AppleTV worth it?

[Nichod]

Those that have it. Is it worth it or would a mini or other be just as equivalent of a value?

[CWallace]

The :apple:tv is easier to use, but it's not as flexible.

The Mac Mini is a full PC, and Front Row is a nice HTPC front-end, but it is more complex to configure and maintain then the :apple:tv.

I'm thinking the Mac Mini as an HTPC is the better move for me, but I continue to follow the discussions on the :apple:tv here with interest to see if it can be made to meet my needs as effectively, for I prefer the simplicity and specialization of the :apple:tv as a media presenter.

[Maynerd]

The :apple:tv is easier to use, but it's not as flexible.

The Mac Mini is a full PC, and Front Row is a nice HTPC front-end, but it is more complex to configure and maintain then the :apple:tv.

I'm thinking the Mac Mini as an HTPC is the better move for me, but I continue to follow the discussions on the :apple:tv here with interest to see if it can be made to meet my needs as effectively, for I prefer the simplicity and specialization of the :apple:tv as a media presenter.

The ease of use for my GF is the key for me getting an AppleTV. It's easy for her to use and really that's the most important thing.

[NightStorm]

Yes, Steve told me it was. :D

[Doctor Q]

My Apple TV was definitely worth it to me, although I wondered about its value when I got it.

It's so simple to set up and use, mostly a matter of entering your network information, and we love doing slideshows on the TV rather than having the family or guests huddle around a computer.

Finally, the features have expanded since I got it (e.g., movie rentals) and will probably grow in the future.

[Nichod]

What about security seeing as it uses wireless? (I believe) I assume it might be capable of being wired.

[Maynerd]

What about security seeing as it uses wireless? (I believe) I assume it might be capable of being wired.

It can be used wirelessly and wired. What sort of security concern do you have?

[Diatribe]

It has a lot of shortcomings but I wouldn't want to miss it for the world. I love the thing, I only wish Apple gave it some more love.
So much potential.

HD rentals are awesome too just make sure you have a 4Mbit connection or you'll be watching the movies the next day.

In short, I'd get it, it is already pretty great and it can only get better.

[Doctor Q]

I've tested it wired and wireless. Both work fine.

The connection is no more or less secure than any other computer on the network, except that you aren't going to be keeping secure information on the Apple TV, so the only concerns are about your network security as a whole.

[tct224]

I just purchased an Apple TV and am impressed with its seamless integration with itunes & iphoto. The only glitch so far was not having this weeks :p update to itunes installed. Once i finished that update, the "firewall is blocking port 3869" message went away & all is well.

Now for a question from a nubie if anyone can help - how do data transfer speeds between an Airport Express (wireless "g" standard, I think) compare to a ethernet cable from running from a G5 through a standard linksys router vs. the new Airport Express (wireless "n") model. I can easily do the first two. Is it worth it to upgrade to the new AE just for :apple: tv viewing purposes?

[utekineir]

I just purchased an Apple TV and am impressed with its seamless integration with itunes & iphoto. The only glitch so far was not having this weeks :p update to itunes installed. Once i finished that update, the "firewall is blocking port 3869" message went away & all is well.

Now for a question from a nubie if anyone can help - how do data transfer speeds between an Airport Express (wireless "g" standard, I think) compare to a ethernet cable from running from a G5 through a standard linksys router vs. the new Airport Express (wireless "n") model. I can easily do the first two. Is it worth it to upgrade to the new AE just for :apple: tv viewing purposes?

I've used the atv just fine with an older g router in the past. I was doubtful at first, but through a floor and over about 20 feet streaming encoded dvds worked great. I wouldn't upgrade just for the sake of the atv alone. I'm using ethernet at the moment only because i recently ran over a cable and hub to the tv for a slingbox, so why not do the atv wired too. The performance on my airport extreme with the mixed n is basically as good usability wise in my experience.

[DJAKO]

Worth every penny I spent on it. One of the better purchases I made this year that I actually use.

[Hello.there]

I have to confess the Apple TV was the most pointless purchase I've ever made, I simply didn't need it. I already had a DVR with a bunch of movies on the hard drive, which also allows me play music and look at photos.

So do I regret buying the Apple TV, do I have pangs of guilt? Hell no. I love it. :)

Sure, it's limited in all kinds of ways (why no internet?!), but it's wonderful in others.

I have dozens of movies on my iMac upstairs, tons of music and photos - I click on 'sync' in iTunes and before I can say holy smoley the stuff I want to see (or want to show my family) is wirelessly transported to the main TV in the house downstairs. No copying on to discs, no hours wasted on burning DVDs...it just works, like a dream.

So: BUY IT!

[Banjhiyi]

I'm struggling to justify the purchase. It has so much potential but Apple don't seem interested and you know that despite it's capabilities, if Apple do end up ramping up support, these models will be made obsolete and you'll have to upgrade (see iPod).

It'll be better when I can get my DVD's ripped but then I get despondent about the newer DVD's that seem unripable. I either have all my DVD's ripped or none; I can't and won't have a DVD player and Apple TV sitting together.

That said, I'm lucky enough to be English, live in the UK but also have a US iTunes account, so I'm having great fun renting movies for dirt cheap dollars. So then I'm back in love with it.

I would have upgraded the Mini if it could output a decent picture to TV (including HD) but that would have been even more GBP (and the 40gb :apple:TV was expensive enough).

In short, I just don't know how 'worth it' this purchase was and will be. I guess some folks here also feel that way.

[Fonzijr1964]

i will only buy it if it ever becomes a DVR

[slick316]

I was going to post about the Apple TV today, figure I will just use this thread.

I want to rip my DVD collection to my PC (my desktop, which is not a Mac). I have a 1TB drive in there just for the purpose of my ripped DVD's. I just want to find the best method for streaming the vids to my TV, and the :apple:TV looks like it.

Couple things I am wondering. The remote, I can program my Harmony Remote to work with the :apple:TV right?

The ripped movies, all have to be imported into iTunes right? And then the PC is to be left on, with iTunes running, and the :apple:TV will see the iTunes library, yes?

And lastly, if I make purchases using the :apple:TV, do they stay on the :apple:TV itself, or does it transfer to my iTunes library on my PC?

I am looking at the 40GB model since most, if not all my vids will be stored on my PC.

[Fonzijr1964]

I was going to post about the Apple TV today, figure I will just use this thread.

I want to rip my DVD collection to my PC (my desktop, which is not a Mac). I have a 1TB drive in there just for the purpose of my ripped DVD's. I just want to find the best method for streaming the vids to my TV, and the :apple:TV looks like it.

Couple things I am wondering. The remote, I can program my Harmony Remote to work with the :apple:TV right?

The ripped movies, all have to be imported into iTunes right? And then the PC is to be left on, with iTunes running, and the :apple:TV will see the iTunes library, yes?

And lastly, if I make purchases using the :apple:TV, do they stay on the :apple:TV itself, or does it transfer to my iTunes library on my PC?

I am looking at the 40GB model since most, if not all my vids will be stored on my PC.

I don't know about the remote but i doubt it since it uses the Apple remote. No you can transfer you movies to the device and turn off the PC and u can transfer purchased items back.

(i am speaking form a Mac point of view the PC may have to stay on.

Y would you have a PC?

[jim.arrows]

Y would you have a PC?


Because he's part of the 92% of marketshare that Apple doesn't have?

OP: I have 2 and enjoy them very much, just buy the 40GB refurb for $199 and I doubt you'll regret it. At that price it's not much more than some iPod docks and it very nicely extends all your iTunes content to your media room of choice. Great little toy...

As for the remote, I can't answer for Harmony but I'm using my universal remotes (both URC, mx-500 & mx-850) with my ATVs with no issues.

[slick316]

The :apple:TV is compatible with PC right?

I had the PC for a few years, cheaper than a mac pro, and used for gaming mainly. My MBP is my everyday computer, but a PC should be good enough to handle streaming to the :apple:TV.

If there are incompatibility issues between PC and :apple:TV, I don't want to get it.

[tsice19]

nevermind. please delete this post, mods.

[Cave Man]

I want to rip my DVD collection to my PC (my desktop, which is not a Mac). I have a 1TB drive in there just for the purpose of my ripped DVD's. I just want to find the best method for streaming the vids to my TV, and the :apple:TV looks like it.

When I can't decrypt a DVD with MacTheRipper 3, I fire up Win XP on my Mac and used FabDVD. It has never failed. Once on your hard drive, use Handbrake 0.9.2 with the Apple TV preset (and 2-pass encoding) to transcode.

Couple things I am wondering. The remote, I can program my Harmony Remote to work with the :apple:TV right?

Yes, you can.

The ripped movies, all have to be imported into iTunes right? And then the PC is to be left on, with iTunes running, and the :apple:TV will see the iTunes library, yes?

Yes, you have to import into iTunes for them to be accessible by the ATV. If you sync files to the ATV (which puts a copy on the ATV's hard drive), you can quit iTunes. If you stream, then iTunes must be running.

The :apple:TV is compatible with PC right?


Yes, it is.

I had the PC for a few years, cheaper than a mac pro, and used for gaming mainly. My MBP is my everyday computer, but a PC should be good enough to handle streaming to the :apple:TV.

You should have no issues, so long as you can get a connection between your PC and the ATV, either with an ethernet cable at 100 kpbs or better, or wireless-g or better (n is preferred).

If there are incompatibility issues between PC and :apple:TV, I don't want to get it.

There are none that I'm aware of.

[slick316]

When I can decrypt a DVD with MacTheRipper 3, I fire up Win XP on my Mac and used FabDVD. It has never failed. Once on your hard drive, use Handbrake 0.9.2 with the Apple TV preset (and 2-pass encoding) to transcode.



Yes, you can.



Yes, you have to import into iTunes for them to be accessible by the ATV. If you sync files to the ATV (which puts a copy on the ATV's hard drive), you can quit iTunes. If you stream, then iTunes must be running.


Sounds good to me, thanks for the info!!

The part thats going to suck about all this is the ripping process, 250 or so DVD's :(

[Cave Man]

The part thats going to suck about all this is the ripping process, 250 or so DVD's :(

Pick yourself up an 8-core Mac Pro. It'll go through those DVDs quite quickly. :)

Be aware, that the ATV setting in Handbrake will generate about 2.5 gb files for a 2 hour DVD movie. It will have both AAC (analog) and AC-3 (digital 5.1) audio files.

[slick316]

Pick yourself up an 8-core Mac Pro. It'll go through those DVDs quite quickly. :)

Be aware, that the ATV setting in Handbrake will generate about 2.5 gb files for a 2 hour DVD movie. It will have both AAC (analog) and AC-3 (digital 5.1) audio files.

I have a Core 2 Quad Q6600 in my PC, just upgraded it. If anything, the actual ripping part will suck the most, encoding may not be as bad.
2.5GB x 250 = 625GB - thats fine by me :)

[Fonzijr1964]

The :apple:TV is compatible with PC right?

I had the PC for a few years, cheaper than a mac pro, and used for gaming mainly. My MBP is my everyday computer, but a PC should be good enough to handle streaming to the :apple:TV.

If there are incompatibility issues between PC and :apple:TV, I don't want to get it.


:apple:TV is compatible with PC

[FF_productions]

Apple TV and Mac Mini are for different uses.

Apple TV is a dedicated multimedia device while Mac Mini can do that and be an entire computer.


I ripped roughly 80-90% of my DVD collection (300 dvd's i think) and stream wirelessly to the apple tv with no hitches most of the time.

My goal is to get a couple of terabytes and dedicate them to videos for the Apple TV.

It has eliminated burning DVD's for me in the house. If I want to show the family a video I've made, I encode for Apple TV (Mac Pro is Fast as hell) and I can go downstairs and watch it on the TV without a DVD.


Now this doesn't mean I'm gonna get rid of my DVD's, it just means I don't have to hunt through the closet and find a video. In my house we tend to misplace DVD's, so once I get a DVD I rip it without even thinking.

Now most people will say, only tech freaks can do this. Not really...at all to be honest.

I get the proper cords for an HDTV, hook it up, etc. Get an App like Handbrake, learn it, rip and drag to iTunes.

If you don't rip DVD's, then head to iTunes Store and go buy it and never have to use the computer.