I'm considering getting an apple tv mainly for the TV shows. I do not plan on using it for movies except maybe for a rent here or there. I'd rather buy movies in Blu Ray for the 1080p experience but mainly just for the TV shows is it worth it?
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is Apple TV worth it?
- Thread starter Kcissem D
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My opinion is that the Apple TV is totally worth it. I also think that it might just be ahead of it's time. I held out switching from VHS to DVD as long as I could, but when I did I spent lots of money buying new DVD's and coverting my VHS library over to DVD also. Needless to say, when Blu-Ray entered the picture, I felt burned. In a very short span of time I spent hundreds of dollars switching to the next big thing. I swore I would never let that happen to me again. So when the Apple TV came out, I converted all my DVD's to digital format and sold them. My opinion is that for right now I'd rather have convenience over Hi-Def. And I'm much happier for it.
For me, it's absolutely been worth it.
I have two kids and use it all the time for movie night. It's just easier to access movies stored on my main iTunes library and have them playing on the big screen in seconds.
The HD content looks great to my eyes at a 10-12' viewing distance on my 50" plasma in the living room. The first HD title I purchased was "UP" and I was very happy with the resolution and overall value now that iTunes extras are supported on the device.
As an added bonus - no DVDs to lose, get strewn about the house and broken, etc...all the fun that comes with 2 kids.
In addition, all the media is now on a central library - making it very easy to put a movie I want to watch on a plane onto my iphone or iPod for the kids. It's just like taking the DVD along with you - with the same benefit - no DVD to lose.
I stream all content over my N only network - no need for the hard drive other than rentals (which are nice, and I use occasionally). I have a 40GB and use it almost daily.
My wife uses it and likes the interface. That's a success in my book.
I could've gone with a mac mini using plex and a wireless keyboard/mouse combination - but that's too geeky for the living room in my opinion - esp. with kids running around. When we want to watch something it's up and running in a few seconds.
I have two kids and use it all the time for movie night. It's just easier to access movies stored on my main iTunes library and have them playing on the big screen in seconds.
The HD content looks great to my eyes at a 10-12' viewing distance on my 50" plasma in the living room. The first HD title I purchased was "UP" and I was very happy with the resolution and overall value now that iTunes extras are supported on the device.
As an added bonus - no DVDs to lose, get strewn about the house and broken, etc...all the fun that comes with 2 kids.
In addition, all the media is now on a central library - making it very easy to put a movie I want to watch on a plane onto my iphone or iPod for the kids. It's just like taking the DVD along with you - with the same benefit - no DVD to lose.
I stream all content over my N only network - no need for the hard drive other than rentals (which are nice, and I use occasionally). I have a 40GB and use it almost daily.
My wife uses it and likes the interface. That's a success in my book.
I could've gone with a mac mini using plex and a wireless keyboard/mouse combination - but that's too geeky for the living room in my opinion - esp. with kids running around. When we want to watch something it's up and running in a few seconds.
I won't attempt to argue a matter of personal preference, but this mentality does perplex me-- I've heard similar sentiments from friends and family. If you waited so long to jump into DVD, why is the introduction of BluRay a "burn" for you? You intentionally waited until the format had aged considerably, then are surprised when a superior alternative presents itself soon afterward? It's not like BluRay showed up the day after DVD launched, it was literally 10 years later.
To contrast, I jumped into DVD in the late 90s, about a year after format launch. Didn't regret it for a second, loved DVD and still do. But, by 2007, the limitations of the format were glaringly clear to me, and although I enjoyed what it had to offer, I was more than ready to upgrade. After all, "upgrading" was no more complex than buying a new player and switching to movies in different colored cases.
Again, I will not disagree with your personal preference, that's just silly. I just can't fathom this idea that BluRay is an offense to DVD users, particularly people who haven't been DVD users for very long.
I love my apple tv, with the current software it hassle free, all of the sync issues are gone and its super reliable. I love both of mine and will get a third the moment I have a third TV.
My experience
I loved all of my Apple TVs, and I say all because it has a heat problem and they die. I'm not getting a new one until there is a design/hardware change. But I will buy one again.
I loved all of my Apple TVs, and I say all because it has a heat problem and they die. I'm not getting a new one until there is a design/hardware change. But I will buy one again.
It's a burn cause I spent lots of money just to have the format replaced by a more expensive, technically superior, format. The introduction to Blu Ray was nothing like the intro to DVD. VHS at least had a long enough life span. When I finally made the switch to DVD I just assumed a superior alternative wasn't right around the corner. After the introduction of the Apple TV I just said, "This is the future of entertainment." Eventually technology will catch up with what the Apple TV is trying to do and Blu Ray will become obselete. I can't justify spending hundreds to switch to Blu Ray so thats why I made digital copies of the DVDs and sold them. I'm not sure what the next step is after Blu Ray, but I'm positive that one day everyone will want to carry their entertainment where ever they go and will look back and say why did I waste all my money on discs. The Apple TV route, for me, offers a cheaper alternative for owning good quality movies with the convenience of press n play. No fiddling with discs or tacking down lost/misplaced discs.
I've had mine (one-and-only) for three years and it is still working, so YMMV.
Mmmkay. I have to admit to having been following the development of BluRay since VERY early on. I always assumed that DVD's best years would be prior to the mainstreaming of HDTV. But even still, DVD easily has another 15 years of life left in it, and I'm willing to bet more. That'll outdo VHS' run.
Would I buy my AppleTV again? Yes!
But not for the TV shows. It's an invaluable tool if you are into photography for displaying your slideshows on an HDTV. It's also great for showing/storing home movies. I rarely use it to watch regular movies or TV shows though.....and I really wish it came with a larger hard drive.
But not for the TV shows. It's an invaluable tool if you are into photography for displaying your slideshows on an HDTV. It's also great for showing/storing home movies. I rarely use it to watch regular movies or TV shows though.....and I really wish it came with a larger hard drive.
Without doubt the ATV has been worth it. A great little machine. I have however ripped nearly 500 movies from my DVDs and purchased content from iTunes. I also have 1000 tv episodes. Plus about 10,000 songs.
To have access to that content via airport express and ATV is a must. Otherwise it just sits on your HD and I don't do any multimedia entertainment in front of my computer.
To have access to that content via airport express and ATV is a must. Otherwise it just sits on your HD and I don't do any multimedia entertainment in front of my computer.
Absolutely. If you have kids you know the value of Apple TV for sure!
I have 4 of them and I'm looking to purchase one or possibly 2 more in the near future. They are fantastic little devices that do exactly what you expect -- extend iTunes to the living room (or bedroom, bathroom, etc). If you come in expected 1080P and terabytes of storage in a $200 box you are a fool.
There's nothing like having access to your entire library ANYWHERE in the house, garage, etc at any time. The interface is great too, despite a few rumblings I see about it from time to time.
I have 4 of them and I'm looking to purchase one or possibly 2 more in the near future. They are fantastic little devices that do exactly what you expect -- extend iTunes to the living room (or bedroom, bathroom, etc). If you come in expected 1080P and terabytes of storage in a $200 box you are a fool.
There's nothing like having access to your entire library ANYWHERE in the house, garage, etc at any time. The interface is great too, despite a few rumblings I see about it from time to time.
You're comparing a $600 (minimum) device to a $229 one? Isn't that apples and oranges?
I could buy 3 current Apple TV for the cost of the most basic Mini configuration. Sure the Mini can do a lot more -- it also costs 3X. YMMV.
(I'm speaking only to the Intel Mini's, don't tell me about some old G4 unit you found on eBay for $200 please.
)
Wow - this thread again!
Erm no, I don't believe it is worth it. But then I've got one I bought when they first came out so I've had my fun with it. I use it a couple of times a week now - and then it comes in very handy. I have mine 'hacked' and run xbmc on it with a crystal HD chip, which makes it HD capable if a little glitchy.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's nearly worth it, and if your prepared to hack it about it's even more nearly worth it.
Clear as mud really.
Give one a go and see if you like it.
Erm no, I don't believe it is worth it. But then I've got one I bought when they first came out so I've had my fun with it. I use it a couple of times a week now - and then it comes in very handy. I have mine 'hacked' and run xbmc on it with a crystal HD chip, which makes it HD capable if a little glitchy.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's nearly worth it, and if your prepared to hack it about it's even more nearly worth it.
Clear as mud really.
Give one a go and see if you like it.
I'm new to this also, would Apple TV be good enough to replace cable, for normal network tv shows to watch?
I went to the Apple store and saw they have network TV shows, but I don't think it's worth $1.99 each
Why? The WD TV Live and an external HD here in Norway will cost just under $200 and give you 1080p. I really don't understand why Apple doesn't introduce a new AppleTV with improved hardware.
BUT if you dump cable/satellite which will save you 80-100 bucks per month, the $30 for a full season of shows doesn't seem all that expensive anymore.
Let's say you have 5 favorite shows...that costs you $150 for a year/season. Cable/Sat would cost you around $1000 or more.
For us, it sure was worth it. Even going with the HD versions.
Subscription would be better, but even the way it is now it is a huge money savings if you want to dump cable/sat.