I have an Xbox One which can stream Plex easily. However, it takes 5 minutes from turn on to getting into the app - basically defeats the purpose  !

 

So I'm consider to get an Amazon Fire TV or a Google Chromecast to receive the stream from my unRAID server. I also heard of Roku but not sure what's the diff.

 

Key requirements are minimal cost + quick and easy.

Compatibility is a obviously a must but given transcoding is done on the server by plex, I wouldn't imagine this to be a problem.

 

So my questions are

[*]What are your opinions about these devices

[*]How much does it cost?

Device price I can search on Amazon but the app / running cost is confusing. Plex officially says chromecast / Amazon TV support is free, but then the app reviews say it's not (or worse, doesn't work).

 

 

i have a roku 2 and roku stick and  ROKU tv, all of them it takes several minutes for the app to start. As plex continues improve to me it seems that their app take longer and longer to display.

 

that's my mileage but it may vary.

I've always run Rokus.  I want my video streaming to be over a wired connection and stable/supportable.  Plex has been on Roku the longest and they always have a model that supports wired Ethernet, so I haven't looked too much at alternatives.  The latest Fire TV was getting better, though...

Roku 3 takes about 30 seconds if that to start the plex app. A minute or two to boot the device from off but I leave it on 24/7.

 

The roku 2 and stick takes a few minutes as ijuarez said.

I can't stand the FireTV interface personally and am going to sell my Fire Stick.

 

Here's what I'm going to replace it with.

Roku 3 takes about 30 seconds if that to start the plex app. A minute or two to boot the device from off but I leave it on 24/7.

 

The roku 2 and stick takes a few minutes as ijuarez said.

I heard of a Roku 2 2015 edition which is faster than the original Roku 2. Is that true?

 

I can't stand the FireTV interface personally and am going to sell my Fire Stick.

 

Here's what I'm going to replace it with.

What's wrong with the Fire Stick interface?

 

I heard of a Roku 2 2015 edition which is faster than the original Roku 2. Is that true?

 

 

 

The roku 2 I had was the pre 2015 roku 2. The 2015 roku appears to be the same processor as the 2015 roku 3 but the 3 has a few extras such as games. So it should be faster than the old roku 2

 

I can't stand the FireTV interface personally and am going to sell my Fire Stick.

 

Here's what I'm going to replace it with.

What's wrong with the Fire Stick interface?

 

I personally do not mind the Fire Stick interface... I HATED the Roku Plex interface (from about 3 years ago). So beauty is really in the eye of....

 

I have not tried it, but the Wetek Core will let you have Android TV interface, and you can also boot to OpenELEC on the SD card. Perhaps it is the best of both worlds. Supposedly it's fast and very up to date hardware.

 

 

 

I can't stand the FireTV interface personally and am going to sell my Fire Stick.

 

Here's what I'm going to replace it with.

What's wrong with the Fire Stick interface?

 

I personally do not mind the Fire Stick interface... I HATED the Roku Plex interface (from about 3 years ago). So beauty is really in the eye of....

 

I have not tried it, but the Wetek Core will let you have Android TV interface, and you can also boot to OpenELEC on the SD card. Perhaps it is the best of both worlds. Supposedly it's fast and very up to date hardware.

 

 

If the android TV OS will run on the Wetek Core then  use the Android TV Plex app instead of booting a separate OS for Plex.

 

I usually forgo the little boxes and plan to buy a tv that has a smart OS and Plex app. I use a Sony Android TV and love it.

The Fire Stick interface did not pass the test in terms of usability for my parents and I can see why.  The Plex app ui was fine but the interface to get into it is a little busy.  Much confusion ensuef with my Dad trying to purchase Amazon content instead of accessing Plex, luckily I predicted that and had put a PIN block on purchases. 

 

Hence switching to raspplex.

just to clout things, anyone using a chrome cast?

 

Hopefully my response is quite helpful, as I have tried all the above mentioned. My roku is now in the drawer as it was simply too slow cant remember what version it is 2XL I think.

 

Amazon Fire Stick (~£34.99) Personally think they are too slow and your wifi will be a bottleneck same goes for any other device that is wifi only.

 

Amazon Fire TV box (~£69.00/£79 for 4k) is my preferred choice, I press the home button, already connected to LAN, then simply go to PLEX app which is normally on my most recent right at the top. The APP is free as it with most SMART tvs, I do however prefer the version on my Samsung TV rather than the build for Amazon Fire.

 

My 2015 Panasonic Smart TV does not have Plex app

 

Chromecast (~£35 + app ~£2.50 ish)  is another cheap option but you will need to purchase the Plex APP for ios or android.

 

Raspberry Pi now this is the most interesting out the lot of you like to tinker but can end up costing a fair few bob after you add all the bits up. Although Kodi allows the use of CEC I don't think Rasplex does and then you will need to add keyboard or ir.

 

Personally I think Fire TV box for me is the best option, its faster than anything else I have tried. I have Plex, Kodi, Amazon Fire Video, Youtube, Netflix (if I choose to ever sign up) all with a single remote which just works.

 

Another option is the nVidia Shield which is highly reviwed but I havent tried.

I have two FireTVs and love them with Plex.  I used to use a Apple Mac Mini and I think the FireTV is much better, quick and easy to use.  These are the newer FireTV 4K ones.

 

As for the interface, yes it sucks but all you need to do to fix that is sideload AppStarter which use to be called Firestarter.

 

http://www.aftvnews.com/firestarter-relaunched-as-appstarter-but-without-home-button-detection-or-auto-launching-features/

 

https://github.com/sphinx02/AppStarter

 

this is what it will look like

 

Also get a SIDECLICK REMOTE https://www.sideclickremotes.com

Rasplex does have CEC support.

Rasplex does have CEC support.

 

Looks like I read it wrong, so it is disabled when IR added? I might give rasplex and stick it behind my panasonic tv, as long as CEC works it will save me from having another fire tv as all my pi's currently doing nothing.

we enjoy our roku 3 and the Plex app it runs.  leave the R3 powered on at all times, so i cannot comment on app start up times.   

I use fire tv And VLC to connect to mini-DLNA docker or MrMC to connect to TV-headend docker.

Have never used Plex. Looked into multiple devices [ nvidia shield  / Minix /  Wetek / Roku / fire tv ] befor going with fire tv.

Other apps [ Amazon prime /  Netfix ] played a large part in that choice.

just to clout things, anyone using a chrome cast?

 

I do, and run plex from chrome on my laptop which is always on the coffee table.  Works wonderfully.

Chromecast is cool, but I find myself using it mainly for youtube videos.

 

For instance we have guests over and I want to show them a funny clip, I find it on my phone and fling it to the chromecast.

 

For movies and other things I prefer having a remote for three reasons: 1) pressing the pause button on the physical remote is quicker than turning the screen on on the phone and then pressing the button in the widget 2) when you leave the room for any reason, you can pass the remote to anyone else but I wouldn't pass my phone 3) every once in a while the phone loses the "now playing" widget and if you try to reconnect to the chromecast, it stops the currently playing media and restarts the whole app (really pisses me off when that happens)

 

Chromecast does work with cec so once you start a stream you can pause and resume with the tv remote, but once you do that your phone loses the connection so you can only use the tv remote from that point on.

 

Chromecast is a superb idea, but the execution needs more work

 

EDIT: One thing I forgot is that if you subscribe to or use Google music, hook up the chromecast to your receiver because music playback is awesome. You can even use a fireplace video background as a Christmas theme :-)

I have fire devices that I use for Plex instead of my Chromecast.  Mainly for the remote that my kids and wife can use.

 

If I was starting fresh, I'd get a shield TV when on sale - I'm hoping for another good black Friday deal this year.

The Plex app is not good enough. I know this may not their fault due to Android limitations, but both on Fire Tv and Chromecast, too much stuff gets transcoded instead of direct play. Install Kodi on Fire Tv (its not hard for anyone on these forums who can configure unRaid), and you get a FAR nicer UI, tons of plugins, and most content now direct plays.

 

Between the 2, I prefer the Fire Tv/Stick due to its remote.