Apple TV, Is it worth getting?

[admin_exported]

I'm thinking about getting the 160gb Apple TV box, my only worry is the PQ when displayed on a 37inch or bigger LCD tv, is anyone running this bit of kit? would appreciate any comments before I hand over my hard earned cash.

Thanks 

 

 

[Messiah]

My only experience with it was in an Apple shop. It was going through a demo of the system and it was displayed on a Pioneer LCD that must have been at least 37". It looked superb!

 

[Messiah]

It has also been reviewed in this months mag - here is the very review!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Messiah, do you know whether is was running HD or SD? will have a trip to Apple Store on Regent Street tomorrow, and have a look, but things always look different when using day to day than in store.ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

Just read review, seems cut and dry, looks like I'm making room for Apple TV, move over Bluray.

 

[Messiah]

Not sure really but I would hazard a guess at HD as I was no more than a foot away from the TV and it looked HD sharp.
Have a look in the store - I think you will be impressed.

 

[Sorreltiger]

I forget where I saw it exactly, but there's a US website with a very detailed analysis comparing blu-ray, cable TV and Apple TV. ÿThe Apple TV wasn't quite as sharp as blu-ray, but held up very well. ÿThere were loads of images to show the exact PQ of each source. ÿThe review in WHF seems to have come to the same conclusions. I'm sure you'll find the test if you search on Google.

 

[Anonymous]

I'll have a look. Thanks

 

[cram]

If you buy into the whole Itunes thing then the Apple TV isn't bad - certainly very easy to use. In my opinion does have a few negatives.

- The Itunes store is an expensive way of buying video content. DVDs are frequently cheaper. Bluray rentals are cetainly cheaper elsewhere

- Max of 720p. I think this is a hardware restriction. I think also that the max bit rate supported is also significantly down on what you would get with a bluray.

- The HD content - you don't get HD sound. In fact some of the rentals don't even have Dolby Digital 5.1

- Playback of limited formats. If you want to put your own DVDs etc on to the unit then you will need to encode them in an Apple friendly format

- 160Gb, really isn't a lot of storage space for video content. If you think that a lossless rip of DVD is circa 6Gb and a lossless rip of a Bluray is circa 40Gb then the only way you are going to fit much in the way of content on there is by sacrficing some quality

If I had to choose between purchasing a Bluray player and an Apple TV then the bluray player wins everytime

 

[John Duncan]

Depends on what you want to do with it. To me it's actually more useful as a music source than a video source, where a Mac Mini (inter alia) is a better option.

 

[cram]

I like the mac mini - but that hardware spec is really overpriced these days

 

[John Duncan]

Oh totally, but it's a tidy solution. And pretty (which is important to me, as you know

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