I think I want an Apple TV but not sure if it will fit my needs-

[rkb]

I'm always in favor of shinny new Apple products but have a few questions but first some info on my network. I have ATT DSL at the max speed that I can get in my area- which is a sucky 1.5mbs at best. No other service is available at this time, I check weekly.

I use an Airport Extreme router and connect an iMac, MBA, iPad, iPhone4 and a Wii.

I use Netflix and streaming to the MBA, phone, and iMac look pretty good but to my 31in HDTV via the Wii is rubbish.

Questions-

Is my DSL too slow for streaming efficiently at a high quality for my TV?

Can I insert a DVD into the iMac and stream it to the ATV or do I need to rip first, Handbrake, import to iTunes THEN stream to ATV. If that is the case it seems cumbersome vs just tossing the DVD into the player.

Thanks
R

 

[jcschlic]

You can't put a DVD in your iMac and it will play on the aTV. You have to rip it and stream to the aTV.

As for your DSL connection, I'd say it's too slow. I could be wrong though.

 

[zhenya]

The AppleTV is turning out to have some of the best picture quality of any Netflix device, but with your Internet speed, I think things are going to be a bit disappointing for you. It should be as good or better picture quality than you get from your macs, but wait times for Netflix and even more so, for rentals, could be extremely long.

As noted, yes, you will have to rip the dvd first. Airplay from the DVD drive would be incredible, but it's unlikely to come any time soon, if at all.

Don't overlook the value of Airplay, however. With it, you will be able to stream any content from iTunes on any Mac in the house directly to the tv or stereo. With an iOS device, you will shortly be able to stream almost any audio or video content you can view on those devices as well. I've been using this for a couple of weeks now, and this promises to radically change the streaming landscape. AirPlay is the really big thing about the AppleTV.

 

[benhollberg]

I am like you, I have some pretty slow internet and streaming to the Apple TV doesn't work good. However, I am a huge library on movies on my iTunes that I stream to my Apple TV and it works great. If you don't want to rip movies and have a slow internet connection I suggest just wait for faster internet. But eventually you will want those DVDs on the computer, I would rip them.

 

[From A Buick 8]

I'm always in favor of shinny new Apple products but have a few questions but first some info on my network. I have ATT DSL at the max speed that I can get in my area- which is a sucky 1.5mbs at best. No other service is available at this time, I check weekly.

I use an Airport Extreme router and connect an iMac, MBA, iPad, iPhone4 and a Wii.

I use Netflix and streaming to the MBA, phone, and iMac look pretty good but to my 31in HDTV via the Wii is rubbish.

The ATV will not be any worse then the Wii for streaming netflix so you would not lose anythung here. It might be a little better but count on it being the same.

Questions-

Is my DSL too slow for streaming efficiently at a high quality for my TV?

Can I insert a DVD into the iMac and stream it to the ATV or do I need to rip first, Handbrake, import to iTunes THEN stream to ATV. If that is the case it seems cumbersome vs just tossing the DVD into the player.

Thanks
R

If you just bite the bullet and start encoding your DVD's to your iMac or even better an Ext hdd connected to your iMac you will not regret it. Being able to instantly access all of your DVD's and the added comfort that the physical disc is safely stored away is very cool.

I have over 600 DVD's and TV shows, i am about half way through my encoding project and it really is not a big deal just takes some time and patience.

 

[benhollberg]

The ATV will not be any worse then the Wii for streaming netflix so you would not lose anythung here. It might be a little better but count on it being the same.

If you just bite the bullet and start encoding your DVD's to your iMac or even better an Ext hdd connected to your iMac you will not regret it. Being able to instantly access all of your DVD's and the added comfort that the physical disc is safely stored away is very cool.

I have over 600 DVD's and TV shows, i am about half way through my encoding project and it really is not a big deal just takes some time and patience.

The Wii will probably stream faster than the Apple TV because the Apple TV will stream in HD. I am pretty sure that Wii does not support HD.

You should rip your movies.

 

[rkb]

Thanks for the great replies! I just got a one TB HD and will start the ripping process. Right now I'm using Ripit, it seems to work pretty good. With the DVDs ripped and then streamed to the ATV is a great idea, I guess I'll need to Handbrake them to Apple standard format.

 

[benhollberg]

Thanks for the great replies! I just got a one TB HD and will start the ripping process. Right now I'm using Ripit, it seems to work pretty good. With the DVDs ripped and then streamed to the ATV is a great idea, I guess I'll need to Handbrake them to Apple standard format.

I use Handbrake, and in the Apple pre-sets I use Universal. It works great.

 

[rkb]

I use Handbrake, and in the Apple pre-sets I use Universal. It works great.

Yeah, that's the one I meant. I use that one for my daughter's iPad- it does look great!