What is Apple TV? Is it what I need?

[MacGiver]

Hi everyone,
I don't really know much about apple TV but i am an Apple user (MBP, iPhone). For my birthday i was offered a Multimedia DVR (Dvico Dvix M6500A 1TB)...But i really find the interface not user friendly...Once you have tasted Apple...

What i am looking for is
1- Watching my photos
2- Store my Dvix and iMovie videos
3- Store my iTunes and listen to my music from the tv set
4- Record tv programs

I know the apple can't do all of that and that the HD is very limited (160gb max)...
For you why is the Apple TV a good product? Isn't old vs what the competion offers now? When was the last update? Do you think Apple will update it next week and try to catch up with the DVR market?

Sorry for all the questions but i am looking for opinons and advice.
Thanks
X

 

[justaregularjoe]

mac mini + elegato eye tv + plex/front row
Hdd -> 500GB, Ram -> 2.
Done, done and done.

 

[MacGiver]

mac mini + elegato eye tv + plex/front row
Hdd -> 500GB, Ram -> 2.
Done, done and done.

Thanks - This looks like an interesting option even if more expensive at the end...
It does not include the ATV...what would the ATV do that this proposed configuration do not do?

 

[OmegaRed1723]

Out of the box, the ATV will only do items 1, 2 (only the iMovie portion), and 3 on your list. If you choose to hack the device, it becomes more flexible.

You can install Boxee and/or XBMC to manage/view all your video files (including DivX). With either of those programs you can stream media over your network, or view media stored on the ATV itself. File transfers can be performed by enabling SSH.

One thing you can't do with the current ATV is record. Some folks are hoping for a hardware update (the ATV hasn't had one yet) that may incorporate PVR capabilities, but I think that's wishful thinking. If having PVR functionality is essential for you, a Mac-Mini may be the way to go. Likewise, if you do a lot of 1080p viewing (Blu-Ray rips, etc.), the ATV is not capable of outputting that resolution.

 

[justaregularjoe]

Thanks - This looks like an interesting option even if more expensive at the end...
It does not include the ATV...what would the ATV do that this proposed configuration do not do?

My proposal does not add to the TV, it replaces it. The Mac Mini option can output to much higher resolutions, store much more data, especially when you connect an external HDD to it. Further more, running OS X for real gives you much more versatilty, with the ability to open literally any media file with a program like VLC, run fancy ass widgets to get weather, news, etc.

Just think of the TV as an iPod with no battery or screen (cuz that is what it is.) Would you rather watch a movie on that iPod, or on a desktop computer? You decide.

 

[NeGRit0]

{...}Just think of the TV as an iPod with no battery or screen{...}

Omg, you're right...

 

[justaregularjoe]

Omg, you're right...

That happens from time to time.

 

[RaceTripper]

Apple TV is underpowered, under-featured, closed, and inflexible. It's the one major disappointment in the list of Apple products I have. Adding Boxee helps somewhat, but it's slow, buggy, and modal.

Apple TV needs work as a high definition multi-media device. It's the weakest link in my home theater system. The PS3 and XBox 360 are higher quality and more mature.

Apple TV is lame. Apple needs to get serious about it or drop it altogether.

 

[justaregularjoe]

Apple TV is underpowered, under-featured, closed, and inflexible. It's the one major disappointment in the list of Apple products I have. Adding Boxee helps somewhat, but it's slow, buggy, and modal.

Apple TV needs work as a high definition multi-media device. It's the weakest link in my home theater system. The PS3 and XBox 360 are higher quality and more mature.
Yeah, even the 360 is ages ahead and far easier to use.

Apple TV is lame. Apple needs to get serious about it or drop it altogether.
Word. 40 or 160 GB for an HD MEDIA CENTER? Simply unacceptable.

The only thing I DO like about TV is the UI. But that is because I cry whenever I see shiny white on shiny black, and i love that blue they have. That shade is just perfect. Ah....
*WHAT WHOA* Sorry. Back now.

What I want to see is a device that will play any kind of media, run something very close to the TV UI, sync AND stream simultaneously, so that you can see files on the device AND back at HQ and have a much larger HD. Like 320 should be good. With HDMI. And in the form factor of the TV. it LOOKS good...