Apple TV - Timing?

[ASmallProblem]

Hey folks.
I was considering buying an Apple TV - I've recently been purchasing a fair amount of movies/ tv shows on iTunes and would rather watch them on my tv instead of various smaller screens.

Now, I was wondering if any current owners could tell me whether or not they are worth it? Also, before WWDC I had heard a few rumors about a new Apple TV possibly coming out, but I never really paid much attention to it - has any new information/rumors surfaced? Has it been crushed?

Anyways, hopefully will get some feedback as to whether or not now would be a good time to buy/ if it's a worthwhile product for what I want it for.

Thanks

 

[zedsdead]

It is worth the money, although the hardware is almost four years old. There have been some recent rumors, and Apple will obviously try and strike back against Google a bit.

The most likely date if anything happens this year would be at the September iPod Event, which would be 4 years since it was originally introduced.

 

[Corruptitudes]

I love my apple tv. It does what I want it to. Which is to play movies from itunes, and I have ripped my dvd collection to apple tv format via handbrake.

I have a 720p tv, and it looks great to me. Im sure some would say my setup looks like cr@p but Im happy with it. I cant tell a difference in most movies anyway.

The only thing I would really like is for itunes to got to an unlimited type setup or a tv/movie setup where you could download so many tv/movies per month for a set fee. Id drop Netflix if I had something like that available...

 

[maestrokev]

It is worth it if you are mainly buying/renting your content from iTunes. It's not worth it if you already have a $100 WDTV Live or Asus O!Play that can play any format without conversion. I mainly use my ATV to play video podcasts and the odd show I buy from iTunes. Even with my MacPro it's easier to play Bluray or DVD ripped content from my WDTV Live.

 

[ASmallProblem]

Thanks for the comments.

To be on the safe side I probably should wait until September I suppose. I'd hate to buy one now, and in a few months already have it outdated. Sigh

 

[Mitchelino]

I'm probably waiting until winter 2010 to buy one. I've got a fair library of TV shows and movies growing in iTunes, and I'd love to be able to watch them without having to tether my Mac to my TV all the time. I figure I may as well wait to see if they update it at the September media event, as others have stated.

 

[Matthew9559]

I think the Apple TV is worth it overall. Right now I am watching This Week in Google Podcast while writing this post. Generally I use my Apple TV for watching podcasts, listening to music, and watching ripped DVD movies from Handbrake. I also have the occasional Digital Copy movie (Dark Knight/Horton Hears a Who/Wall-e/Up/etc.).

Getting movies from your DVD library to ATV format is such a simple process. Albeit time consuming on my MBP.

The way I consume media has changed with my ATV and that's what matters to me. There is so much more the ATV could do but this is what we were given.