More and more people are ditching cable and satellite in favor of streaming online video. Streaming video gives you more options than traditional cable or over-the-air broadcasts.

You can watch shows whenever you want, for example. These can be free or paid, depending on the service. There are also options for watching movies and Internet-only videos and accessing news, music and other digital information.

To stream video, however, you need Internet-connected entertainment equipment. Roku, Apple TV and Google TV are popular examples, along with Boxee TV and manufacturer-specific software for TVs. You can see all the most popular options and their prices on my streaming gadget chart.

Each streaming gadget connects with different services. Before purchasing any gadget, you'll want to make sure it has the content you want. Otherwise, it will disappoint you.

Let's start with the Roku player. It comes in four different models: The Roku LT ($50), Roku HD ($60), Roku 2 XD ($80) and Roku 3 ($100). All four can connect to any TV via HDMI or composite output.

The LT and HD models output a 720p high-definition signal, while the other models output a superior 1080p signal. All the models support Wi-Fi for easy placement and simple connection to the Internet.