- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 172 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
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32 out of 40 people found this review helpful
3.0 stars
"No-one is even close to the proper solution yet"
Pros: Great concept, nice design and interface. Although not perfect - it is better than most out there right now.
Cons: Way too limited for what is supposed to be the complete solution
Summary: It still amazes me how companies like Microsoft, Apple and Sony have not even come close to developing what I and what most people want. In the industry, they call it the Holy Grail - the complete media center solution. I think the answer is pretty straight forward but these companies have not even come close - but Apple is the closest at the moment.
I, like a lot of people, have over 200 DVDs. I want to store them all onto a hard drive. You are looking at around 1TB of DVD data taking up too much physical storage space. I want all of that data to be on a hard drive.
Also, I have 100s of CDs - I want all of that data stored "LOSSLESS" on a drive too - that is another 200-300gb of data. Not to mention all of my photos, videos and future HD content that I want to store.
Bottom line - I need 2TB of storage to feel future proof.
OK, so lets say I buy the hard drive. Now, I want to hook it up to a good quality DAC (Digital Analog Converter) that has good software to organize my media and has a pleasant interface.
So lets take the Apple. It doesn't handle all of the formats necessary - so an instant failure. It ONLY talks to iTunes. It doesn't support 1080p and I doubt whether it is capable of pumping out good quality 5.1 surround sound.
What I also find annoying is that you cannot stream a DVD which is playing on your PC to the AppleTv. Which still means you need to have a DVD player/recorder and tuner.
I like the idea of the media streaming from your desktop or laptop. I could use my laptop to organize my media and then use the remote to navigate through it on the TV.
I recently bought a PS3 and am very dissapointed with its claims of being a "media center". PS3 and Xbox360 are not comprehensive enough to really work as media centers.
If Apple was smart, they should have designed a device that can handle streamed data in every media format AND from your laptop's DVD player. They should have included a tuner.
I also don't know if you will be able to connect an external hard drive to the unit and play the media on that as well.
Bottom Line: Apple is on the right track here. BUT their first product is very dissapointing - it could have truly been the Holy Grail of home media entertainment.
- 12 replies to this review
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It's always good to see a (potential) customer/consumer state what he/she really wants/needs. Companies pay a lot of money for such inputs. It is interesting to note how valid Azzuro10's comments are nearly three years later - any wise solution designers out there reading/listening to this stuff?
Using his inputs I'm off to build myself a little comparison matrix to help me decide between the myriad of "integrated solutions" out there. I need to replace an increasingly dissatisfying satellite TV experience. Thanks to wjanoch for your useful inputs about the Mac Mini alternative.
BTW I'm not sure of the benefits of name calling on an information/opinion sharing network. (The posting of ......... personal attacks are prohibited??????). -
I also bet you know every single line of dialog from The Matrix.
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Wow this idiot expects something to give him eternal life.
Grow up. Apple TV is awesome. -
It is called kaleidescape ( www.kaleidescape.com ) Please Know It Will Meet All Your Video Needs, Just One Catch It starts at about 23K So I think Apple works just fine Get handbrake to convert your movies to mp4 tigerdirect always has great deals on external drives and ask yourself maybe I sould have bought the 160 Peace
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I too wold love a device liike the one you are describing but how much would it cost? Not $299 that's for sure.
If such a sophisticated device was created to contain and manage so much media, it would have to operate as a redundant raid 1 or 5 setup because heaven forbid that a single drive failure could wipe out your entire collection of media . . . the cost keeps climbing.
The Apple TV (version 1.0) is definately a work in progress. Check back in 2 years when it's a mature product and I'm sure Apple will have it sorted. In the meantime I plug my iPod (G5) into the TV and have it all. -
You can get Xvid support and open it up to all possiblities. Its a great choice for the DIY out there, but that's it. Check it out: http://applehacks.blogspot.com
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There are plenty of non-technical reasons that no one has come up with the box we all want. Apple could have done more, but it is version 1 and deserved an "8" because of that. if the "holy grail" is what Azzuro is looking for then he is right in giving it a "6."
But the aTV is not trying to be everything yet. Apple is playing with the GUI and letting people hack it and waiting for the TV's and content on the internet to catch up at which time it can make the "grail."
Apple just isn't trying to run Tivo or NetFlix out of business, that is two years away. -
This is a Media Extender. Some seem to be judging this as if it were what they want, not what it is. This is a great device.
Here's what you want: MacBook Pro 17" with the largest internal HD available. But even a Mac Mini does way more.
-Use the secondary video port to hook up an adapter for virtually any TV/video display on the planet
-Same Apple Remote
-Stream video, Audio, and Other over WiFi 802.11N or Gigabit from other iTunes sources
-Stream from any source you have software for
-Internet Radio streaming (left off the Apple TV)
-- And play DVDs (which can't be streamed)
-Buy your content right on the laptop
-Hookup more HDs for more storage space
-Install Parallels to run Windows & Linux for any digital video content type available
-Take your content anywhere!
-Stream the content to your Mom's TV with the addition of an Apple TV.
The Mac Mini's only twice the cost of the Apple TV.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303406
MacBook Pro 17" is way more expensive, but it's really the greatest Media Center option available.
And with a full fledged mac, you can do SOOO much more than just an Apple TV (Video Extender) -
It isn't a review so much as nitpicking and unrealistic expectations.
Why would you want a device to send uncompressed DVD video and 5.1 over wireless? I have Return of the Jedi in the computer by chance. It's 7.79gb for about two hours of video.
We all want a device that has 100000000000tb of storage and can play my old beta tapes, but lower your expectations a bit, the device is about the price of an iPod. Your device would currently need a rack-mount solution and at least $1k. -
Download AnyDVD, CloneDVD2, and My Movies. Then use Media Center to turn your home PC into a DVD library.
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http://www.kaleidescape.com/
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Don't review if you don't have the product.
Apple TV (40GB):
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