Poll: Are you buying an Apple TV?

[MacRumors]

Vote: Poll: Are you buying an Apple TV? (http://www.macpolls.com/?poll_id=533)

[samh004]

I just don't see the point right now, it's not got the best features and I mainly have music on my computer as TV shows aren't available on the Australian iTS... and I'm currently spending some time in HK that doesn't even have a store.

I don't know if it'd connect to our projector and actually work as it seems I'd need an expensive HDTV... and if I was only playing music I'd like a visualizer, but that's not currently a feature stupidly.

To top it off our network is 802.11b... so it'd take forever to load everything anyway.

I'll wait a while before I consider it.

[Multimedia]

No way. I'm directly connected to my 40" Samsung LN-S4095 HDTV as my 4th display on my Quad G5.

[samh004]

No way. I'm directly connected to my 40" Samsung LN-S4095 HDTV as my 4th display on my Quad G5.

Lucky :(

But I think if I had enough money for an HDTV I'd want to be able to separate my TV time and computer time. Apart from when I want to chat, and then I'd use a laptop.

As comfortable as you can get chairs these days, sitting by the computer to watch TV can't be as good as relaxing on the couch...

[Chopper9]

I think I'll wait for version 2.

Bigger HD, more content, etc.

Assuming of course.

[EricNau]

No. Until there's an easy way to stream other content besides videos purchased from the iTunes Store, I really don't see the point.

I do love the idea of viewing picture slideshows on a HD TV though.

[spicyapple]

I have no other way of viewing my high definition *ahem* home-made movies. So yes, I plan of buying one when it becomes available. Otherwise my only alternative is to buy a blu-ray player and burner and HD authoring software... which seems to be out of the question until 2008 at the earliest.

[bembol]

I would probably consider it BUT iTune's Store Canada is a joke...TV Shows, Movies are NA! I guess it doesn't help that I wasn't impressed with it too when I checked it out today at the Apple Store (picked up the AirPort Extreme 802.11n Station).

Anyways, my 17" 2.0GHz C2D iMac is connected to my 37" Sharp 1080p AQUOS LC-37D90U LCD (DVI). :cool:

[biturbomunkie]

ummmmm... it seems kinda cool but i don't need one. so it's unlikely that i'm gonna get appleTV.

[inkswamp]

It fills 0 needs in my entertainment life. It still seems like a rich kid toy to me. I wish like hell they had thrown a DVD player into the mix. Our DVD player is currently dying on us (third one in 4 years.) I'd pay a little more for an AppleTV if it could replace the DVD player and I knew I was getting a quality product (and all those other things would be fun extras to play with) but it's pretty much useless from where I stand.

[Fearless Leader]

yes will in the future but I just bought a airport so that has sucked up funds. I watch all my content on the computer, no cable. And my HDTV just sits there waiting for some 360 action.

[NewSc2]

No... I'd rather buy a 360 or PS3 or Mac Mini...

the lack of a DVD player really kills it for me, sorry Apple :(

[nagromme]

I'm sure it will eventually evolve into something with wider appeal. High-def (and surround-sound) content on iTunes--and more selection--will help.

But I'm so happy with my Mac BEING my TV (24" iMac with EyeTV) that I may never own a television again. My TV is unplugged and waiting to be given away. So that's a big "No" for me!

If I DID want something to deliver iTunes on TV, I expect the Mac Mini will drop back down in price this year. If it reached $499, just $200 more than AppleTV, it would be very tempting. It doesn't do everything AppleTV does, but it offers much more power and flexibility in other ways.

[fblack]

I said no because I dont think the quality or content is there yet. I feel the same way about the music too. I've purchased a few tracks, but 128kbps is not enough for me. I want higher quality with the music and until they offer the same for movies well its ripping used cds and dvds for me.;)

[coolfactor]

A friend of mine is a recent switcher and just got his AppleTV, and loves it! He has really enjoyed watching his video podcasts using it. I'd definitely listen to and watch more podcasts if I had an AppleTV!

There's a ton of (free) content available via podcasts. A built-in DVD player would've been a good feature in v1.0 in order to begin weaning people off of DVDs, which is the direction the world is going in.

When TV shows and Movies come to Canada, that'll be the last time I buy a DVD, though.

[RedTomato]

No. It doesn't do enough.

Anyway, our family TV has been put into storage for the last month as we want to spend more time together as a family. We read the paper and use the internet on our laptops for our entertainment needs.

Before that, I had the xBox, with XBMC installed. Nice, especially the price but I got frustrated with trying to tweak it via a mac, and the lack of clear guides on the net. Also needing to have a server running and it taking forever to connect to my server, present a list of films and then taking ages to actually start up the film were serious pains.

Then I tried MythTV. Still not quite got that one working either!

Altogether I've found it less hassle to just get rid of the TV!

[-hh]

Boy, a lot of fussy consumers here. :)

I chose the 'maybe' option because I still have yet to get an HDTV, so I have nothing to hook up to the AppleTV as of yet.

The price on the LCD that I've been looking at has been dropping by $100 per month, so I figure that I can hold out for awhile still.

In terms of content, I plan on most of what I'll want to display will be my own works that I'll put together in iPhoto and iMovie, followed by a 'ripping' from VHS into digital of some old stuff.


-hh

[Poff]

I chose the no-option because it has no composite out. And my TV haven't got either component or hdmi.

[macFanDave]

because I just got an HDTV and I have to look into it.

Keep in mind that I jumped onto the iPod bandwagon at the 4th Generation. With OS X, I've always been an early adopter (I wait in line to get the big cats on the first day they are available), but with hardware, I take my sweet time to jump in.

[gkarris]

No.

I only purchase content for shows I miss or really want to watch commercial free.

I usually end up with the DVDs anyways (I'm a movie/show collector).

Saving funds for that widescreen iPod (where is it? :mad: )

[mainstreetmark]

I put No because it doesn't have even an Airport Express capabillity, which I find massively surprising. Kind of like if Microsoft were to make some sort of media player that doesn't Play-For-Sure.

[dextertangocci]

Yes!!!:) :) :)

[mrgreen4242]

There's a lot of conditions it'd have to meet first... one is compatibility with a USB HDDVD drive. Another would be either added support for 1080i, or me getting a 720p TV.

I'd also get one if they hit the refurb store for =<$250 and someone figures out how to hack it up to work as a full fledge Mac. A 1ghz Pentium M and 7300Go would make a more than usable computer/media center.

[ezzie]

i really don't need it, so i won't be buying one. maybe i'm not really an :apple: die-hard...maybe i don't watch enough tv. ;) i'm not one for tv really, and i don't buy movies or music videos from iTunes store. i'm an odd kind of technophile that loves computers, gadgets, electronics in general...but i hate tv.

besides, i think it's a wee bit overpriced for what it is (or isn't). but that's just me. :)

[everyman]

Yes.

I have been on the fence about AppleTV. But, I decided to buy it anyway. I am REALLY glad I did.

First off, I understand everybody's comments. I can see why lots of people would not want it.
However, for me, after having used it for 2 days, I am shocked at how much I love it. I mean, I LOVE it.

1. I have a lot of things on my iTunes that I never really use the way I should. For instance, I downloaded Cars a long time ago, and never watched it. Same goes for some albums I bought. And podcasts I downloaded. All just kind of sitting there.
There is something so great about just streaming the content to the AppleTV. I can't even explain why. It's just great. I watched Cars. I listened to music and podcasts. Click, click, click. Seamless.

2. I loaded some of my photos onto the hard drive. I was blown away seeing them on my 60 inch Sony HDTV. I have been studying my pictures, and have learned a lot by seeing them this way. It's teaching me about my photographs because I can scrutinize them better. I already got some ideas of how to make my photos better. This is an invaluable tool for me, if it means it will help me become a better photographer

3. It's a blast to play with. Easy to switch from streaming to syncing. No muss, no fuss.

Ok. So, that being said, it does leave you wanting more...and more ...and more. But I am reminded of how the iPod was when it first came out. That's how this is. You just know, it's just been born. It's in its infancy. But when it starts sitting up and smiling and walking...it is going to be phenomenal.
Until then, it's a great new and convenient way to enjoy my media. It'll be fun watching it grow. I guess that's when the next group will jump on board. But, make no mistake, this is just the very beginning.

[PCMacUser]

I'd rather pay the extra for a Mac Mini with EyeTV. That way you can do everything that the Apple TV does (assuming your TV supports digital input and your stereo supports optical input - which mine does), with the added bonus of watching TV, recording shows, purchasing content from iTunes, playing DVDs in surround sound etc. Not to mention all of the other normal things you might want to do, like browse the Internet and write emails.

And frankly I don't think 40Gb is a big enough disk size these days. Perhaps they had a stockpile of old iPod 40Gb hard drives that they've been trying to get rid of ha ha.

[MagnusDredd]

Not interested. The AppleTV does not do the whole DVR thing, which is something I really want.

I also have tons of content downloaded from Japan, China, and the UK that is/was without US copyright at time of download. Example: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Melancholy_of_Haruhi_Suzumiya) note: I got this shortly after it aired in Japan. Much of the stuff I have is _still_ not available here. And no, I refuse to buy a Japanese DVD player and order it from overseas (as it wouldn't be subtitled in English). The MAFIAA guys wanted to play with the crappy region codes and "lock" me out of DVDs from elsewhere, so I download the stuff instead. None of this will play on an Apple TV, and it will all play on MythTV. At some point, I do end up ordering the DVDs when they are available in the US, if they bother releasing them.

In the end the MythTV will end up costing more for the hardware, but as I won't have to pay monthly fees (Tivo), or buy the shows from the net (AppleTV), it'll probably be cheaper in the end however, as I'll have shows recorded from TV for free as well as stuff I want, but isn't available for purchase or download, like "Inside the Actor's Studio"...

note: I'm very familiar with Linux. My web/firewall server and my file server both run command-line only Slackware.

[zap2]

Bought one, and I love it.

[srf4real]

Nope. Never. Something better has got to be right around the corner, so why waste the dough I'm gonna need for that on a temporary solution that is missing many essentials I expect from a media control center...:cool:

[Centris 650]

I put no for a few reasons.
1) I don't purchase many shows from iTunes. Now if they had a subscription service for movies then MAYBE.
(MAIN REASON)

2) No DVR capabilities. I already have a DVR but I'm sure an :apple:DVR would have a better UI and just be a nicer experience.

3) While we are at it, why not put a DVD drive in it so I can get rid of my DVD player too. With DVR/DVD capability I could have 1 unit instread of two.

I'll more than likely get one if they offer 2 of the 3 items above. (Mainly 1 and 2)

[Cult Follower]

I really think apple will add new features to current boxes with th eleopard release so I will buy one, and it's another apple toy to lpay with

[~Shard~]

Nope - I live in Canada, where we have a crippled iTMS. Not enough content via iTunes to warrant purchasing an ATV. Sure, there are hacks for Xvid, using external USB drives, etc., but it's still not worth it for someone in my situation. If we had access to all the content the US does, then perhaps, but since we don't, the answer is a simple 'no'. :cool:

[wrldwzrd89]

I'm undecided at this time about buying an Apple TV. Sure, I have tons of music, but not much in the way of movies - at least not movies in formats Apple TV supports. My collection's a real mixture - AVIs, WMVs, H.264, MPEGs... just to name 4 of the movie formats I have.

[MattG]

Nope, at this point I really don't care. I already have an Airport Express for my music. I don't really buy videos/TV shows from iTunes, and Apple TV won't replace my TiVo. So...no.

[eluk]

No.

I don't do TV.

[2fives]

ummmmm... it seems kinda cool but i don't need one. so it's unlikely that i'm gonna get appleTV.

I feel the same. Throw in I just don't have the coin to throw away on something like this either.

[MacDann]

I might when I can afford an HDTV. I know that you can use on on a TV with component inputs (which I have) but why bother when you can't watch HDTV.

MD

[Jarcrew]

No, I've no use for the current version. Namely because all my stuff is ripped for my iPod - I'm not reHandbraking all my stuff any time soon. Maybe it'll feel like a good idea in a few revisions' time, when it's cheaper, bigger, faster, stronger (and cooler). I'm only just plucking up the courage to build a RAID box, there's no way I'm prying my AppleTV open to whack a new hard drive into it.

[psychofreak]

The potential is huge, the things it can do now are not.

Apple is moving into the living room, and all of our electronics will be connected wirelessly, but we have not reached that point yet...

[Jarcrew]

The potential is huge, the things it can do now are not.

Apple is moving into the living room, and all of our electronics will be connected wirelessly, but we have not reached that point yet...
Yeah, that's it - I can see the potential of the device, and I can totally see myself getting one someday, but at the moment it's not a must-have device, seeing as I have walls and walls of CDs and DVDs - I haven't even ripped everything from my DVDs, but what I have done has my 80GB video iPod on the ropes.

[andrewag]

I played with one that my friend bought and I really wasn't blown away as I would have expected. I might look at one again in 6 months.

Good concept though.

[giganten]

Nope, I will just connect my computer to the tv or stream with the 360.

[penter]

No way. I'm directly connected to my 40" Samsung LN-S4095 HDTV as my 4th display on my Quad G5.

could you post a picture of your setup??????????
it sounds awesome

[Nicolasdec]

I might buy the apple TV when the apple store in the UK start selling TV shows and movies but until then I'm deftly not buying it.

[twoodcc]

seems like there aren't a whole lot of people buying one.....

[grafikat]

Just don't watch enough TV to justify it....

[uraniumwilly]

I hear Apple TV's are coming out with a 16 core. :D

[Diatribe]

Yeah I will when:

- they provide 5.1 surround sound
- 720p HD downloads

There are more things (like movie rental) I'd like it to have but those two are the absolute minimum for me to buy one.

[Luigi239]

Not until they either make it so you can use a RCA imput, or I get an HDTV.

If I wait to get an HDTV, then I also would want 720p content on iTunes before making the plunge.

[brettjohn]

i would consider getting one but iTunes doesn't offer and movies or tv show content to the australian market as yet so it would e a waste of money for me as i use airtunes for my music.

maybe rev 2 and an open iTunes store in australia would sway me :p

[camomac]

i'm really undecided.
i don't see what i can't do with a modded xbox that makes the purchase
worth while...

[WhiteShadow]

for the time being I can carry my laptop to the living room.

[rebaccalee]

apple is good!

[Snarf]

I considered an AppleTV, but I decided a Mac Mini would do just about the same and (easily) be a full fledged computer when I needed it to be for only a little bit more.

[PreacherKane]

I might buy the apple TV when the apple store in the UK start selling TV shows and movies but until then I'm deftly not buying it.

I second that. But to be honest, I still won't.;)

[dodong]

I don't really have any need for it at the moment.

[netdog]

I considered an AppleTV, but I decided a Mac Mini would do just about the same and (easily) be a full fledged computer when I needed it to be for only a little bit more.

While I love my AppleTV so much that I bought a 2nd one for the bedroom, I am not sure that this product is aimed at a tech-minded crowd like those who inhabit this forum.

For regular folk, I think the AppleTV will seem preferable to using a Mini for a number of reasons, including cost and interface/user experience.

FWIW, I considered a Mini too, and if the current had N-wireless and a C2D, that is probably the way that I would have gone.

[macslug]

Sure am, as soon as :apple: release TV shows and movies in the Australian itunes store.

And anyhow my TV is a dinosaur, major revamp needed:(

[geoffy]

Sure am, as soon as :apple: release TV shows and movies in the Australian itunes store.

And anyhow my TV is a dinosaur, major revamp needed:(

The Apple TV has serious limitations outside the US. Converting your own movies and shows is a huge hassle.

[Superlat]

I might be a lot more amenable to buying Apple's consumer products once they give me a new computer I actually want to buy, apart from the hotplate laptops, 10-month old minis, and overpriced towers....Quad-core 2.4 ghz and motherboards combos selling online for $599, and 500gig HDs selling for $100 but Apple can't release a nice $1300 tower. So maybe once Apple gives me some revised pro gear to buy, then I will worry about whether I join the sheeple and buy that tv thing or that toy travel computer for $600 plus subscription.