Apple TV
It's no secret I'm a bit of an Apple fanboy (ok, maybe more than just a bit of one) but they make a great product. We have an Apple TV and there is a lot to love about it, especially if you have a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or all of the above. The interface is great; simple and elegant. Airplay, which is the ability to send content from your Mac/iOS device to your TV can be quite useful. Most people have their music library in iTunes and Apple TV let's you play the library directly from your computer via home sharing and/or play the songs you've purchased from iTunes directly from the cloud. You can use Apple TV to stream both Netflix & Hulu+ and you can purchase and rent movies/shows through iTunes. I highly recommend the Apple TV as a streaming device, especially for those with iOS devices, but if you are cutting the cord, I don't think it would make a good choice for your primary streaming device. Sure, you can get Netflix, Hulu+, iTunes, and more, but it is lacking a lot of other content options provided by other devices. However, if you have the budget ($99), and have iOS devices, it is a nice addition to your media options. You can read more about Apple TV at Apple's website.Roku
While I don't think the interface on Roku can compete with Apple TV it has way more content. Not only does it have Netflix, Hulu+, Blockbuster, Vudu, and Amazon, it has over 700 more channels worth of content including multiple free movie channels. With all of that content, you are sure to find something to watch. We have a Roku HD in our bedroom and it does a great job of delivering a wide range of options, and from what I've seen, the interface on the new Roku 3 is much improved. Roku also gives you the ability ability to play songs and display photos from your smartphone on your TV. If you are doing over-the-air as part of your cord cutting strategy, I can't recommend Roku as your primary device, but if you have the budget ($99), it can make a great addition to your streaming options due to all the extra content it provides. If you don't care about over-the-air DVR functionality, then I believe this is your best option for streaming devices. You can read more about Roku at their website.Boxee TV
Boxee TV takes the basic streaming device and adds support for over-the-air channels. It supports a few different "apps" (services) including Netflix, Vudu (for on-demand movie rentals/purchases), YouTube, Vimo, MLB.tv and Pandora. You can't access Hulu+ content at this point, so if you plan to subscribe to that service, then this may not be the device for you. For $10 a month, you can add on the Boxee TV cloud DVR service and record unlimited over-the-air content and to watch on your TV or on your smartphone/tablet anywhere you have internet access. That is a great feature, but, unfortunately, the Cloud DVR service is only available in eight major metro areas right now. Given the lack of DVR availability and limited content options, the Boxee TV will not be a good choice for most people. However, I think they have a great concept and as content options and DVR service availability expand, this device may become a great option. You can read more and view market availability of the Cloud DVR Service at Boxee.TVTivo Premier
Like Boxee TV, the Tivo Premier takes a streaming device and adds a DVR and guide for over-the-air channels. Unfortunately, there is a monthly subscription fee of $15 which might cause you to shy away from this option. Unlike Boxee, the DVR is built into the device on a local hard drive and can store up to 75 hours of HD content. That should be more than enough for your over-the-air content. While the Tivo Premier doesn't support anywhere near the amount of content that the Roku does, it supports the streaming services you are likely to care about most. Netflix & Hulu+ content are available for those who subscribe to those services. On demand content may be purchased and/or rented from providers like Amazon and Blockbuster. YouTube is supported, as are multiple music streaming services. Tivo has integrated search that allows you find content and understand your options for viewing it (over-the-air channels, subscription services, or on-demand rental/purchase). I have decided this is the primary streaming device we will be going with. For us, an over-the-air DVR was an important consideration and the ability to do an integrated search should help us easily locate content we are interested in. We already have a Roku in our bedroom, but may find spending an additional $99 to add one to the family room will complement the great options the Tivo Premier provides. You can read more about the Tivo Premier at the Tivo webiste.Other Options
Some other common options for streaming include gaming systems (such as Wii, PlayStation, and Xbox), Google TV, as well as many blu-ray players and Smart TVs. I wouldn't recommend these options for cord cutters as they have limited content options, but if you already have one, it certainly would be a budget friendly approach.
In the end, it really depends on your needs as to which of these devices would be best for you. At this point, my recommendation is Roku for those who don't require over-the-air DVR functionality and Tivo Premier for those who do. Of course, if your budget allows, adding a secondary device can increase your content options. Once we "cut the cord" and have been cable/satellite free for a bit, I'll write a follow-up blog to let you know what I think of the experience.
September 2013 Update: Boxee is no longer an available option and I've written a follow-up post that discusses my experience with TiVo and some new over-the-air DVR options. You can read more here
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