Just not quite there yet
5 Reasons Why Apple TV Rules, 5 Reasons Why it Sucks – Blog.Wired.com:
1. It’s $300. Damn. And no free cables!
2. If you don’t use iTunes-DRMed media, it offers nothing new. There’s no reason to bother if you have something similar and your movies and such are not gotten via Apple.
3. It doesn’t do much. Even though it’s a capable computer in itself, it’s all in the service of functionality that’s designed in, instead of being emergent from its hardware capabilities. Yeah, that’s just the way it works with modern appliances, but if it has a Pentium M CPU, 256 MB RAM, a 40GB hard drive, why no PVR? Why such limited features?
4. This is really just 3b: With all that grunt, it’s basically a Mac Mini Mini with lots of outputs and special software. Why can’t I just slap OS X or Windows or Linux on it and use it as a kids’ computer, the heart of a MAME cabinet, a Car PC, or something a little more fully-featured? Let me in. (We may get in real easy, of course, but that’s for the hackers to discover.)
5. Won’t work with other DRM systems. Goes without saying, but say it I must. It’s our fault for using DRM, of course. Then again, DRM is the top reason for having to buy this expensive baby.
The article also provides 5 reasons as to why it doesn’t suck, but they don’t seem to tip the balance for me. Granted, it’s a good start for this field.
Head on over the link provided above and see how much you agree with the arguments in favour of the product.
As for Apple fans, are they behind a product such as this one?
Tell me please why should I buy an AppleTV for 299 Euros (what a rip off…299 dollars are not 299 Euros…) and use it to watch “the incredibles” I can download for $14,99 (no price in Euros).
When I can use my 99 Euros Philips DVD/Divx player to watch the Incredibles DVD I just bought for 7,99 Euros, complete with multiples languages and subtitles and Extras…
Doesn’t make any sense. None whatsoever.
Sure I can watch CrankyGeeks on my TV… But then again I can download the mp4 version and put it on a CD RW directly on my DVD player (and I’ve done it too, but the living room it’s not Geek friendly environment…)
#16. James HIll and I agree on something! I am thinking this will be a success – extending iTunes (which a LOT of people have) into the living room, pretty painlessly. Painlessly is the key word. The set of people who can set up this thing is much larger than the set of people who can set up a MythTV box.
I may well get meself one to watch video podcasts on the ol’ tube. And no PVR? Not a prob – unless it is going to carry CableCard support, such a PVR is pretty damn useless for most people. Also would need a bigger HD – 40 gigs aint much. See the price creeping up folks? Hold the line at feature bloat – I bet it does the thing it does pretty well.
FWIW, I don’t see it eclipsing Netflix or TiVo anytime soon. Both are moving into the downloadable movie biz and both have a big installed base.
#22 said: ” The set of people who can set up this thing is much larger than the set of people who can set up a MythTV box.”
That speak volumes about the current state of society.
It needs a DVD player.
It needs to play on a regular TV.
It needs to be able to pipe through the signal from my antenna or cable box (like any basic VCR or DVD player does).
It needs DVR functionality, and the seemless ability to get the files to my computer if that’s what I want (ala TiVo).
When AppleTV has those 3 simple things, and doesn’t cost a dime more than the current $300 freakin dollars they’re charging, then and only then – call me. I’ll buy at least one, and even start purchasing TV shows from iTunes too just out of gratitude. Not the movies though … the prices for those are a total rip off.
My opinion:
A_TV will sell like hot buns.
it will reach status closer to the iPod than the iPod loudspeakers.
Why? Just because it’s Apple. And the iTMS has a tremendous foothold in the market.
The marketing logic of Apple in this recent shift from PC maker to Appliance maker is the same as Sony, but aiming a bit higher, close to what B&O (Bang & Olufsen) is doing. Not selling for the price point but selling it for the Brand awareness.
I predict that the apple tv will make the number of tv’s sold to skyrocket. This is what the tv industry was waiting for.