Who's getting an AppleTV?

[robhon]

Is anyone going to be buying an AppleTV as well?

[robhon]

Wow! Ironically, just half an hour after I posted this I got an email from Apple announcing that the AppleTV is now available.

[wot_fan]

At this point I don't have any video in iTunes. I also have an X-Box 360 which works as a media extender for my XP Media Center PC. IOW, I already have a way to send video from my PC to my TV so I won't be getting one. I am curious to see how well it sells though.

[michael27hogan]

I think the whole idea of spending that much money on an appletv is dumb. you can just buy the av kit that apple has for 100 bucks and watch it on your tv.

[robhon]

I think the whole idea of spending that much money on an appletv is dumb. you can just buy the av kit that apple has for 100 bucks and watch it on your tv.

Ever tried it? Attaching AV cables to your Mac to watch stuff on TV plain sucks. It's awful. I think the idea is that you get a lot more functionality with the AppleTV.

Personally I'm really interested in anything that gets me away from broadcast TV. Even satelite with all the movie channels is still just a downright terrible selection of programming. (Thank god for PBS.)

[Hondamaker]

Ever tried it? Attaching AV cables to your Mac to watch stuff on TV plain sucks. It's awful. I think the idea is that you get a lot more functionality with the AppleTV.

Personally I'm really interested in anything that gets me away from broadcast TV. Even satelite with all the movie channels is still just a downright terrible selection of programming. (Thank god for PBS.)Bump.
I agree, I'm gonna get it with my stimulus check (as well as the new iPhone).
Sounds pretty cool, with all the viewing options, streaming any video from your pc, itunes, or youtube.

[chris]

Bump.
I agree, I'm gonna get it with my stimulus check (as well as the new iPhone).
Sounds pretty cool, with all the viewing options, streaming any video from your pc, itunes, or youtube.

AppleTV is ok. Nothing great, but a nice addition to any home entertainment system. I think it does a lot of things good, rather than one killer feature. Check out LA computer co, I picked up my ATV for $200. I also opted for the small drive, since I'd primarily be streaming.

[Hondamaker]

AppleTV is ok. Nothing great, but a nice addition to any home entertainment system. I think it does a lot of things good, rather than one killer feature. Check out LA computer co, I picked up my ATV for $200. I also opted for the small drive, since I'd primarily be streaming.I'm going for the smaller harddrive as well. I was thinking ebay, in search of disgruntled ATV owners. What's the LA computer co website?

[chris]

Looks like they are selling the AppleTV at $225 (http://www.lacomputercompany.com/cgi-bin/rpcart/index.cgi?command=dispitem&type=sku&sku=24823).

[chris]

Amazon is probably a better deal. $224 plus free shipping and no tax.

[Hondamaker]

I may try ebay, cause Apple is selling them for 229, only 5 dollars more than LA and Amazon.

[freakydeaky dutch bastard]

I've been looking for a wireless media solution for some time now. There really aren't that many choices out there, however. Still a developing technology for video, I guess. I was looking into the ATV so I could stream movies from the macbook to the TV, wirelessly. I've been hesitant to purchase because of the less than stellar reviews I've encountered. Most of the complaints that I've read about concerned video format compatibility. Most of my stuff is in .avi format and while I use perian to play them in FrontRow, I have to wonder how it would all translate to the ATV?

[ravman]

Have you guys checked out that device in Best Buy? It's like Apple TV (can't remember what it is called now), but it pumps out in 1080P. Not that any TV provider uses 1080P yet, but it's there.

Netflix have one too and it's way cheaper than AppleTV:

http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/05/20/netflix-unveils-set-top-movie-streaming-device

You pay $99 for the box and your usual monthly fee and you can watch as many DVDs as you like.

[freakydeaky dutch bastard]

Have you guys checked out that device in Best Buy? It's like Apple TV (can't remember what it is called now), but it pumps out in 1080P. Not that any TV provider uses 1080P yet, but it's there.

Netflix have one too and it's way cheaper than AppleTV:

http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/05/20/netflix-unveils-set-top-movie-streaming-device

You pay $99 for the box and your usual monthly fee and you can watch as many DVDs as you like.

I haven't seen the one in BestBuy, I will check it out. As for Netflix, I just canceled my subscription this week because I just never used it. The set-top box you linked to sounds pretty cool, but the selection of movies Netflix has on the instant viewing thing is pretty lousy.

[ravman]

The only downside to the Netflix one, is that it only pumps out in 480P. It has a HDMI connector, but 480P is 480P.

I think the one in Best Buy is called NuVu or something? It looks pretty cool.



I haven't seen the one in BestBuy, I will check it out. As for Netflix, I just canceled my subscription this week because I just never used it. The set-top box you linked to sounds pretty cool, but the selection of movies Netflix has on the instant viewing thing is pretty lousy.

[freakydeaky dutch bastard]

Besides ATV, this D-Link box is the other option I've been considering. I just can't pull the trigger for some reason..

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1821504&CatId=197

[soloudinhere]

I have a 160GB appleTV. I'm thinking of selling it, as I just don't get $329 worth of use out of it.

It's neat though when I do use it...

[ravman]

I used to have one of them. They are designed for streaming music/movies from your PC to your TV. Not from your TV to your PC. A PS3 does the same thing also.

They are a pain to configure with Windoze Vista.




Besides ATV, this D-Link box is the other option I've been considering. I just can't pull the trigger for some reason..

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1821504&CatId=197

[freakydeaky dutch bastard]

I used to have one of them. They are designed for streaming music/movies from your PC to your TV. Not from your TV to your PC. A PS3 does the same thing also.

They are a pain to configure with Windoze Vista.

Right, that's what I want to do PC.. well, Mac to TV. How was the quality of the stream, both audio and video? Any issues you ran into?

[ravman]

Using wireless was just a waste of time, you need to hardwire the unit to your home network to get decent thruput for movies.

To be honest with you, it was just a pain having to switch the TV to another input, turn the media player on, mess about the the darn thing finding the media software on my PC and everything. I didn't like the thought of leaving the TV on when just listening to music. I don't want burn in on my LCD screen.

Plus I can stream movies on an external hardrive through my DVD player, using the USB connector. So the media player just ended up gathering dust.

I sold the darn thing in the end and just fed the PC sound to my home sound system directly.


Right, that's what I want to do PC.. well, Mac to TV. How was the quality of the stream, both audio and video? Any issues you ran into?

[pnl]

Looks like they are selling the AppleTV at $225 (http://www.lacomputercompany.com/cgi-bin/rpcart/index.cgi?command=dispitem&type=sku&sku=24823).

I also have the smaller device. I do only streaming. Don't know if you have heard about Handbrake, but it will decode a dvd so you can install your movie in iTunes. then you can watch anytime without having to put the dvd in.

[mrarmbar22]

Hi All,
Can somone tell me how to set it up so it streams. Right now I have it synced to my desktop but it will only play the sync/selected movies or shows that I have check in iTunes. I have a way to much video on my desktop to fit on the Apple TV.

Thanks in advance for your help! :laugh2:

[chris]

Hi All,
Can somone tell me how to set it up so it streams. Right now I have it synced to my desktop but it will only play the sync/selected movies or shows that I have check in iTunes. I have a way to much video on my desktop to fit on the Apple TV.

Thanks in advance for your help! :laugh2:
Go to Shared Movies. Do you see your Movie library there?

[mrarmbar22]

Go to Shared Movies. Do you see your Movie library there?

I will check tonight when I get home... ( I believe I went there and it did not show my iTunes Library, I could be wrong) At work and its been a slow day today. All my accounts are pretty quiet. Thanks for your help let me see if I can get it to work. I will let you know.

[hitrho5]

im not getting one