cost effective solution. We bought one for each of our 3 TVs and get the local stations out of the air with a digital to analog converters.
I just hooked to XDS to my ceiling mounted HD DLP projector this week. The HD video quality is there. The picture is crisp and sound is 5.1 surround. For our purposes the Roku XDS does the job. Now with Netflix and Hulu Plus we watch what we want to watch when we want to watch it. All trends indicate that the future is streaming programing.
We would like to see the NFL enter the stream market like MLB and NHL.
Instead of paying Comcast, my local cable company, $120.00 a month, I'm paying Netflix and HuluPlus a total of $17.97 which is a significant savings with a kid about to start college.7 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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great for the price
by jpdusky on November 10, 2010
Pros: its easy to setup. we mostly use netflix and pandora and it works great for the price.
Cons: its a bit slower to respond if we are doing any uploading on our pc at the same time.
Summary: overall, its very easy to set up. Has some useful apps and our kids love it, but can be a bit slow to respond when you're also using the ...
Summary: overall, its very easy to set up. Has some useful apps and our kids love it, but can be a bit slow to respond when you're also using the pc heavily.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Love this box
by lmnocean on May 19, 2011
Pros: You can get YouTube (it's a private channel --which opens up a lot of additional possibilities) and Hulu Plus is now available. You can easily cut the cable/sattelite bill and not miss anything.
Cons: Can't think of anything
Summary: Well worth the initial investment, you'll cover the cost in savings from you cable bill.
Summary: Well worth the initial investment, you'll cover the cost in savings from you cable bill.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I love this little box
by deenie on December 30, 2010
Pros: Easy setup, tons of channels (most is free), great picture and sound.
Cons: I had to reconnect the wireless a couple times even though I have a good to excellent signal report.
All channels are not immediately available, takes a day to get them all.
.Summary: This is a really great product. There are sooo many channels available. Even with the composite output the picture on my 20 inch CRT Toshiba SD TV was really sharp. ...
Summary: This is a really great product. There are sooo many channels available. Even with the composite output the picture on my 20 inch CRT Toshiba SD TV was really sharp. Google "Roku private channels" to find even more content. I got this box, the XDS, on Amazon.com for $80. Do order an HDMI cable too as you will be overjoyed with the results on a big HD flat screen. You will need a fast internet for the HD, at least 5Mb/s. Our area (15 miles east of St Louis) just got upgraded and so there is more than ample bandwidth at 20Mb/s. I put in a new wireless router and that helped immensely too. My old one was a wireless G. That alone doubled by download speed.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Inexpensive way to get digital media on the big screen
by ryahrens1 on November 12, 2010
Pros: I have recently dropped cable in favor of an antenna (22 1080i local FREE broadcasts :), and needed to get netflix (as well as other digital media) to my TV's.
Cons: Many channels, I've never heard of, have no interest in :)
Summary: If you need to stream netflix or Hulu to another tv in your house and don't want to pay for yet ANOTHER cable box, this is an inexpensive way ...
Summary: If you need to stream netflix or Hulu to another tv in your house and don't want to pay for yet ANOTHER cable box, this is an inexpensive way to get it on your tv (in 1080P no less).
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great alternative to cable. Saved $70/Month!!
by brasky05 on October 1, 2010
Pros: Content Selection, 1080p, No hassle set up, Easy to understand interface.
Cons: Setting up takes a little effort, Lack of parental controls
Summary: I have been in the market for a set top box. The most common argument that I have heard is why would someone need a set top box if they ...
Summary: I have been in the market for a set top box. The most common argument that I have heard is why would someone need a set top box if they have Xbox, Playstation etc... My simple answer to that is its not easy enough. I am a tech junkie and I totally understand how the gaming consoles work, but my wife doesn't. She needs something that is easy to use and the Roku box is built for just this purpose. My primary considerations when shopping for a set top box were an easy to use interface and a product that had a great deal of good content. Going into my selection period the 2 set top boxes I was considering were the Apple TV and the Boxee Box. After much research the old man on the street (Roku) won out. Dont get me wrong, I love Apple. I own an iphone, a macbook, and and Ipad. For me Apple TV has a better interface than the Roku, but AppleTV simply does not have the content selection that Roku does and Roku's interface is not bad by any means. Also I dont care bout having my itunes on my tv, thats what I have an iphone for. I stated to my peers that the wildcard in my decision making process would be which company would be able to access Hulu. Since Roku announced their deal with Hulu my decision was easy. I now have all content that my wife and I used to watch with cable and more for a much cheaper price! I think I made a good decision for our household, although I haven't seen what Boxee Box has to offer. Ultimately I decided against Boxee for the same reason I decided against Apple TV, lack of content. Boxee taken a neutral stance with no comments about partnerships with Hulu and Netflix which concerns me. The only cons I can speak of to this point is the setup. For me, it wasnt too much trouble, but I can see how it could be an issue. There is a lot of going back and forth between the computer and the Roku box, however once you are done adding the channels you want, you are done. No more setup. I love this box, it is great for doign exactly what I need it to do. If you want to lose the cable bill get Hulu+, get Netflix, and use the Roku to watch it on the big screen.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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BEWARE: NON STANDARD component cable needed for XDS
by tomscot2 on November 27, 2010
Pros: I have been unable to connect to my system so I can't tell you.
Cons: Roku uses nonstandard component video cable (3.5 mm plug to 3 RCA connectors). Calble is not available from any cable supplier on the internet or elsewhere and Roku is out of stock.
Summary: I have a Roku Netflix player with a standard component video RCA outputs (RGB) that I connect to a component video switch that connects all of my video components to ...
Summary: I have a Roku Netflix player with a standard component video RCA outputs (RGB) that I connect to a component video switch that connects all of my video components to my HD TV through an in-wall component video cable. I use the optical audio out to connect to my home theater audio system.
I purchased the XDS because it has both wireless n and a component output. When I opened the box I was surprised to find that the component output is nonstandard (I admit that I did not read the fine print). It has 3.5 mm jack output, not the normal 3 RCA jacks. Consequently I am unable to simply unplug my old player and plug in the new one. When I went online to find a cable I discovered that no one seems to make this cable. To make matters worse ROKU is out of stock of the cable.
What I don't understand is why they kept the RCA composite video output (Y) with the RCA stereo audio outputs (R/W) when there are lots of inexpensive cables on the market that use the 3.5 mm jacks to connect camcorders and ipods to TVs. Component video equals HDMI video in quality when using quality cabling. Composite video is clearly inferior, especially for a box that is supposed to have 1080p out. BAD ENGINEERING is the only answer.
I use my current Roku to watch Netflix videos several times a week. I also use it to listen to Pandora on my stereo because we live in an area with terrible FM reception. I just want my new box to work with my new wireless n router to take advantage of HD video streams. My new XDS is waiting patiently. In the meantime I am sharing my experience with all, which I promised Roku customer service that I would do.8 out of 16 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best media player deal on the market
by saunupe1911 on December 3, 2010
Pros: Tons of content and channels
People fail to realize the PlayOn private channel allows you to stream PC files over to a ROKU box. It even plays MKVs and AVI files. Best of all, its easy to setup.Cons: I wish more content was free and integrated by default. The addition of PlayOn puts the box on a whole new pedestal and its not even reflected in CNET's review
Summary: Get a Roku XDS box. You won't be disappointed. My wife loves it and it especially came in handy for the family during the holidays.
Summary: Get a Roku XDS box. You won't be disappointed. My wife loves it and it especially came in handy for the family during the holidays.
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Roku
- Part number: 2100X
- Description: Roku is a little box that allows you to instantly stream tons of entertainment on your TV. Watch movies and TV shows from Netflix, Hulu Plus or Amazon VOD, listen to music on Pandora, catch the latest ballgame, and more - it's all available whenever you want it. With dual-band wireless, the XDS delivers the best quality video virtually anywhere in your home.
General
- Type of product Digital multimedia receiver
- Dimensions (WxDxH) 4.9 in x 1.2 in x 4.9 in
- Weight 7.2 oz
Network & Internet
- Functionality Internet video playback,
Internet radio playback - Internet Streaming Services Pandora ,
Netflix ,
Facebook Connectors
- Optical Digital Output Yes
Audio System
- Output Mode Stereo
- Digital Audio Format Dolby Digital output
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Supported Digital Audio Standards MP3
- Supported Digital Video Standards MPEG-4
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Composite video output ( RCA phono ) - Rear,
1 x Audio line-out ( RCA phono x 2 ) - Rear,
1 x ( RJ-45 ) - Rear,
1 x - Rear,
1 x Component video output - Rear,
1 x SPDIF output - Rear,
1 x ( 4 pin USB Type A ) - Side Remote Control
- Type Remote control
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included Video / audio cable
Power
- Type External
- Power Consumption Operational 6 Watt
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Product series
-
Manufacturer: Roku
Specs: Digital multimedia receiver,
Internet video playback,
Internet radio playback,
Stereo,
Remote control -
Manufacturer: Roku
Specs: Digital multimedia receiver,
Internet video playback,
Internet radio playback,
Stereo,
Remote control -
Manufacturer: Roku
Specs: Digital multimedia receiver,
Internet video playback,
Internet radio playback,
Stereo,
Dolby Digital output,
Remote control
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Roku products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Roku
- Address:
399 Sherman Ave., Ste. 12, Palo Alto, CA 94306 - Phone: 1-888-600-7658
- Fax: 650-321-9648
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