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KoderKev
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Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Posts: 95
Location: Independence, MO USA
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 Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 3:12 am Post subject: How good/bad is ATV? |
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I've heard some negative things about the Apple TV, but it seems like a really cool idea. I'm curious to know (from the people that have them) what they feel are the pluses and minuses of the ATV. Is it worth buying?
KK
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2.3 ghz 2011 mini w/ 500gb HD & 8 gb RAM
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Grover Time
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Joined: 06 May 2007
Posts: 344
Location: Californication
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 3:49 am Post subject: |
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I had one, but sold it for another Mac mini. It just does way more without limitations.
Pluses for ATV:
Easy setup
HDMI
Decent UI
Works with all IR remotes
Minuses for ATV:
Tied to iTunes
Limited internal and no external storage
No support for extra codecs
No support for Video_TS
Runs all the time
Runs extremely warm and needs plenty of ventilation
Slow transfers to and from Mac over wireless
No gigabit ethernet
I would only buy one if you're interested in running Boxee or ATVFlash on it. You'll probably come away disappointed otherwise. It's also sort of due for a refresh. I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple come out with a new one before the end of the year. |
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Smithcraft
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Joined: 09 Nov 2008
Posts: 3011
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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That's interesting.
I heard it does support V_TS folders, and that you can hack it to support external storage via the USB connection.
SC
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Grumpy old man of computing.
[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8
[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)
Make sure it has pins! |
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imola.zhp
Senior Member
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
Posts: 312
Location: Mud Island, TN
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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^ you can probably hack it to do anything, I think the poster above you was stating the pro's/con's un-hacked...
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--Marcus
Current
32g iPhone4; 13" MBP 2.4/4g Ram/250g hd; 1TB TC; 2 ATV2's; Airport Express
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8g iPhone Edge; 32g iPhone 3gS
8g iPod Nano (2nd); 16g iPod Nano (6th)
Mini 2.0/4g Ram/120g hd |
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Grover Time
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Joined: 06 May 2007
Posts: 344
Location: Californication
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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| imola.zhp wrote: | | ^ you can probably hack it to do anything, I think the poster above you was stating the pro's/con's un-hacked... |
I was indeed talking about using the Apple TV unhacked. ATVFlash does overcome some of those minuses if hacking doesn't bother you. You can also use PatchStick for that matter. |
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pmcd
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Joined: 19 Jul 2007
Posts: 116
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:25 am Post subject: |
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| Grover Time wrote: | | imola.zhp wrote: | | ^ you can probably hack it to do anything, I think the poster above you was stating the pro's/con's un-hacked... |
I was indeed talking about using the Apple TV unhacked. ATVFlash does overcome some of those minuses if hacking doesn't bother you. You can also use PatchStick for that matter. |
You don't need to pay anything to patch it. It takes all of 15 minutes to get it to run anything except HD content encoded above the main H.264 profile. External USB support, xvid, dvix, etc...can all be installed via point and click.
philip |
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deasys
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Joined: 01 Sep 2009
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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I've owned one for over 2 years and, given Apple's regular updates/upgrades to it, I have become increasingly appreciative of this little device over time. Think of Apple TV as an appliance for your home entertainment center.
It has many charms in this role, especially in comparison to a general purpose device like the Mac mini:
- much cheaper
- completely silent
- very compact--can be placed almost anywhere with minimal ventilation requirements
- totally self-contained, not even a power brick is required
- supports HDMI and, more importantly HDCP for protected content
- provides true, discrete 5.1 channel audio
- provides the simplest possible hook-up and fiddle-free synchronization to your HDTV
- is energy efficient -- about 14W in standby and 40 W in operation
- can be used as a true standalone device--no host computer required
- does not require the use of iTunes
- provides access to the best legal download service in the world for music and movies, viz. the iTunes Store
- provides superb quality HD video with true multi-channel audio
OTOH, if pr0n and pirating is your thing, then you'll have to look at a less capable device or a more expensive one like the Mac mini.
BTW, I only have the original 40 GB version yet have never found that to be a significant limitation because of Apple TV's superb multi-host streaming support. |
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KoderKev
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Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Posts: 95
Location: Independence, MO USA
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| Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 1:18 am Post subject: |
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| deasys wrote: | | OTOH, if pr0n and pirating is your thing, then you'll have to look at a less capable device or a more expensive one like the Mac mini. |
Not into piracy. I pride myself on only having legal copies of music, movies, and software. Especially for third-party Mac software: if we don't support the developers, they have no incentive to keep making great software for the Mac.
Thanks for your review, this was the kind of information I was hoping to get. Even better that you've used it for a while and lived through upgrades. Gives your opinion some weight.
Thanks!
KK
_________________
"Nothing unreal exists." - Spock
2.3 ghz 2011 mini w/ 500gb HD & 8 gb RAM
2 tb ext. Time Machine HD "Superman"
1 tb ext. media HD "Batman"
16gb iPhone 4 |
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Dino1956
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Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 1194
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| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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I Love My TV!!
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KevinD90521
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Joined: 24 Oct 2009
Posts: 2
Location: Yonkers, NY
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| Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 5:30 pm Post subject: Also love my TV!!! |
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All my music and video is in one small box in my entertainment center. No bookshelves bulging with hundreds of DVD & CD cases collecting dust. I just copy my music & transcode my DVDs using Handbrake then put it all into itunes. I copy my music onto the TV HD and stream my movies using AEBS N 5GHZ. (And I back everything up on 2 external HDs). The DVDs & CDs go into a box in the closet. No more mess in the living room!
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KoderKev
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Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Posts: 95
Location: Independence, MO USA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:41 pm Post subject: Re: Also love my TV!!! |
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| KevinD90521 wrote: | | All my music and video is in one small box in my entertainment center. No bookshelves bulging with hundreds of DVD & CD cases collecting dust. I just copy my music & transcode my DVDs using Handbrake then put it all into itunes. I copy my music onto the TV HD and stream my movies using AEBS N 5GHZ. (And I back everything up on 2 external HDs). The DVDs & CDs go into a box in the closet. No more mess in the living room! |
Thanks for the info, Kevin. It looks like I'm headed down that same path, as I've been ripping all my DVD's and putting them in iTunes also. Makes me feel stupid for buying a DVD player! 
KK
_________________
"Nothing unreal exists." - Spock
2.3 ghz 2011 mini w/ 500gb HD & 8 gb RAM
2 tb ext. Time Machine HD "Superman"
1 tb ext. media HD "Batman"
16gb iPhone 4 |
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gibmini
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Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Posts: 156
Location: Gibraltar
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| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 3:37 am Post subject: |
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I've had mine for nearly 2 years and love it to bits. It used to be VERY slow, clunky and unreliable, but recent updates have really improved things. I rely on it for all vids etc and rip to my mini and sync with no real speed problems across my old wireless network.
The only thing I'd recommend is buying the largest HD capacity you can afford as this reduces the amount of streaming you will have to do.
An ATV and a mini is a beautiful team.
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Loving my mini's, hating what Apple has become.
iPhone 4S
2.3GHz latest gen macbook pro, 2.4GHz latest gen Mini, 1.83GHz Mini, 2.0GHz Macbook
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KoderKev
Member
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Posts: 95
Location: Independence, MO USA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:59 am Post subject: |
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| gibmini wrote: | | The only thing I'd recommend is buying the largest HD capacity you can afford as this reduces the amount of streaming you will have to do. |
Apple sort of took the HD capacity question out of my hands by ditching the 40GB unit, so today I bought a 160GB TV! Had some trouble getting it going at first, until I realized the wall outlet was loose and flakey. After I solved that, the unit fired up, I entered my wifi password and the thing took off. As a matter of fact, we watched a podcast and a full movie via streaming before the unit even had time to sync with our libraries. Very nice!
Thanks for this thread, folks. You persuaded me it was worth it, and so far I agree! I'm going to enjoy watching podcasts, especially, on the "big screen."
KK
_________________
"Nothing unreal exists." - Spock
2.3 ghz 2011 mini w/ 500gb HD & 8 gb RAM
2 tb ext. Time Machine HD "Superman"
1 tb ext. media HD "Batman"
16gb iPhone 4 |
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gibmini
Member
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Posts: 156
Location: Gibraltar
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:52 am Post subject: |
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Really glad you like it. Welcome to the frustrating, yet wonderful world of ATV ownership!
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Loving my mini's, hating what Apple has become.
iPhone 4S
2.3GHz latest gen macbook pro, 2.4GHz latest gen Mini, 1.83GHz Mini, 2.0GHz Macbook
160Gb 1st gen ATV & 2nd gen ATV
1 of every gen of Nano
iPhone 4S
30" apple cinema display |
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dannyv45
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