Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Since the Fire TV stick was announced, I've heard a lot of people wonder if it was something worth picking up, essentially asking "what does this thing do that my TV doesn't do already?" The answer is going to be different for different people, but here's an easy way to think about it; Amazon Fire TV Stick is an excellent purchase if: -Your TV is not a "smart" TV. Meaning your TV or dvd player did not come pre-loaded with apps such as Netflix, Youtube, Pandora etc... -Your TV is a "smart" TV, but apps do not perform well. Some smart TVs have painful performance when streaming video, apps can be difficult to update, wifi connection can be spotty etc... -You want to access Youtube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Pandora, and other such apps on your TV -You are an Amazon Prime Member and want to access your Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Photo accounts -You want to participate in casual gaming on your television. -You want to listen to music on your TV -You want to have portability. In other words, Television access to the above services while you are travelling. (Amazon says the capability to use in hotels/dorms etc... with shared wifi that requires frequent password entry is coming soon) So, the bottom line is that the Fire TV Stick allows you to access your movies, music and photos as well as games and more via your television. If your TV already does these things well, or you're already doing them via other devices such as a game console, then this may not be worth your while. So, how easy is it to use? I'm telling you, you do not have to have an ounce of technological know how to have this thing up and running in a matter of minutes. There is a set of 5 very simple instructions for set-up that had me watching House of Cards less than 10 minutes after I unboxed it. It comes with a remote that includes just 7 buttons (your phone can also become a remote by adding an app, though this is not quite ready on the iPhone yet) and upon completion of connecting the stick, you are taken to a simple tutorial video that explains very well the use of the remote. There is also an optional voice control remote that can be separately purchased. It is in no way required to operate the Fire Stick. Sidenote: If you buy the Stick online, it comes preset to the account from which it is ordered. If this is not the account you plan to use (I needed to use my wife's because she has the prime account) it's very easy de-register and change accounts; took me less than a minute. I have accessed Prime Video and the picture and speed is fantastic. I've accessed Prime Music and the sound quality and speed are excellent and include nice background photos of artists and albums. Apps are easy to browse and download as are games. I was also able to "fling" to Netflix etc... from my Kindle Fire quite easily. I've been using a Chromecast since they came out, and I think the Fire TV Stick competes very well. I like the remote (which the Chromecast doesn't have), and I love the memory and speed. And if you are an Amazon Prime Member, this is hands down your best option. This would make a great gift, and is easy enough to use that you could give it with confidence to someone who has no technological savvy at all. If you're looking to get the most out of your HDTV, The Fire Stick is a fantastic way to go about it. I highly recommend it, and based on how smoothly everything went on what was probably a very busy day for Amazon servers, I'm confident that you'll have the same or an even better experience. Enjoy!