Purpose of hard drive on Apple TV?

[CalMin]

If you can only sync to it, and you can't store movies on it, then what makes the 160gb worthwhile?

I'd be happy with 40gb of content on most days even though my mac stores a lot more. Am I missing something here???

 

[Mindflux]

If you can only sync to it, and you can't store movies on it, then what makes the 160gb worthwhile?

I'd be happy with 40gb of content on most days even though my mac stores a lot more. Am I missing something here???

Syncing IS storing data on it. It's like syncing music to your iPod. Same with Movies.

 

[Cave Man]

An identical thread started earlier today.

 

[macboy62]

If you can only sync to it, and you can't store movies on it, then what makes the 160gb worthwhile?

I'd be happy with 40gb of content on most days even though my mac stores a lot more. Am I missing something here???

I have never filled my TV HDD, 40G is okay for me to keep unwatched TV, movies and 3000 photos on. I have also not had much of a problem streaming to the TV over g, I guess n would have no problems.

I guess it's just the time it takes to load and play if you want to watch something you have not sync'ed earlier and/or your network is slow. More choice straight from the box without having your Mac running.

 

[pjarvi]

I already have over 100GB of movies/TV shows on my TV. It took close to 4 hours to sync, but now I never have to turn my MacBook on to watch something.

 

[CalMin]

OK. I think I get it. Thanks for the replies. I'll probably get the 160 - just because I usually buy the best of anything that I can afford.

Pity you can't store your movies on there officially (without the delete from finder workaround). My mac HD space is too precious to store lots of movies that I will only watch occasionally.

 

[ipedro]

I have the 160GB TV and I'm beginning to see the day when it will be full.

Your iTunes by default copies files you drag into it in its library but you can turn that off. You can also turn it off temporarily so that large files --like movies-- stay in their current location.

So here's what I do...

1 - Rip my DVDs with Handbrake on to an external HDD I have for all my movies.
2 - OPTION + Drag the movie into iTunes. This adds a link of the file to iTunes without copying the file into my MacBook Pro's HDD.
3 - TV starts syncing the file
3 - The file is now on the TV and I can disconnect the external drive and TV will play it without my Mac on.

Works beautifully

 

[ipedro]

... and by the way. I had only just a few gigs left on my MBP. It was beginning to worry me.

After I started using this workflow, I decided to do the same to all my TV shows and music videos. If I want to sync them to my iPod, I just need to remember to have my external HDD connected when I do the sync.

Once Take 2 arrives in a few days, I'll be able to delete all my podcasts off my MacBook Pro and reclaim nearly 10GB of space back.

 

[fivepoint]

I have the 160GB TV and I'm beginning to see the day when it will be full.

Your iTunes by default copies files you drag into it in its library but you can turn that off. You can also turn it off temporarily so that large files --like movies-- stay in their current location.

So here's what I do...

1 - Rip my DVDs with Handbrake on to an external HDD I have for all my movies.
2 - OPTION + Drag the movie into iTunes. This adds a link of the file to iTunes without copying the file into my MacBook Pro's HDD.
3 - TV starts syncing the file
3 - The file is now on the TV and I can disconnect the external drive and TV will play it without my Mac on.

Works beautifully

But, you could do the exact same thing with a 40GB TV, right? The only difference is that you woudl be 'streaming' instead of 'syncing' the content.

The functionality is the same.

 

[cazlar]

But, you could do the exact same thing with a 40GB TV, right? The only difference is that you woudl be 'streaming' instead of 'syncing' the content.

The functionality is the same.

Except then the external drive would need to be on and connected when you want to play the file. Not always an issue if you have a desktop, but not great if you use a laptop and don't always want it hooked up.

 

[ipedro]

But, you could do the exact same thing with a 40GB TV, right? The only difference is that you woudl be 'streaming' instead of 'syncing' the content.

The functionality is the same.

The functionality is the same... to an extent.

The purpose of having a large HDD on your TV is to not depend on your computer. I want my TV to be a living room device that is capable of streaming content from my computers if need be, but is self reliant.

I don't want to have to go open my MacBook Pro and open iTunes to be able to watch content when I'm on the couch. I want to be able to turn around, grab the remote and start using my TV.

160GB is good... but I have a feeling that when I'm done with unloading all my DVDs into the device, I'll have very little left.

Regardless, the TV still holds the same value that it had when I bought it -- actually, it has more now with Take 2 -- so I can't complain. When Apple starts streaming all HD content (TV shows, music videos, Movie rentals), a 160GB drive won't be enough and I'm sure we'll see a 1TB TV hit the shelves and I'll consider getting another one at that point.

For now.. 40GB is too small, 160GB is just right