Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Trying to get this device to work cost me many hours of frustration, aggravation, and left me feeling less than kindly disposed towards Google. The whole experience was nothing like the enjoyable and entertaining experience that I had been led to expect. I put a lot of time in with Google tech support on the phone and by email, I called my ISP provider, and my modem manufacturer, all to no avail. The device would work flawlessly, then drop out. Much of the time my laptop (running the Chrome browser) couldn't find the device on my home network, even though my TV would be displaying the Chromecast screen saying that it was on my home wi-fi network and ready to cast. The same thing happened with my wife's laptop and her Motorola Razr Maxx smartphone. After many reboots of the device, my Chrome browser, my laptop, my modem, etc., the problem remained; the device would work when it felt like it. As far as I'm concerned, Google support is a joke. I talked and corresponded with numerous techs, all to no avail. It is more than a little frustrating to have to explain the problem over and over each time, and being asked to repeat the same steps over again, all while looking at my TV displaying the Chromecast ready to cast screen. I have to say that the only functional part of the whole process was the Amazon return and refund process. The low price is not a bargain when it leads to this kind of experience. I'm not sure I would ever buy one of these again, even if they iron out the problems I experienced. I already have a wireless connection between my laptop and my TV that works every time; I just can't cast a movie and use my laptop for other things at the same time. Based on my experience, I would say that Chromecast is not a bargain, and was not ready for prime time.