Customer Ratings & Reviews

Never buy Vizio. Cannot connect to Wifi as signal dropped. I know this vizio problem because I also have a Sony Google TV which is the best. No problem.

i originally wanted a simple media streaming device, but after trying a few of them, i was very disappointed. my blu-ray player did the same as most media streamers. so i went with the Vizio Co-Star. I found this to be more than the other devices. this unit can also surf the internet with a chrome browser. and you can download SOME apps from the Android Market or Play Store (same thing). it also has popular apps already installed like netflix. it has the ability to have a cable box go thru it and integrate regular tv with internet tv. the interface is very limited in what it can do. So don't expect this to be like a tablet. set-up wasn't too difficult. the remote is ok. tv remote and touch pad on one side, keyboard/game remote on the flip side. i have large fingers so i ended up getting a full size wireless keyboard with a touch pad. it was plug and play - no problem. this is great for surfing the web and using king office suite to do documents. sweet! The Good: more content than cable, THE INTERNET (big plus), familiar android environment so easy to use/get use to, the price, fairly fast processor (considering it's a media player), can be hacked/jail broke (according to some articles i found on the internet). The Bad: doesn't accept all market apps, very limited user interface, clumsy fat remote, not the latest version of flash so not all videos will play, very restricted so users can not personalize it - no wall papers - no screen savers - fixed menu placement... overall, for me, better than the others, but it still needs improvements and updates. this is not for those that hate to figure things out. stick with Ruku if you just want a pre-formatted experience.

Best Buy salesman said I could get Hulu+ on this and we couldn't. Returned it for the Roku.

It doesn't load! You have to pay for everything! Netflix fails every time Terrible device

This one expensive and work not even the same as chrome cast

The idea of this is great, just very troublesome. I returned the first unit I bought because the mouse track pad on the remote didn't work at all which prevented me from using the Chrome browser (which was the whole reason I got this version instead of the $50 cheaper one). The second unit's mouse works better, but the remote won't connect to and control my television (it controls the Vizio stuff and my DVR fine, just won't turn on/off the TV or change the volume. The first unit I bought did!). The wifi is EXTREMELY delicate for some reason. It's in the same room as the laptop I'm typing this on, and the Vizio keeps losing connectivity. This is particularly annoying while trying to watch Netflix when it either keeps reloading or pulling up error messages saying it can't connect "for some reason." I also thought I would be able to watch HuluPLUS, but alas cannot. There's no built in app like there is for Netflix and these other random viewing platforms, and the built-in Chrome browser won't support it. I was happy that the remote would theoretically control everything (including my 15 year old stereo receiver!), but I'm sad that it doesn't in reality. The picture quality and the ease of controls (for it being a universal remote) are all great. If they update with better wifi capabilities, apps for Hulu (don't tens of thousands of people use it???), and a generally better functioning remote, this will be a really superlative system. But only if.

I loved the initial setup, and not having a book of trial and error codes to use for the universal remote is awesome, even if the remote is not ergonomically friendly. You just put in the model number, and it has the codesets. I was not happy that hulu plus was absent from the lineup, and many of the apps seem redundant. Google chrome is nice, but not being able to update my flashplayer for web content is definitely NOT nice. Android and Adobe apparently do not play well together. It has, barring a technical failure, extended the ownership of my current Sanyo TV. When a new tv purchase is necessary, I will be considering a VIZIO!

After doing a lot of research, I bought a Roku 3. It's good, easy to install...audit all you care about is oldies or you're willing to pay $2 or more per movie or TV episode and you don't mind silence as you switch from provider to provider hoping to find something with watching and still have to endure poorly timed commercials for Verizon or other products every 10 minutes or so....I think you get the point. So, I decided to give the competing technology a go...Google TV. Of the available devices, the Vizio Co-Star seemed the better thought of and with the sale, I couldn't resist. As I said, I'm pleasantly surprised. You plug your existing cable/satellite output HDMI in the HDMI in and tell it the provider and receiver make and model and it programs the remote to control ghettos receiver so you can watch directly through the device and can navigate to channels, see what's playing and what's coming up as well as use it to select and play from Netflix, Amazon, Redox and Blockbuster WITHOUT having to open the individual apps! There's even a program with preconfigured web-based providers that works quite well for providers that have web presences but no app yet. Is it perfect, no. It's sometimes slow and there is a limited app support despite it being Android based, and while it does have a decent UPNP client, I would like it to have a Samba/smb client to navigate and play my home library of movies and music with fewer clicks and no transcoding. Overall, I'm still quite pleased and hope that Vizio and Google expand the device and platform further as this is a superb transition device between purely time-shifted/archive content and live broadcast signals.

Overall, it is good device. Easy to set up, good price. It works well, just as described. The only thing not so great is the power LED that shows if the device is on or off is kind of hidden. So, sometimes it is not easy to tell if it is on or off.

This is my second vizio co-star and have been quite satisfied with its' performance. I do not have them hooked up with my dish dvr's but did run a blue ray through it. After the updates they connected with my Asus router without any difficulties and picture quality has been excellent. Had a little trouble with the first one locking up once in awhile but hasn't been issue for several weeks. One I leave on all the time and the other I shut off to see if there is any difference in performance. I really like being able to pair up my rocketfish Bluetooth headphones with the co-star. I can watch programs while my wife sleeps. With some app downloads you can sideload other apps from your pc. My Netflix and Amazon Prime work well. I haven't rented any Vudu videos but the trailers have all played without issues. I also have a Roku 3 which works well. Each has their advantages but I prefer the vizio because my headphones are not tethered to the remote.

I wanted to add apps to an older HDTV in my living room and I have to say I'm really impressed with this little costar. Out of the box it was really easy to setup, and I was able to program the remote to control my LG TV, cable box and stereo receiver. All-in-all it took about 15 minutes to get everything working. Most of the major apps are pre-loaded: Netflix, Amazon Instant Video (really nice interface on this app), Vudu and M-Go which looks like a new movie rental service I've never heard of. Hulu Plus is not supported sadly and some sites like HBOGo can be accessed through the chrome browser but don't have a dedicated app. By far my favorite and unexpected feature is using Google Primetime instead of my DVRs channel guide. Since the costar connects in-line with my DRV (has an HDMI in and Out) and the remote acts as a universal remote, I can use the primetime interface search for shows and then go directly to them using the costar remote. You can even flip over the keyboard and start searching for a show or movie and costar will show you if it is on TV or across any of the streaming apps...very slick!

Actually I went to Best buy to return a stream player, I already had in my mind which one I was going to exchange it for, with my luck they didnt have the one I wanted in stock, I was really disappointed. So here was this Vizio streamer in my view, I didnt want it, I kept fighting with my brain saying no I dont want you !!, but in the end I wind up taking it home because it was the only brand on the shelf, I was digusted that I had to take it home with me, lol. I am so glad that thru all that I took it, it is a great stream player, pic in pic box if its hooked up to your cable box , so you need 2 hdmi cords for that function .A limited amount of apps, but who really uses all of them anyway, it has alot of the ones that people do use, like netflix, crackle,hulu etc. and with the web browser you can look for more apps or just surf the web....Sometimes people give bad reviews because they dont know what their doing when it comes to using their cable box, internet etc, If your internet is already slow dont think, hooking up a streamer will make it faster, anyway buy it , try it, before knocking it, dont trust all the negative reviews.

I had hoped that this device would be good for my needs, but it just didn't live up to my expectations. I liked the concept of this having an HDMI in/out. This would help save an input on my TV. However, I could never get it to fully integrate with my TiVo. No codes for remote. Now, it may have been in an update that it was requesting to make, but not sure as I wasn't really pleased with some of its other area. The Amazon Prime function & experience was the other big negative in my opinion. Instead of having a customized user interface like some of my other devices (Blue Ray & Smart TVs), it was basically just opening it up in a Chrome browser and playing it that way. I wasn't a fan of this. The remote was OK, but not my favorite either. I had hoped for more Android app compatibility too, but this was not the case. Oh well. I would up returning it and will stick with my WDTV devices for now.

Remote is too complicated but good idea, no backlighting on remote so you cannot see what each button says in low light, you have to change from front to back too often. Smart phone app does not work smoothly. Does not support all android apps such as hbo go. Does not support many video formats for viewing video from your nas. Apps freeze on device. Device operates slow. Replaced with raku 3 which works much better. I have a one x which does much more with less lag then this device. My network is a1 operating at 135gb with n wireless and no problems on other devices. I updated etc still no better performance. Just a bad device.

I own a Roku for the kids..This is for the adults.. Its pretty awesome device ! Google play store apps.. You have to side load most of the good one cause there not made for google tv.. But work just as well.. Vimu app allows me to play movies from my htpc XBMC. You can plug in a hard drive to it and watch movies, photos,music etc. It has built in Netflix, amazon prime etc.. which play back look better than the Roku. Having a chrome browser on my tv is really cool and very functional. The youtube app is awesome as well.. Who doesn't watch youtube videos on how to repair everything in your house. My wife even loves it.. I buying one for dad for xmas.. Looking for the 69.99 sale again.

I have had mine for about six months now, and I use it at least 3 times a day easily. I use it for amazon instant video all the time, I also occasionally use it for vudu, and flixster. plus I use it for listening to Google music. I love the remote with the qwerty keyboard on the back, it makes it so convenient for typing in titles and artists. There isn't a specific app for it but I also use HBO go alot because it has the built in browser. Overall I really love my vizio costar and I highly recommend to anyone who wants android on a big screen TV. In my personal experiences I have found it to run quite fast overall and I especially love the way it controls all your devices. My remote controls my surround sound system, my TV, and my hd direct TV system all with the vizio qwerty remote. I really like the fact that with one button I can see not only what's on cable, but also what's on the internet all in one convenient location. It's an awesome item for an awesome price. I truly and highly recommend. I give it an a+, easily. Good luck and happy shopping!

At the begining it was ok until I cancel netflix I'am now on hulu+ ..but I cant use this streambox there is not app support for hulu not even on google chrome on this box lets you play videos on hulu+..... so far this is not good if you want play hulu video on this box

From the description, in theory, this should be awesome. All the features and apps that this offers is really great, as well as a full QWERTY keyboard making it easy to search and log in. But the problem is being able to connect to the internet to use these features. I spent more time trying to get this thing to connect to my wifi than I actually did using it. It would connect for a few hours and then stop working saying that all the credentials for log in were incorrect and it was an invalid network, when they were correct. Even when I hard wired it, it still wouldn't connect. If you're looking to buy this, I would definitely reconsider. I returned it after a week and got a Roku 2 XD, and couldn't be happier with it.

This is much better than Apple TV or Chromecast. I purchased all 3 and the vizo is by far the best (I returned the others). It goes beyond the typical smart TV apps that came with my TV. I can stream any internet content like my PC would if I connected it to the TV. Very easy to use and setup.

Visio could have knocked it out of the park with this but instead missed one of the bases. It's a new model but same hardware as old one (Dual core Armada 1500 cpu,1 GB ram, 4GB storage) So all "old reviews" still matter. It's a small device about 3" square and 1" high. It has HDMI INPUT and 1 USB. Case is good looking but easy to hide. For me? It's about as fast as a Logitech Revue on some things and maybe a little faster when multi-tasking. I have Cable with 20 MB download. It's irritating because there's a lag on everything you do, except downloads happen fast. I don't get either one on my "Log*-Revue". It came with 3.3?? updated to 5.3.0 but seemed no different in speed to me. Remote is 1" thick but you can get used to it. Remote uses either the pad (like laptop) or regular up-down-left-right buttons but not both. QWERTY keyboard on back, buttons too small for men (other devices have the bigger button remotes). I went back to my Logit*** Revue Keyboard which is still he best around. BTW... If you get the new USB adapters that work with multiple devices then you can program the Revue keyboard on it and use it on most of these devices. I've used mine on 2 Sony's, 1 a B-R player and a SMP-N200, 2 generic tablets, a generic android device and this Visio Co-Star. (doesn't need a driver to work once you bind the keyboard to the new USB adapter). But I couldn't install my "Blue tooth Rocksoul BT-101 Android keyboard" to this device. Some of the keys on remote are fixed to Amazon, M-go and Netflix are at the top and can't be changed. Many applications wont install even if you "go around the other way" and try to install through the browser. Unfortunately missing are both Hulu's, Crackle, Ultra-Violet and HBOGO, but it has redbook, Vudu and M-Go app can play the ultra-violet movies. OS is still 3.2 with Visio mixing in their wants, even with the update it's 3.2. It loads the menu from the left side. Pretty simple with favorites at the top and all the rest icons at the bottom. Not much room for customizing with a limited "settings" menu but you can add to your favorites area and all of the important things are available. Menu fonts look very sharp. Screen clarity looked good to excellent on everything. Has Blue tooth and "N" wireless but I couldn't install my "Android keyboard" so, I would say it has limited drivers, since this keyboard loads in regular Android OS on phones & etc... It's a shame that Visio didn't use the "new model" to add more ram, memory or Quad core. They could of cleaned up against the competition. I have no reason why they gave it a different Model #? Visio? It's the same as the other one. Maybe, something about the other model #'s reviews? Ok oem's, This is what we want... Give us a outside box similar like the Co-star with at least 2 USB ports, for HDD and Keyboard, 3 would be terrific so we could add a printer. Digital sound port, wireless and blu-tooth that works. Make it at least 2GB ram and 8GB storage (now 4GB and 16GB is better and please no more 1GB and 4GB). Dual core will work much faster with more ram but, how much more $$$ is it to add a Quad core? Can you give us a choice of both maybe? I bet more Quad's would sell than Dual. #1 Most important is a HDMI INPUT this is a "must have" with 5.1 sound pass-through a bonus. This way we can watch your TV and switch between both devices easily, we could use the PIP (pic in pic) with no need to use 2 separate remotes for the Input 4 (android) then back to input 5 (TV). This is what the Revue and Co-star has and it's wonderful. We can use the digital output to our sound-bar's. A newer OS, 4.2.2 is out now so just use that one, 3.2 that everyone is using now is 3-4 years old? Leave most important part (the kernel) of the OS the same as it comes. But, you can change the look if you need to add your flavor on it. Load the app's you want us to try but allow us to add what we want through the free Play stores (Google and Amazon at least) and give us a way to get to "root" or at least "superuser or admin rights". A pointer remote (gyroscope for games would be great) that works the sound on the TV along with the device and with keyboard that has bigger keys (let us program the keys to OUR favorites). The keyboard can be separate like the Logit*** Revue keyboard, which I will guarantee you people will appreciate that keyboard. But make sure not to leave us abandoned like Logi**** did on the Revue (still havn't bought anything from Logi**** since they left us hanging, 3 years now). I know others that have done the same thing. Bad move L. The Visio Co-star is just not ready for me at least. I'm thinking that it will be updated to have these main app's it's missing now eventually. But how long will it be? It's a good buy if you use just basic browsing (which many of these devices like Roku don't have), Email, and Netflix. But if your planning on getting something that has future proof built into it? Then I would wait... If an OEM does what I say and give us the device above then they'll have something great that customers will like very much. Watch them sell big time. Think about it, A device that plays the app's people want, works pretty fast thats easy to use. Wow, What a concept.