Roku 2 XS

Brain-dead simple to set up ; Broad range of apps and services ; First Roku streamer to support games

No DLNA support, so you can't stream content you own over your network ; Supports a very limited collection of audio and video file formats and codecs ; Can't mount disc images

The Roku 2 XS is a fabulous media streamer—for casual users, at least.

Easy to set up and use ; Supports Netflix and iPlayer

Can be sluggish to use ; No digital optical-out ; YouTube not supported ; Poor streaming and USB playback features

I can't help feeling that the Roku XS is caught between two stools, mainly due to the pricing. At £99, the XS is the same price as the Apple TV and more expensive than the WDTV Live, and both of those are far superior products.

Easy set up; access to iPlayer and Netflix

Limited content; limited format support; no playback of media stored on your PC

The Roku 2XS is easy to use, but needs more quality content or a price drop

Easy to set-up ; Simple navigation ; Great version of Angry Birds

No coax or optical digital audio out ; Lacks DLNA support ; Poor USB media playback ; Lacks some key services such as YouTube and Lovefilm

Easy to use ; Access to tons of free and paid Web content ; Enhanced Bluetooth remote has motion sensor

No 5GHz Wi-Fi support ; No support for streaming media via home network

The petite Roku 2 XS offers casual gaming support via an enhanced, Bluetooth enabled remote, but its ability to stream a ton of free and paid Web content to your HDTV is still its strongest selling point.

Netflix channel now has 1080p streaming, 5.1 surround and subtitles — if your bandwidth supports it. Big, beautiful HD content on some channels like Vimeo

Lengthy setup time. Forget about playing your MKV and other high-bitrate files, unless you convert. RF Bluetooth motion controller feature is limited to playing games, provides no navigation or UI functionality

Easy to set up and use; motion-sensitive gaming remote; plenty of free content

Local file support could be more straightforward; not much mainstream content

Roku 2 XS: Performance Like some similarly priced devices, the Roku’s picture is perfectly watchable – but, again, it falls down slightly in the sound-quality stakes.

affordable media player with access to BBC iPlayer and Sky NOW

no LoveFilm or other UK broadcasters, requires credit card details during installation

Its graphical interface may not be as slick as that of the AppleTV, and the need to provide credit card details before you can watch anything is annoying. However, the Roku 2 XS works well and does provide a slightly wider range of services than the...

A mixed bag of a product that works well in some ways, poorly in others and is just a little too expensive