ATV if I already have PS3?

[Metsfan7450]

I'm trying to find a reason I'd need Apple TV if I already have a PS3. I love Apple products (Macbook, iPad, iPhone) and have some spending money for Christmas, but can't find a use for ATV in it's current state. I can stream Netflix and Hulu through my PS3, rent movies through PS3 or watch instant flix on the Netflix instant queue. I understand you can watch things that are on your Mac, but I have the cables and can just hook up my Macbook for those rare occasions. I get the MLB package, but can now stream those via PS3. Any other ATV features I'm missing? Any future enhancements?

 

[WiiDSmoker]

If you buy a lot of content from iTunes then the Apple TV will be good for you. The PS3 simply dominates the aTV in what formats it can play and the bitrate/resolution/sound quality than the Apple TV.

That said; I have both a PS3 and a Apple TV. The PS3 is for my home theater and the aTV is for my bedroom.

 

[KeithJenner]

I don't think you need one to be honest.

I have a PS3, but got Apple TV's because of the ability to stream from iTunes and the UI is far nicer on the Apple TV in my opinion. However, almost all my music and video playing is content that is stored on my iTunes library.

You talk about the "rare occasions" that you want to watch something from your Mac so it seems that you don't have a particular need to the one real advantage that the Apple TV has over your current PS3 setup.

 

[pirateRACE]

If you buy a lot of content from iTunes then the Apple TV will be good for you. The PS3 simply dominates the aTV in what formats it can play and the bitrate/resolution/sound quality than the Apple TV.

That said; I have both a PS3 and a Apple TV. The PS3 is for my home theater and the aTV is for my bedroom.

^this

I have a PS3 for my better setup and an Apple TV in the bedroom and living room where the wife and kids use it with ease. PS3 media server will also play friendly with your iTunes movie and TV show files without transcoding.

 

[Aidoneus]

I already had a PS3, but I've bought almost all my recent video content from iTunes, so the PS3 wasn't really an option, as it won't play DRM'd content.

Also, the Wife Approval Factor is far higher on the Apple TV, if that's important to you.

 

[gtmac]

If you buy a lot of content from iTunes then the Apple TV will be good for you. The PS3 simply dominates the aTV in what formats it can play and the bitrate/resolution/sound quality than the Apple TV.

That said; I have both a PS3 and a Apple TV. The PS3 is for my home theater and the aTV is for my bedroom.

Very well said. I have then both int family room and the only thing I get out of the ATV is streaming iTunes, which I really wanted as I already have two AEs throughout the house. I figured it was cheap enough over getting a third AE.

I really hope apple steps it up with the software and added functionality. PS3 really is impressive how ita grown through software updates over the years.

Otherwise I mat eventually put the ATV in the bedroom.

 

[newagemac]

I have both the PS3 and the ATV2 and I enjoy both but I only use the PS3 now for playing Blu Ray discs and PS3 games. The PS3 isn't energy efficient enough, cool enough, or quiet enough to just leave on 24/7 like the ATV2. And it doesn't have that "instant on" ability iOS devices like the new Apple TV have, so we prefer the Apple TV for regular use.

The major advantages of the Apple TV over the PS3 is the better UI and the nice integration the ATV has with your iTunes library, iPhoto or Aperture, Mobileme, and all of your iOS devices. The ability of Airplay to send music and video from your music and video playing iOS apps to your TV and home stereo is another benefit you can't get with the PS3. My family all owns iOS devices so it was a no brainer for us. The price was low enough that we could put one at all 3 TVs in the house to have all of our content available no matter where we are. I couldn't do that with the other solutions out there as it would be far too expensive. And the Wife Approval Factor is high with this little box.😀

If you don't have any iOS devices and you don't or don't want to use iTunes to manage your music or video library, then if you have a PS3 already an ATV is not necessary. But then none of these devices are really "necessary" anyway. 😛