Roku 3 Streaming Media Player

I have been a Roku user since they released their original device - circa 2008. At the time I purchased it as an alternative to cable. I have been using it as my primary streaming device both with and without a cable subscription up until this summer (2015) when Roku dropped their support of "Classic" roku devices. While Roku was generous enough to offer a small discount on their upgraded devices, it didn’t really seem like a consolation for the fact services were being dropped from a device that I bought primarily because it was a "one time cost" for access to channels like HBOgo and Hulu on my TV. I opted instead for the more economic option that would provide access to nearly all the same channels, the Chromecast. While, I do like this device and especially its pricetag, I realized after a few months that I much prefer a roku box and remote option to a device driven solely by my (often dead or dying) cellphone. While the Chromecast does provide nearly the same functionality as a roku, there is something about the roku interface and separate remote that make it feel more like a replacement for a cable plan than its understudy. Putting the Roku vs. Chromecast debates aside, I also had reservations about purchasing what appeared to be the same product that I already owned simply because the manufacturer decided to stop supporting their original product. None of the upgraded features seemed significant enough to me to warrant an additional $50-100 when my device still did its intended job. After letting my stubbornness on this win out for most of the summer, I am happy to say that the upgrades are in fact significant. The new roku interface itself is more intuitive and aesthetically pleasing. The main change is away from a scrolling-strip-style menu system to a tile-based one. Now up to nine channels can be displayed at once on the right side of the screen, while a persistent quick-navigation bar—for My Channels, Channel Store, Search, and Settings—is displayed on the left side of the screen. The responsiveness of the device is also greatly improved from the classic roku. Obviously technology eventually begins to decline after a certain amount of time, but my classic roku would occasionally have delays or struggle to find/keep internet connections even fresh out of the box. More recently my old roku began spontaneously restarting and encountering more and more "glitches" in streaming. This seemed to be more related to the device itself than internet speed, so it is likely a result of age and the fact that roku stopped pushing software updates to this model. Overall, I am not sure that I would have recommended an upgrade from any of the earlier versions of the Roku if not for the fact that services are being dropped from certain models. I am happy with this product overall and as compared to my older device, but they are not game changers from one version to the other. If you are completely new to Roku or still on the fence between all the streaming devices out there, this one does get my recommendation over Chromecast, game consoles, etc. It feels and looks very much like a smart TV rather than an ad-hoc streaming option.