I have been looking forward to this product since May when Google announced Google TV and was so excited when I received it Friday. I played with it all weekend and I found it a very promising device.
Installation
As for the installation, it was very easy. The connection were very simple. Connect the HDMI cable from your set top box output to the input HDMI of the Revue and the HDMI output to the HDMI input of your television. I used a wired Ethernet connection and had to plug an Ethernet cable into the Revue. That was it. I ran into one glitch, but it turned out to be a problem my router was having (other devices on my network were having connection issues too). The step by step on screen instructions were simple and easy to follow. If you wanted details of the step you were performing, help was only a click away.
Product Quality
The Logitech Revue is a very sharp looking device. I wish they had gone with a matte finish instead of the glossy piano black finish because of fingerprints. The design is elegant and functional.
Picture quality
The picture quality was no different from what I normally get from Roku player or XBox 360 Netflix player. To those people who complained about picture quality, I have noticed with both my Roku player and XBox 360 that picture quality varies. It has more to do with the quality of your Internet connection at that time than the device.
Services
Currently there is the requisite Netflix and Amazon On Demand. The Netflix player is functional. It allows you to see your instant queue. This is similar to the XBox 360 Netflix application when it first came out. I would imagine that Netflix or Google will update this with software updates to allow you more control over Netflix. The Amazon on Demand is basically just a browser link and not a separate application. I watched Iron Man 2 and it played beautifully. Again, I would imagine that Amazon or Google will create legitimate application. I also looked at Crackle and CNET. They both played back wonderfully. Crackle is a cool and free service. It inserts a single commercial every 12 minutes. This is a fixed time so sometimes it breaks for commercial in the middle of a sentence.
General Perceptions
I really think the power of Google TV is the integration of the television and the web. The ability to run a search on your television is awesome while watching the your program. In the past, you would have to go to your computer to do this. Now you can do it all on one device. I love this integrated approach with the device. In the past, you would have to used your TV remote to switch the video source and then with another remote operate your device (i.e. XBox 360). Having everything integrated together is the true key to this device. Also, integrating your separate devices into one is great. It is a bit different getting used to using a keyboard, but being able to control my television, my set top box, and my A/V receiver with one device was outstanding. The one thing I wish the keyboard would do is recognize a double click on the touch pad as a left mouse click like it does on notebook and netbook computers. Also, I downloaded the Logitech Harmony Android app and it works very well too. I was impressed at the integration of this app with the device.
I am not sure what people were expecting from this device. Could it be more? Yes, but it has that capability. After all, it is basically a computer. With time, more services and apps will be added. Does that stop you from getting more today? No, whatever you can do from the Chrome browser on your computer, you can do with Google TV. If all you were looking for was a streaming device, then you should get a Roku player which is a great device for what it was meant to do and cheaper. If you are looking for something more, get Google TV. It is basically a computer integrated with your television. I found it clever that the Revue uses the same video source your set top box. This allows Google TV to hijack your television signal and integrate with it. Other devices use a separate video source which requires you to switch the source to use it.
I love Google TV for what it can do. I can't browse my e-mail with my Roku player, but I can with Google TV. I can't do an internet search with my Roku player, but I can with Google TV. I can't do an integrated search of my television guide and the Internet from my computer, but I can with Google TV.
I had a friend mine at my house who is not tech savvy. When I showed her how this device worked, she said she would never get off the couch if she had one of these. I thought this was a real testimony for this device.
| Brand Name | Logitech |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 0.01 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 16.44 x 8.19 x 3.62 inches |
| Item model number | 970-000001 |
| Batteries | 2 AA batteries required. (included) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color Name | Black |
| Special Features | Volume Control, Touch Screen, Built-in speakers |
