Roku's SoundBridge vs. Apple's AirPort Express
By Peter Rojas 
posted Jun 21st 2004 2:19PM
posted Jun 21st 2004 2:19PM
Om Malik kicked it with Roku Labs founder and CEO Anthony Wood to see if he was worried about Apple's new AirPort Express and whether it posed a direct threat to their line of SoundBridge wireless audio adapters. You know he's not gonna say anything other than that he thinks they'll do just fine, but he does make the point that the SoundBridge has a few advantages over the AirPort Express, like a display and the ability to use it with a remote control. Unfortunately for him, Roku is also charging more money for the SoundBridge (which comes in $200 and $500 flavors) and doesn't have anything close to Apple's marketing muscle, so the best he can really hope for is that Apple "educates" the market to the wonders of wireless streaming.
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As the purchaser of an Airport Express, I'm actually considering picking up the Roku Soundbridge as well. The key flaw with the Airport for my purposes is that iTunes can only output to either the Airport or the local machine. Roku uses the shared music function which means one can play different tunes in the office and the living room off the same iTunes server--a much better solution. Wish I would have known that before purchasing the Airport.
I moved to the Roku Soundbridge. Heads and tails above anything from Apple. Streaming stinks, Roku rules. See the blog for details.
Also think SoundBridge is heads and tails above Airport Express (AE). Roku needs to do some education, though, at least on their website to explain the comparative advantages.
For me the deciding factor was the lack of display and interface in AE. This means you have to control your playback from your computer, which should be in your office, not your living room where your stereo is. Also, because you have to physically plug your stereo into AE, your wireless router has to be in the same room as your stereo. This puts your router in your living room when it should be in your office. On top of that, if you want to use AE's ability to allow wireless printing, your printer has to be plugged into AE as well, putting your printer in the living room instead of the office. How dumb is all that of Apple??
In contrast, the SoundBridge (SB) seems perfectly designed for all the uses and needs I have regarding music. Besides the display and interface it provides you *at* your stereo, which is the biggest advantage compared to AE, SB also lets you stream internet radio stations directly, without needing your computer on at all. Plus, you can also control the unit from your computer (with the latest Roku software).
Can I use the ROKU soundbridge as a router?
Help...I bought an imac g5 last year with airport express. The airport base unit did not reliably work because it was too far from my computer, so I returned the unit. I recently bought a roku, but can't seem to get the airport broadcast to work or communicate with the roku, and I don't remember any passwords for base units ect...Also, the configure option does not work when I am in the airport utility function. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.