It seems in my experience that some/many PC users hate appleTV. I am on a Star Trek original series group and I suggested that people buy appletvs and not use DVDs and boy that post got a backlash from many users. Did not have that experience in the Twilight Zone group so perhaps this may be a Personal preference thing. I can’t think of why people would hate appleTV. Many in the group got the streaming service mixed up with the appleTV unit when they are not the same. AppleTV + does not even have Star Trek anyways! The unit requires people buy content in the iTunes Store and then it’s theirs forever. Many were very confused and would not listen to reason so the conversation was pointless.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Why do some/many PC users hate the appleTV?
- Thread starter jwolf6589
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Typically because they’re cheap (want everything free) and can’t handle a real operating system.
Many that blasted me in that group thought that they had to keep paying for Trek which is false because you pay only once for a movie or Tv show in iTunes. They got the streaming service mixed up with the unit and refused to listen to reason.
Probably because they hate Apple in general. For various reasons.
Really, unless you are invested in the Apple ecosystem and don't plan on using any of the Apple TV's extraneous features. Such as gaming or buying content off iTunes. The Apple TV doesn't make much sense. As a Roku or Fire TV will do 4K streaming for less.
If you're just using services like Netflix, Prime and Disney+. It doesn't really matter which you choose.
Really, unless you are invested in the Apple ecosystem and don't plan on using any of the Apple TV's extraneous features. Such as gaming or buying content off iTunes. The Apple TV doesn't make much sense. As a Roku or Fire TV will do 4K streaming for less.
If you're just using services like Netflix, Prime and Disney+. It doesn't really matter which you choose.
What about displaying your photos and videos from your iPhone on a tv without a HDMI cable? That’s a great benefit. Can Roku and fire do that?
That is a benefit if you care about it. I expect most people just use these for streaming. People doing photos and such on a TV seems more like a niche group.
Although they do have photo apps. There are also apps for mirroring iOS and Android devices. I couldn't see doing it myself. Usually when someone wants to show me a photo. They show me on their phone or they text it to me and I do the same.
The Unique Selling Point for the Apple TV is the seamless integration with Mac/iPad/iPhone/Airplay/iTunes/Apple Music/AppleTV+ ecosystem. That may make it worth the higher price to a Mac/iPhone/iPad user - but if you are a PC/Android user then an AppleTV is about as much use as an inflatable dartboard.
There are far cheaper devices like the Chromecast, FireTV stick, Roku and cheap generic boxes to run Kodi/Plex that let you watch Netflix/Amazon etc. and play back video files and which work perfectly well.
I've got an old (version 3) AppleTV and it works perfectly with iTunes, screen sharing from an iPad etc. but I use a Fire TV box for everything else. I considered upgrading a newer AppleTV, but at the time Amazon Prime wasn't supported on it, and installing Kodi required faffing about, so I got the Fire TV. Might re-consider ATV now that it's got Amazon Prime and MrMC (App Store-friendly Kodi port) if it still comes with a year of ATV+ when Foundation comes out...
Yes, well apparently it never occurred to anybody in the Apple management echo-chamber that maybe, just maybe, calling the streaming service "AppleTV+" when they already had a product called "AppleTV" might be confusing. D'oh.
I like the Apple TV mostly because it can get the passwords from my iPhone (with face-ID). I hate trying to enter IDs and PWs by "joy-stick".
I think the only reason to buy ATV is because You already own the Holy Trinity of Apple devices: iMac, iPad, iPhone. And maybe a watch. Let's face it: ATV is for Apple users. So much before buying mine, I tried a Roku Express. Wonderful but mostly useless in the Apple world. Returned it. Now I'm happy as can be with my Apple stuff.
I'm a longtime PC fanboy, but the Apple TV experience is so polished and the apps I use work so well I cannot see using any other device for streaming. I imagine they're against the higher price tag for the device itself. If they took the leap, they'd really enjoy it. I bought a heavily discounted Homepod and paired it to the tv because I was curious how well they functioned together, not disappointed at all.
I think once my PC nears the point of death I may finally give in and try a mac...can't justify the price versus currently working machine for now.
I think once my PC nears the point of death I may finally give in and try a mac...can't justify the price versus currently working machine for now.
As others have said, Apple TV is best when used within the Apple ecosystem. You said, "...some/many PC users" in the original post, didn't mention the assumption that they would still have iPhones or iPads in a later post.
If you have an Apple product, Apple TV is great for being able to AirPlay or Screen Mirror. You lose that entire benefit if you don't have an Apple product capable of doing that. Initial Apple TV setup is much easier if you already have an iPhone. If you already have other Apple products it's likely you already have media purchases and subscriptions that can be played on the TV, and those purchases/subscriptions can be easily accessed from a variety of devices, shared with the family, etc. You may have iCloud Photos to display as a screen saver (or show off on the big screen). Altogether, using Apple TV vs some other video streaming product makes more sense.
I do encounter people whose cable TV provider is supplying Apple TV as their cable box, but who have no other Apple products. They're much less likely to appreciate the capabilities of that little black box. They install their cable provider's app, and after that it's just another cable box. If they want to purchase other Apple media products via the Apple TV then actually need to download iTunes onto their Windows PC in order to create an iTunes account (when is Apple going to fix that?).
So yeah, I can understand a lack of enthusiasm if they're not already embedded in the AppleVerse.
If you have an Apple product, Apple TV is great for being able to AirPlay or Screen Mirror. You lose that entire benefit if you don't have an Apple product capable of doing that. Initial Apple TV setup is much easier if you already have an iPhone. If you already have other Apple products it's likely you already have media purchases and subscriptions that can be played on the TV, and those purchases/subscriptions can be easily accessed from a variety of devices, shared with the family, etc. You may have iCloud Photos to display as a screen saver (or show off on the big screen). Altogether, using Apple TV vs some other video streaming product makes more sense.
I do encounter people whose cable TV provider is supplying Apple TV as their cable box, but who have no other Apple products. They're much less likely to appreciate the capabilities of that little black box. They install their cable provider's app, and after that it's just another cable box. If they want to purchase other Apple media products via the Apple TV then actually need to download iTunes onto their Windows PC in order to create an iTunes account (when is Apple going to fix that?).
So yeah, I can understand a lack of enthusiasm if they're not already embedded in the AppleVerse.
Hmm did not think of this. I guess since I am an apple boy as well as all my family sometimes its easy to miss what PC users feel. I mean I use Windows all day at work, but at home its all Apple products.
Agree with many others above. To me, it's 2 main themes:
- Many benefits of Apple TV come if you're already in the Apple ecosystem. For us, it's worth the higher cost over the standard streaming box because of a lot of these synergies with our other Apple devices
- Confusion over the Apple TV device and the Apple TV+ streaming service, and a generally accepted (at least on these boards) fact that Apple botched the launch and marketing of it
Look, it's not perfect by any means. I for one was annoyed for a long time they hadn't updated the Apple TV 4K for 3+ years (and had been waiting / holding out to get a new one until finally biting the bullet and buying a new-in-box 4K on secondary market at a good discount). But I get it's not for everyone - and it makes most sense for those in the ecosystem, and those not in it, it doesn't.
- Many benefits of Apple TV come if you're already in the Apple ecosystem. For us, it's worth the higher cost over the standard streaming box because of a lot of these synergies with our other Apple devices
- Confusion over the Apple TV device and the Apple TV+ streaming service, and a generally accepted (at least on these boards) fact that Apple botched the launch and marketing of it
Look, it's not perfect by any means. I for one was annoyed for a long time they hadn't updated the Apple TV 4K for 3+ years (and had been waiting / holding out to get a new one until finally biting the bullet and buying a new-in-box 4K on secondary market at a good discount). But I get it's not for everyone - and it makes most sense for those in the ecosystem, and those not in it, it doesn't.
This, this and THIS! Ugh. I can not believe someone actually approved this naming convention. Apple TV. Apple TV app. Apple TV+ Channel. Not confusing at all!
Agreed! My Apple TV is a dud! I've spent months and months and spent several hundred dollars (new modem/router and EoP connectors) trying to fix a consistent buffering problem (interestingly using an iOS device connected via an Apple Lightening Digital AV Adapter fixes the problem (but has no remote controller) - also interestingly, many contributors on this forum tell me I don't have a problem, because Apple hardware NEVER has any problems 🤔🤭😬)
I really like the idea but my experience is very bad.
Don't say PC users. macbooks are PCs as well.
Are you asking why windows 10 users hate AppleTV? It's simple, because less people have apple products so it's very easy to pick on people who own apple products. People who use android only or windows only think that apple products are a waste of money, many of them think that if you purchase an apple product that you must have been tricked or fooled into buying it or that you're uninformed or that you don't know about tech.
Because all of these assumptions have been thrown around for over 2 decades now, many windows users (I would argue most of them) follow these beliefs to a "T", meaning they treat it like it's gospel cause they've heard it or read it or thought it themselves many many times.
I used to think apple products were stupid//overpriced//waste of money//foolish to purchase any apple products but then I grew up and eventually realized that I was the stupid one.
I wouldn't worry about it. These kinds of people think that you're trying to trick them into something when in reality you're just telling the truth. The same thing happens to Christian people, they get hated on for expressing their truths and belief. You're no different here, you're being attacked for being honest. I would say that you should be proud of this, being honest and berated is a good thing. You're doing the right thing. You can try to convince them, maybe one of them will listen to you but don't let it bring you down if they don't. Windows users and PC Gamers are VERY tribal when it comes to their PC stuff and so you mentioning Apple means that you're attacking them (in their eyes) .. you're saying that Apple might actually do something decent which to many Windows fans is not possible in their eyes.
Not really confusing. There's a TV, an APP, and a Channel. Pretty simple if you ask me.
It's the same reason why a lot of non-Apple users hate on all Apple products. As an Apple TV user myself, I'd never recommend it to people unless they were already heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem. It's just so much more money than the alternatives and, arguably, not really any better if you don't care about the Apple ecosystem. For most people, a cheap Roku or their TV's built-in apps are more than good enough.
Going on a non-Apple forum and suggesting folks start using an Apple TV is kind of like suggesting folks start using iPhones instead of Android phones. You're just going to start a flame war.
Going on a non-Apple forum and suggesting folks start using an Apple TV is kind of like suggesting folks start using iPhones instead of Android phones. You're just going to start a flame war.
Ewww, Chromecast?? You support supporting GooGle?? ): that makes me sadd 😥
🤮🤮
Ewww, Amazon Firestick?? You support supporting Amazon?? ): that makes me sadd 😥
🤮🤮
well to be fair, most people would prefer and should use iphones, they just don't yet. People don't know what they want. That's one of Apples sort of "mottos", we as consumers don't really know what we want.
People THINK that they want androids cause of all the options//flexibility but really it's just a headache at the end of the day compared to an iphone. I would know cause I was an android only fan before. I don't want a phone that does 999999999 things and has 9999999999 different settings to mess with, I just want my phone to text and to read things online that's pretty much it. Looking back how much time I wasted on my Galaxy phones changing useless settings it's unbelievable.
Sure, if you've been using the TV app since it was introduced. Try just looking over some of the threads on this site about people asking about "Apple TV+" when they really mean the Apple TV app. Many, many people think subscribing to Apple TV+ gets them Netflix-like access to everything they see in the TV app, and they are unpleasantly surprised when that doesn't happen.
Apple dropped the ball in the naming of these devices/services and marketing them.