Apple TV vs. Roku TV

Apple TV - as usual, the unit itself is really nice looking, typical Apple touch. The box, about 4'' by 4'', uses minimal amount of energy, and is quiet. You can rent movies from iTunes Store. You can also get there your favorite TV shows - commercial free - typically for 99 cents per episode. With Apple TV you also get unlimited access to Netflix - though you need a Netflix subscription, of course.
You can also get YouTube, Flickr, and MobileMe on your Apple TV.
But you can't get Pandora (I guess Apple did not want it to compete with its own music). And your TV has to have HDMI.

Amazon's Roku XDS 1080p Streaming player is priced the same as Apple TV ( actually, there are cheaper versions, but the difference is so small, you might as well get the latest, top of the line model). The big difference between Roku and Apple TV is that you get to watch Amazons Instant Video - and there is plenty - both movies and TV shows. And you can get the Pandora on Roku.
Roku also lets you watch Netflix movies (you need an account on Netflix) as well as Hulu. If you put together the 90,000 movies that Amazon will rent to you for about $3 per movie and commercial free TV shows, which Amazon typically offers for sale at 99 cents per episode, if you add the unlimited Netflix movies, and you add to it Hulu movies and TV shows, you are pretty much set. I mean, it would be really difficult to name a movie that would not be available on at least one of these services.

Bottom line:
Apple TV gives you iTunes movies and Netflix, and music from iTunes.
Roku gives you Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, and music from Pandora (and you can also listen to your own music bought through iTunes).

I am sure both will be around for a long time. Apple has big enough user base that it will keep Apple TV going.
Amazon is so huge, and growing so rapidly, that the only question is will they take over the streaming TV world - but I think they are doing it smart - Amazon Roku works with many other streaming video providers, so you don't need to worry about being locked into proprietary technology - like so many people feel about Apple.

Roku XDS Streaming Player 1080p | Apple TV MC572LL/A (2010)