Need to buy a gift for that special senior in your life?
Perhaps technology isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when you start shopping for the seniors in your life.
Think again.
Seniors these days can be stealthy and sneaky when it comes to technology. Just the other day, my father casually let me know that one can check out books for their Kindle through the library – for free. I think I saw a glint of satisfaction in his eyes when he caught the look of surprise on my face.
I got my parents a Roku for Christmas this year. The Roku is a small box that will enable them to stream videos, movies, and music to their television through their wireless (Wi-Fi) network. It lets users access the streaming entertainment channels that they’ve signed up for (e.g., Netflix) right from their TV, using a remote.
I bought the Roku 2HD for $59.99 (free shipping) directly through the Roku site. The company sells several different models, ranging from the Roku LT, for $49.99, to the Roku 2 HS, for $99.99 (and a limited edition Roku 2 XS Angry Birds Edition). The Roku 2HD’s features, as described below, seem to be sufficient for what my parents needed:
- 350+ entertainment channels available, including hundreds of free movies;
- Works with virtually any TV;
- Built-in wireless;
- Plays high-definition video (720p); and
- Expandable memory slot plus Bluetooth.
The Roku website notes that the device “sets up in minutes with built-in wireless.” I offered to help my Dad install it to see if this statement was indeed true.
The installation was quick and painless. We took the Roku out of its box, plugged it into the wall, connected it to the television with the A/V cable, and turned the device on. Once we selected the appropriate source on the television, the Roku screen appeared and prompted us to set up a Roku account (you’ll need a credit card on hand, in case you want to charge anything in the future). My parents already have a Netflix account, so we went to its channel and selected a movie.
True to Roku’s promise, we were streaming in minutes.
Roku is perfect for people who already have subscriptions to Netflix. Customers can also sign up for other channels. Some of these channels are free (e.g., Crackle, which provides an extensive list of movies, or Pandora, which offers music). Others charge a monthly subscription or one-time usage fees. I didn’t get my parents the device so that they could incur a lot more monthly fees, so they will likely be content with the basics for now. Customers might also choose to buy a HDMI cable (Roku offers a six-foot cable for $9.99) for improved audio and video quality, but the A/V cable that comes in the box is adequate.
If you have some tech nerd seniors in your life, the Roku might be a great option. Although don’t be surprised if they already have one, in which case you might just “have” to keep it for yourself.
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