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Love my old Apple TV (has boxee on it which is awesome - I recommend everyone put it on theirs).

Love my new one for Netflix streaming.

Both worth it. They'll keep selling, especially because non tech folks are getting into streaming because of netflix.
 
I saw that, but unfortunately, I never set up Google DNS. I even went back in and made sure I had my default ISP DNS...still takes hours to download rentals, and even takes hours to stream content stored in my iTunes. It's a serious problem and Apple needs to get it fixed before they get a black eye because of it in the set top world.

My first gen Apple TV's still work perfectly.


Not trying to be an ass here, but I think you really need to look inward. Inward, as in your internal network, that is. It seems to me that something is causing the Apple TV to not play nice with your home network. I wish I could give you more info than that, but mine, and my girlfriend's both work perfectly, and have since day one. I have to believe that something on your home network, and some setting on the ATV, are combining to cause this.

This is evidenced by the fact that you are having the problem with both external and internal content, and your other ATV doesn't experience the issue. Really, I know several people who have the second gen ATV, and none of them are experiencing this issue. If you're wireless you might look for sources of 802.11 interference, or troubleshoot it by hooking up an ethernet cable. If you're wired, you may want to try switching to wireless. Just a couple of suggestions, if you haven't gone down that route yet.
 
I own an tv.
I also own a 50" Panasonic plasma.
A few weeks after I bought my TV, Panasonic pushed a software update to the set, bringing Netflix directly to my TV.
Son of a...
Turns out, Apple's UI is [shocker] way better than what Panasonic pushed.
And I bring this up to highlight it's not always what content is/isn't available as much as it is how it is available. And that is where Apple shines.

That said, TV is by no means perfect and by no means for everyone. It's actually pretty niche. And like every other user, I anxiously await an App Store.

I agree. I have Netflix available on my Roku, my Tivo, my iPad, my Blu-ray player (that's now in the closet) and, of course on my computers. The UI for Netflix on the ATV is by far the best I've seen so far.

But I'm still bummed by the direction they took my iTunes content compared to the old ATV. I really liked having my own movies and tv shows as a choice under the movies or tv shows sections. Having to drill down under computer to get to it seems kind of bush league and Windows-like. A definite step backwards, there.
 
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