Apple TV

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Pabster
It's all about convenience, fisher. I understand your argument vis-a-vi price, but there's a price to pay for convenience. Netflix is fine, but for someone like me who doesn't watch a lot of movies, but wants them at my fingertips WHEN I want them, AppleTV is fantastic.

The convenience is very nice for me since I'm on a plane at least twice a week and spend a good amount of time away from home. I can download a movie at any time I want to and watch in my hotel room on my computer or on my iPod on the plane.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
The convenience is very nice for me since I'm on a plane at least twice a week and spend a good amount of time away from home. I can download a movie at any time I want to and watch in my hotel room on my computer or on my iPod on the plane.

I agree!

Some people don't seem to understand that convenience has a cost.

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: Pabster
It's all about convenience, fisher. I understand your argument vis-a-vi price, but there's a price to pay for convenience. Netflix is fine, but for someone like me who doesn't watch a lot of movies, but wants them at my fingertips WHEN I want them, AppleTV is fantastic.

oh i agree, it's much easier to hit a few buttons and have the movie on tap. and i do understand it has a cost, i'm just stating that for some the cost is a bit much compared to what else is out there. i have a 2 day turn around on movies from netflix, so i don't really wait too long between discs. if it was 4-5 days i might feel differently.

edit: i forgot about the instant streaming stuff netflix has as well. it's not as full as apple's library, but it's coming along nicely. now if they'd get moving on mac streaming, i'd be even happier!

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: fisher

Originally posted by: Pabster
It's all about convenience, fisher. I understand your argument vis-a-vi price, but there's a price to pay for convenience. Netflix is fine, but for someone like me who doesn't watch a lot of movies, but wants them at my fingertips WHEN I want them, AppleTV is fantastic.

oh i agree, it's much easier to hit a few buttons and have the movie on tap. and i do understand it has a cost, i'm just stating that for some the cost is a bit much compared to what else is out there. i have a 2 day turn around on movies from netflix, so i don't really wait too long between discs. if it was 4-5 days i might feel differently.

edit: i forgot about the instant streaming stuff netflix has as well. it's not as full as apple's library, but it's coming along nicely. now if they'd get moving on mac streaming, i'd be even happier!

http://www.engadget.com/2008/0...acs-game-console-next/

 

[erikistired]

yeah i read that earlier. unfortunately what i read seemed hinged on microsoft finishing silverlight on the mac for drm. it's not a huge deal opening up a VM to watch movies, but i'd rather just do it in firefox.

 

[Pabster]

Netflix streaming quality sucks, IMHO.

It may be OK for TV episodes but watching movies ... meh. I thought the quality was unimpressive, to say the least.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Pabster
Netflix streaming quality sucks, IMHO.

It may be OK for TV episodes but watching movies ... meh. I thought the quality was unimpressive, to say the least.

I was impressed with the streaming quality & fast start time...and once you get into a movie you don't notice the quality all that much. We blow it up in VMware on our 24" Dell 1920x1200 screen and it doesn't look as terrible as Youtube AppleTV has a quality lead, but I'm not paying for an encoded video that will still look moderately bad blown up on my LCD, hehe. I agree though, it's great for TV shows but movies does leave something to be desired.

 

[Pabster]

Kaido, I can't believe you'd use YouTube videos as a comparison :laugh:

You're right that AppleTV isn't perfect, the "HD" is only moderately so, but to my eyes it is vastly superior to Netflix streams. (I watch on a 42")

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Pabster
Kaido, I can't believe you'd use YouTube videos as a comparison :laugh:

You're right that AppleTV isn't perfect, the "HD" is only moderately so, but to my eyes it is vastly superior to Netflix streams. (I watch on a 42")

Yeah that H.264 stuff is awesome. I just wish my Xbox could run it...chokes on H.264 Now that the AppleTV is $229, maybe it's time to upgrade...

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: Pabster
Netflix streaming quality sucks, IMHO.

It may be OK for TV episodes but watching movies ... meh. I thought the quality was unimpressive, to say the least.

yeah it's not the greatest. i watch all my dvds on my laptop anyway.