Plex will be on Apple TV 4 on release

[UhFive]

I'm trying to figure out the advantage of Plex on an ATV, vs what I do now, which is running Plex on a dedicated Mac Mini hooked to my TV. The only thing I can think of is that its one less activity button on my Harmony Remote.

For me there are a couple reasons I dropped the dedicated HTPC and picked up an Apple TV.

1) It is way easier to use for family and guest. Granted I wasn't using anything like Kodi or Plex back then, it was still just not as clean of an experience and most people gave up using it.
2) Smaller footprint in two areas...space on the media cabinet and my electric bill. I was using a old comp for my device before and keeping that puppy anyways one was draining, literally.
3) Noise! Hearing that fan spin up in the middle of a movie was a huge annoyance. The Apple TV is silent.

Do I miss tinkering with a full blown PC on my TV? Sure, but I found that thinking with the Apple TV is just as much fun, and the new App Store will add to it.

 

[ofarlig]

For me there are a couple reasons I dropped the dedicated HTPC and picked up an Apple TV.

1) It is way easier to use for family and guest. Granted I wasn't using anything like Kodi or Plex back then, it was still just not as clean of an experience and most people gave up using it.
2) Smaller footprint in two areas...space on the media cabinet and my electric bill. I was using a old comp for my device before and keeping that puppy anyways one was draining, literally.
3) Noise! Hearing that fan spin up in the middle of a movie was a huge annoyance. The Apple TV is silent.

Do I miss tinkering with a full blown PC on my TV? Sure, but I found that thinking with the Apple TV is just as much fun, and the new App Store will add to it.

The problem i have with that idea is that Plex actually requires you to have a decent computer since transcoding and such is done server side. Plex seems like it requires more units, i want as few as possible.

 

[maverick808]

The problem i have with that idea is that Plex actually requires you to have a decent computer since transcoding and such is done server side. Plex seems like it requires more units, i want as few as possible.

I've been using Plex for years on a 2007 Mac Mini and to date it's had no trouble at all doing the transcoding of any of my files. In our house we frequently even have two streams playing from it simultaneously as I watch on one tv and others in my family watch something else on another. So from my experience a 2007 Core 2 Duo machine can handle it fine. Not saying it isn't an issue that you do need another machine to do the transcoding, just wanted to point out that it certainly doesn't have to be a good machine.

PS: No official Plex app in the store on launch day

 

[jdag]

To extend that thought...for personal video files, you need a computer running whether you are using Plex or iTunes Home Sharing. Technically, you can run a Plex server off of a NAS box, but results vary and a NAS can be very costly, well more expensive than an old computer.

If the AppleTV could read files from a standard hard drive that is connected to a router, that would be killer. But it can't.

 

[TrueBlou]

I've been using Plex for years on a 2007 Mac Mini and to date it's had no trouble at all doing the transcoding of any of my files. In our house we frequently even have two streams playing from it simultaneously as I watch on one tv and others in my family watch something else on another. So from my experience a 2007 Core 2 Duo machine can handle it fine. Not saying it isn't an issue that you do need another machine to do the transcoding, just wanted to point out that it certainly doesn't have to be a good machine.

PS: No official Plex app in the store on launch day

It's coming, I mentioned this in another thread, but so far Apple has had some issues with what Plex submitted so it was rejected. But it's back in review again and they seem quite confident it'll pass this time.
Apple have already approved unofficial Plex clients, so there shouldn't be any problem approving the real thing once it's up to scratch.

 

[ofarlig]

I've been using Plex for years on a 2007 Mac Mini and to date it's had no trouble at all doing the transcoding of any of my files. In our house we frequently even have two streams playing from it simultaneously as I watch on one tv and others in my family watch something else on another. So from my experience a 2007 Core 2 Duo machine can handle it fine. Not saying it isn't an issue that you do need another machine to do the transcoding, just wanted to point out that it certainly doesn't have to be a good machine.

PS: No official Plex app in the store on launch day

Yeah it does not need to be a power monster but it is another unit. My Synology NAS can not do transcoding if I run a Plex server on it it some sort of computer is needed. Thats why i prefer Infuse and such, i can play everything from my NAS.

 

[UhFive]

If the AppleTV could read files from a standard hard drive that is connected to a router, that would be killer. But it can't.

It will be able to read them soon...that's pretty much what Infuse and Kodi do.

 

[jdag]

It will be able to read them soon...that's pretty much what Infuse and Kodi do.

Looking forward to that possibility...as long as the apps are in the app store...I am not going to mess around with any jailbreaking or side loading. I have to support others in different households, mainly my parents, and need something completely turn key.