AppleTV
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With all the chatter about the AppleTV, it’s interesting to hear someone’s opinions on why you should NOT rush out to buy one. Dubfrog from our Live Community sent in this Top Five list of reasons not to buy AppleTV. What IS AppleTV, you ask? Apple TV lets you rent movies, buy TV shows and music, and view your .Mac and Flickr photos from the best seat in the house… yours.
- You have a fifth-generation iPod with video and a $20 bill in your pocket. If you have a full-sized iPod with a video screen, you’re in luck: a lot of AppleTVs functionality is already sitting inside your iPod. It’s waiting to be used with literally any TV you own. All you need is a $15-20 iPod AV Cable from one of more than ten vendors, and you can play music, photos, and videos directly from your iPod, with up to 80 Gigs of storage space. Counterpoint: You’ll have to give up AppleTVs on-TV menuing and use the iPod’s screen to select content.
- You don’t have a high-definition TV, or don’t use one as your primary set. Apple mandates that you have a widescreen television capable of at least 480P resolution, which means that you’ll almost certainly need to have a high-definition set in order to even use AppleTV. If you don’t have one of these TVs, or don’t keep it in a room where you most often watch videos, AppleTV might not be right for you.
- You have a large movie collection that isn’t in one of AppleTVs two supported formats. For years, video files have been popularized in all sorts of file formats - DiVX, MPEG-2, WMV, and various types of AVIs. AppleTV won’t play most of them, and it won’t play your DVDs, either. Assuming you live in a country where DVD ripping is legal - take one step back, American readers - you’ll most likely need to use special conversion tools and spend a couple of hours per DVD you want to convert into an AppleTV-optimized file. Do you really want to invest that time in this format? Counterpoint: The latest AppleTV variant on Apple’s H.264 video format offers nice, high resolutions, so maybe it’s the right time to start converting your movies - unless you need 5.1-channel surround sound.
- You’re budgeting for another Apple purchase, like a Mac mini. With the $499 iPhone, new iPods, and full-fledged computers like the $599 Mac mini out there… you have plenty of other ways to spend your cash on Apple products. Many readers think the similarly wireless-ready, more powerful Mac mini offers a much better value for home AV users - it certainly offers more hard drive space and the ability to play back any video you may have, including digital files in any format. Counterpoint: Unless you’re planning to buy a 30GB iPod, nothing Apple’s releasing is going to be much less than a $299 AppleTV, and you’ll have to shell out a lot more for one of those fancy Mac minis.
- You want to hold out for a version with higher resolution or more hard disk space. If it’s a good Apple product, the company always releases a better one later… and if it’s a bad product, it quietly disappears from store shelves. Even if you don’t like the current AppleTV, you’ll have to concede that an updated version is likely to eventually follow, with enough horsepower to support even better video quality, and/or store more content. As nice as the first-generation iPod was, most people would laugh at paying $399 today for its 5GB disk drive. Counterpoint: Apple could update some of Apple TV’s features in firmware, or release inexpensive add-ons to enhance its capabilities. Who’d be laughing then?
Hi Chris, I’ve been subscribed to your Youtube channel for a few months, and had just watched your AppleTV video. You brought up watching Youtube videos on the AppleTV, and how Ponzi would rather watch the videos on her TV. The Wii’s Opera browser actually works very well with Youtube videos, so you could watch full-screen videos on your TV without buying a fancy apple product. It may be just a web browser, but a few people overlook their ability to watch videos from the internet on a screen bigger than their monitor.
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36 Comments
KrnSidez
March 11th, 2008
at 9:15pm
i still want an Apple TV. It is not a bad device. it is basicly XP, not great but still good.
~~~~Google
bcj999
March 11th, 2008
at 9:37pm
after what you said about Apple TV, i have no use for it whatsoever.
kevaughanshiu
March 11th, 2008
at 11:45pm
You can watch youtube videos on the wii…
Get the Internet Channel (lets u surf the web/etc.)
go to youtube and just watch vids.
Abdul Qabiz
March 12th, 2008
at 2:05am
I bought Apple TV when it was released. I think, I made mistake. It’s useless box and closed platform - means very few applications.
Get a Apple Mini and use it rather…
maxamus2000
March 12th, 2008
at 3:05am
ur a sad ******* a very sad ******* do u hav nothing to but make these stpuid videos gets some friends
kangy3213
March 12th, 2008
at 4:55am
if you buy a dock and the av cables she can use her iphone to watch youtube vids on tv, thats what i do
laneisgangster7
March 12th, 2008
at 5:05am
maxamus, this isnt what he does all the time. dude he has a wife and the hole internet loves him, im pretty sure he ahs some friends
Surferwoman
March 12th, 2008
at 5:10am
Slice of Scifi - Science Fiction TV & Movie News, Interviews & morewrote an interesting post today on Here’s a quick excerpt Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed With all the chatter about the AppleTV, it’s interesting to hear someone’s opinions on why you should NOT rush out to buy one.
Othercool - Just another Othercool.com weblog
March 12th, 2008
at 5:11am
Slashdot: News for nerds, stuff that matterswrote an interesting post today on Here’s a quick excerpt Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed With all the chatter about the AppleTV, it’s interesting to hear someone’s opinions on why you should NOT rush out to buy one.
cphellp
March 12th, 2008
at 5:47am
i have it and i love it
Windows Vista Torrent
March 12th, 2008
at 5:59am
Tech Interviews Laptop FireAppleTVFood From India! How to Listen to Music Without Breaking the Law How to Build your own Laptop Gold Farming in WoW (and More) Camcorder Buying Tips How to Beat Video Game Addiction $50.00 ThinkGeek Gift Certificate
Ethan
March 12th, 2008
at 6:43am
Why would you use apple tv to watch youtube, don’t you have the wii? I thought the wii was capable of watching youtube.
halowarrules
March 12th, 2008
at 6:59am
i have never look into apple tv, do you think i need to but i do live in the uk?
thecreativeone
March 12th, 2008
at 7:02am
maxamus2000, you clearly don’t know who this guy is. I suggest you think before you post a comment.
swinnie92
March 12th, 2008
at 7:11am
THINK before you comment.
You obviously are very sad for posting the comment that I am replying to. If you don’t like this, don’t watch it.
destructon62
March 12th, 2008
at 8:21am
by the way, the apple tv is $229
MXhm91
March 12th, 2008
at 8:42am
maxamus2000 this is his job…. he gets money to “entertain” people… or tell people useful stuff about hardware etc… your the sad *******…. he probably has more friends then you..
dubfrog1
March 12th, 2008
at 9:01am
Thx chris for making this vid!!! i didnt think u would use it
TheConciseStatement
March 12th, 2008
at 11:58am
Until YouTube starts supporting longer durations of HD content, there’s no way I’d want YouTube quality videos on my television.
mdio1234
March 12th, 2008
at 12:14pm
Admit it, you are an apple fanboy, that is not a bad thing and I am definetly one too
KenC
March 12th, 2008
at 6:02pm
Point 1: If you have a 5G iPod with video, more than likely you have a computer. You can connect that computer to many modern TVs with better viewing results than connecting a 5G iPod.
Point 2: That’s just stating the obvious. You’d have to be daft to buy an AppleTV and connect it to an old analog set.
Point 3: You can use iSquint or Visual Hub to convert those divx files to H.264, or then again go back to my Answer 1, just connect your computer.
Point 4: As nice as the Mac mini is, you won’t be able to rent HD videos from iTunes.
Point 5: There’s always potential buyer’s remorse as technology inexorably moves forward. You can wait, and wait and wait, cause there’s always something bigger, better or faster on the horizon. And, there’s no reason why a bigger harddrive should matter that much, as streaming is seamless. As long as the media is on your computer and you have wired or wifi-G, you will never notice the difference between having an AppleTV with 40gigs or 160gigs. Should you wait for 1080i or 1080p? If you are on a budget, as the original author suggests, why are you waiting for 1080i or p?
aerospacenews
March 13th, 2008
at 2:16am
My first Chris Pirillo experience. Hmmm. Good stuff, I can see why you have a following.
I watched the video ’cause I saw the update pitch Jobs made at Mac World for AppleTV and it looked interesting. I don’t recall him mentioning the system requirements for the display. Glad you did.
wishbone995
March 13th, 2008
at 8:13am
I Have an appletv and it was woth it.
nestor240
March 14th, 2008
at 3:58am
Have you tried putting ¨&fmt=18¨ to the end of the URL?
hempadvocate
March 14th, 2008
at 6:10am
the AppleTV works fine with a old school standard def. TV at 480i resolution (as long as you have component input)… HandBrake includes an AppleTV preset and supports 5.1ch AC3 audio… the resulting video files stream from a G3 iBook over 802.11g network without a problem so the limited 40GB hard drive isn’t a problem.
zeppelinboys
March 14th, 2008
at 11:20am
cant wait until i get my TV
yfnfkbzjcbgjdf
March 15th, 2008
at 3:57am
пожалуйста не читайте это.я сама уже попалась.Вас будут целовать в самую близкую пятницу любовью к вашей жизни.Завтра будет лучший день в вашей жизни.Однако,если вы не будете объявлять этот комментарий по крайней мере к 3 видео, то Вы умрете в течение 2 дней аа ужос нах)))
Jim Erickson
March 15th, 2008
at 4:48pm
I was looking at apple tv and for all that it does I think your better off getting a mac mini. Apple Tv is a good idea but for the feaures you can just use your plain old Ipod touch or Iphone, and if u spend a little more money you can get a full function mac mini. You can hook that up to your tv and enjoy all the internet has to offer!
KCR07UK
March 17th, 2008
at 3:04am
How do you make the Apple logo come up in text, I have a Mac.
Jonn004
March 17th, 2008
at 4:18am
You type, ALT + Shift + K
zeppelinboys
March 18th, 2008
at 1:15pm
yea- opt-shift-k
:)
Scott H.
March 22nd, 2008
at 3:04am
A note to bullet #4… When Apple released the new software update for the Apple TV they also dropped the price $80.00… it’s now only $229 for the 40g model.
Pat Hawks
March 22nd, 2008
at 8:40am
AppleTV FTW
There are times when I just want to watch videos. My couch is more comfy than my desk, and my TV is bigger than my computer screen. AppleTV is a great way to watch movies (YouTube and podcasts) in the living room.
I know a mac mini could do the same thing (and cost twice as much). I know I could do the same thing by running video cables from my computer upstairs to the tv down stairs, but it’s about ease of use. The AppleTV makes it incredibly simple to rent HD content as well as watch all of my podcasts and YouTube channels.
While my 360 can also rent HD movies, I never use it for that. The interface is way too clunky; that’s not what it was designed for.
On top of all that, AppleTV makes it very easy for me to do slideshows with my Flickr photos so others can enjoy them too. Photos should be social, and watching them on TV makes a lot more sense than having a group of people huddle around my computer.
macmini661
May 30th, 2008
at 7:16am
***!!!!!
jdubbs29
June 2nd, 2008
at 4:51pm
I have had AppleTV for over a year now, and i absolutely LOVE it.
My needs were simple:
1. a Panasonic 42″ flat screen TV with Yamaha Soundbar
2. The ability to play my itunes collection in my living room without ever having to use a CD player or have wires hanging while i connect my ipod
3. Photos and slideshows set to music
4. ability to watch home movies without fiddling with tapes and discs.
Apple TV has delivered this and much more with the ability to rent movies from them and youtube, which is pretty killer. The interface is awesome and super easy to use on my universal remote.
Highly recommended.
Matthew Rutledge’s Blog Space
June 13th, 2008
at 3:06am
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