Couple of Apple TV newbie questions

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1) It all depends. If the DVD player has a digital input for sound you can run if through there. If not you are out of luck.

2) Most movies and tv shows are in widescreen format. There are several older movies and such that are in a 4:3 ratio (Full Screen) format. For the most part everything that you buy or rent will be widescreen.

3) You can connect the AppleTV to your TV with either a HDMI cable or Component Video cables.

Hope this helps.

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Oh yeah, in response to question 3, it does not come with any cables other than the power cable.

I assume you mean that you have a 5.1 receiver that you have your DVD player hooked up to? I also assume that you have an HDTV, since you are considering purchasing an Apple TV?

If so, then connect your Apple TV to your HDTV with an HDMI cable. If your DVD player has HDMI and you have another input on your TV, do the same there. If not, use component. Then, connect your TV to your receiver with a Toslink/optical audio cable. Then you'll get 5.1 surround with your Apple TV encodes, provided you select to passthrough the AC3 stream when you Handbrake your movies.

The Apple TV is very easy to set-up. Just buy an inexpensive HDMI cable and connect it from your Apple TV to your HDTV. Then plug it in.

As for your speaker system, it really depends on what type it is and what connectors it has. The Apple TV itself is not difficult to set-up, but getting your entire audio/video system connected requires some forethought. It all depends on what components you have and how they inter-connect with one another.

From the Apple website: "Compatible with enhanced-definition or high-definition widescreen TVs capable of 1080p/1080i 60/50Hz, 720p 60/50Hz, 576p 50Hz (PAL format), or 480p 60Hz."

does not come with HDMI, just standard RCA cables

If you DVD player has an optical input you can pipe the sound through the DVD player.

Chances are you'll have to purchase a cheap 5.1 receiver and hook your speakers up to that. Your DVD player as well as your Apple TV should be able to connect to the receiver for sound.

Video will go straight to the TV from both the DVD and the ATV.