Is wireless streaming better than mini?

[JoeJoe]

Hi,

I have a wireless network running via the "old" airport extreme.

When streaming movies from my G4 powerbook to my G4 mac-mini(which is attached to my TV) the video (almost) always "stutters", you can't watch it.

Assuming I don't upgrade my network, will the AppleTV do a better job and not "stutter", or is it my wireless network that's the issue? Maybe I need the new AE?

Running Tiger and Comcast broadband(with a comcast supplied modem). And my internet connection speed appears to be fine.

Thanks in advance.

 

[clevin]

1. what type of wireless network? 802.11b? g?
2. what is your video's bitrate?

 

[roland.g]

I bought an Apple TV last weekend. I connected it to my Samsung 42" DLP and in my office I have a Mini wirelessly connected to the Airport Extreme 2 inches away from it. The Airport is the old g version. It is connected to Comcast Cable Broadband. I also have an Airport Express that I used in the past for streaming audio that sometimes would stutter. With the Apple TV I sync'd my photo library and most of my music, some home movies and my video podcasts. I use it in streaming mode connected to the same iTunes library on my Mini for feature length DVDs that I have ripped, access to my whole audio library (since it is 38GB by itself) and audio podcasts. I have not seen it stutter once. The video takes about 2-3 seconds to load/cache in streaming mode and then plays flawlessly. I expected that I would need the new n AEBS, but then read the reports last week about it working just fine with g, even for video. I couldn't be happier. I have ripped a DVD at 1500, 2000, and 2500 bit rates for comparison and I can't tell the difference on my TV. I can on my Mac because of the high resolution of the screen, and only at full screen. And it doesn't stutter at the higher bit rate. I would say go for it. I also have an old house with plaster walls which often affects signal strength, but have not been affected by that. My Apple TV reads 5 out of 5 bars, full signal. Now my base station is only about 20-30 feet from the Apple TV.

If I had a Mini connected to the TV, sure I would get the DVD player aspect and web surfing, etc, but as many have said, it would still be a bit much for my wife to operate. With the Apple TV, the interface is great, the screensaver is fun, and it is much more user friendly than a Mini to my wife.

 

[ctakim]

Apple has done a great job with the ATV as a streaming device. I've streamed Apple lossless content and videos over a wired Ethernet network and wirelessly and had no stutters or hiccups. When I used the Airport Express (even with a wire connection!) the drop outs made it unusable.

 

[JoeJoe]

Thanks everyone.

I guess my question should have been: If my current wireless network produces "stuttered" movies when streaming(via itunes file sharing), then won't the atv stremed movies stutter as well? If not, what does it have that my mini doesn't that allows it to not stutter??????

Thank you.

edit: actually, Roland may have answered it. It appears that (for whatever reason) the atv doesn't stutter even when a mac-mini does - using the same wireless network.