replace drive or use external?

[stab]

Got a question.

I want more space on my ATV.

do i

- replace the drive?
or attach an external drive?

I don't really want a big noisy attachment to my atv. Would a usb2.0 powered laptop drive work?

or do I go down the replace internal HD path. Is that more cost effective (assuming I get a 160gig 2.5" drive)

what do you think?

 

[wngraham]

As fasr as I know, there's no way of attaching an external HD to the Apple TV. Am I wrong?

 

[peeaanuut]

I believe there is a hack that would allow you to connect an external drive, but since your gonna be in there to hack it anyways, you might as well replace the internal drive.

I thought about adding storage and decided to stream instead. However, if I wished to take it somewhere else to say a friends house, I would like the added storage. Its sort of a toss up.

 

[mpr131]

IMHO I don't see the need for the larger hard drive. Streaming works fine over a wireless N network. Just buy an external HD and hook it up to your computer ... saves time and labor.

 

[peeaanuut]

IMHO I don't see the need for the larger hard drive. Streaming works fine over a wireless N network. Just buy an external HD and hook it up to your computer ... saves time and labor.

I agree that if your keeping the aTV at home and not moving it to other locations than streaming either from a N or G network is just fine. I am streaming off a G network right now and its great. The downside is that you have to have your computer running but I dont know anyone who has a desktop that shuts theirs down regularly.

However, if I ever wanted to take it to say my parents house to watch some TV shows or movies I might find a need for a larger hard drive.

 

[MikieMikie]

I agree that if your keeping the aTV at home and not moving it to other locations than streaming either from a N or G network is just fine. I am streaming off a G network right now and its great. The downside is that you have to have your computer running but I dont know anyone who has a desktop that shuts theirs down regularly.

However, if I ever wanted to take it to say my parents house to watch some TV shows or movies I might find a need for a larger hard drive.

Bring it back and trade it in for the 160GB drive model.

I bought the 160 for similar reasons. I am sure at most you would have to pay would be a restocking fee. 160 will hold enough for what you want to do.

-- Mikie

 

[tronic72]

Options Options

Got a question.

I want more space on my ATV.

do i

- replace the drive?
or attach an external drive?

I don't really want a big noisy attachment to my atv. Would a usb2.0 powered laptop drive work?

or do I go down the replace internal HD path. Is that more cost effective (assuming I get a 160gig 2.5" drive)

what do you think?

There is a software hack that allows you to connect and external HD but you still need to remove the drive to copy the current drivse contents to it, so it's not much use. My advice is to stream your content and only sync the content you want to "travel with".

I have a 160 GB Apple Tv and I don't sync it at all, so the drive is pretty much empty. I simply stream it directly from my Mac. The reason I do this is I never have the time to constantly sync it. It works brilliantly and the only downside is the approximately 2-5 second wait prior to the media starting.

As one of the other posters suggested, you may want more space if you take the Apple TV away. If, like most users, the Apple TV is at a fixed location, adding storage simply isn't required.