Noob Question?

[arftech]

I'm a new MacBook owner and wanting make the convergence of my Mac to HDTV to audio system. I'm looking to purchase an AppleTV...looks so cool. What will it take to tie the AppleTV box to my Mac, HDTV and audio system? Will this supply the convergence that I want? Should I wait and buy the new iTV box?

Thanks!

A

 

[waw74]

without knowing what ports your tv or audio system have, there's no way to answer this.

look at the tech specs page for apple tv and see what matches up to your equipment.

Apple tv is limited in the formats it can play. If you get all of your media from the itunes store, you'll be good. If you get it from other sources, you'll probably have to convert the files before you watch them.

look at reviews online, see if the arguments made make sense to you, make a decision on your own.

as far as waiting for the "new iTV box", apple typically announces new ipods in september, and that would be a good time to announce a new apple tv product, but as of now nothing is announced, the new apple tv rumors have been going for quite a while now. so if you think you'll be happy with the current hardware then buy, otherwise wait till the expected ipod event in september. and make a decision then.


the other option, is to get the correct cables, and an apple remote, and just hook your macbook up to the tv, front row is pretty similar to the apple tv interface.

 

[JoshBoy]

i love my appletv, use it every day. I love the fact that i can rent movies through it (much faster than the PS3) I love that when working around the house I can crank up music through my main system and control it from my iphone. I love the fact that I download a movie legit (cough) and place it into my itunes and it is transferred to the appleTV ready to watch (it goes through handbrake before hand)

 

[Chipskip]

I too love my TV, but I have mine hacked and use XBMC to play movies and music.

That said, I wouldn't buy one today. Wait to see if they update it in September (these rumors have been going on for years). Or buy a mini, now that it has an HDMI port, your good to go. then you can screen share to control your mini from your MacBook.

 

[Wicked1]

Apple TV or New Mini Media Center

Ok I was looking at an Apple TV but now that the Mini has an HDMI port this kinda makes me go in the Mini direction.

Basically they both will do the same thing now, except the Mini is faster and I can plop in bigger drives or am I off my Rocker?

 

[ckurt25]

...I love the fact that I download a movie legit (cough) and place it into my itunes and it is transferred to the appleTV ready to watch....

If you're (cough) downloading with Vuze (cough) it has a great plug in to convert and dump the movies / tv shows into iTunes for you. It doesn't support HD quality (yet?) for that conversion but if you're not concerned with HD then it works fantastic. I watch most of my stuff on my iPad now.

 

[rayward]

Ok I was looking at an Apple TV but now that the Mini has an HDMI port this kinda makes me go in the Mini direction.

Basically they both will do the same thing now, except the Mini is faster and I can plop in bigger drives or am I off my Rocker?

Plus, the mini isn't as picky about resolution and frame rates as the Apple TV. It's also more expensive...