Apple TV questions

[DawnM]

I have been considering getting Apple TV.

On the website I only see the $99 black box, but on Amazon I see they have a few different ones, one with 40Gig memory and one with 60Gig.

So, does the black box hold any memory? I can't seem to find info on it.

Why did Apple stop offering the ones with high memory?

Is the black box all I should need?

Thanks,

Dawn

PS: No, I don't want a Roku. I want the Apple TV.

 

[DawnM]

Noone?

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Apple TV no longer has hard drives. This is so you'll buy more episodes instead of saving a few and rewatching them. The older Apple TV's with hard drives may not have full HD. For that matter, the newer Apple TV's may not, either. CHECK!

I know you don't want a Roku. I have one and I don't miss having a hard drive because anything I watch on the Roku I can watch again without having to save it.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I just checked. Apple TV's (both new and old) do not have full HD. The black boxes do not save anything, they simply 'stream' media to your TV.

 

[MPLsDad]

If you have a Mac computer, you can save content there and stream it to the Apple TV. It also works with pictures and movies. I tried to stream a movie download from Apple and it was awful. From now on, I'll download it to my Mac Book and then stream it. I love my Apple TV though.

 

[DawnM]

Thank you.

So what do you mean not "full" HD? Is it HD at all?

Is Roku HD?

The reason I wanted Apple TV vs. Roku is to stream pictures and music, but I THOUGH it would save that stuff and always have it.....this does change the game.

I just read on the Apple forum last night how so many people have issues with their Apple TVs....is there really that big of a problem with them?

I want something streaming into the kitchen TV as it isn't connected to Sattelite and I get nothing on it.

For that matter, I want something streaming into the bedroom too, even though it IS connected to Sattelite.

We are considering dropping Sattelite completely and getting a rooftop antenna and Apple TV or roku boxes.

We will see how brave we are with that.

Dawn

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

All HD are not created equal. There's 720p and 1080p. I am not technically inclined but but 1080 is considered 'full' and 720 the old standard. From what I read, the difference in bit rates matters with sporting events and larger screen TV's. Yes, Roku supports full 1080HD. It's also wireless capable, but I find it works much better wired directly to the router.

In order to take advantage of streaming boxes like Apple TV and Roku and certain Blu-Ray players, you must have a high speed internet connection with a cable/dsl modem and a router (for wireless), which you probably do. We dumped our deluxe cable TV services (including the DVR) for basic, basic cable (networks in HD, a few other channels) and bought a roku box so we can stream movies and shows on Netflix and Hulu plus. I really haven't missed all the other stuff. As for the kitchen, I use our iPad to stream netflix and Hulu while it sits on a stand on the counter so I can watch something while I cook. the 720p programs work fine on that.

Thank you.

So what do you mean not "full" HD? Is it HD at all?

Is Roku HD?

The reason I wanted Apple TV vs. Roku is to stream pictures and music, but I THOUGH it would save that stuff and always have it.....this does change the game.

I just read on the Apple forum last night how so many people have issues with their Apple TVs....is there really that big of a problem with them?

I want something streaming into the kitchen TV as it isn't connected to Sattelite and I get nothing on it.

For that matter, I want something streaming into the bedroom too, even though it IS connected to Sattelite.

We are considering dropping Sattelite completely and getting a rooftop antenna and Apple TV or roku boxes.

We will see how brave we are with that.

Dawn

 

[DawnM]

We have three 1080p TVs. We also have 2 older TVs from the stone age that aren't currently hooked up to anything. The kids use them for gaming and DVDs.

Thanks.

Dawn

All HD are not created equal. There's 720p and 1080p. I am not technically inclined but but 1080 is considered 'full' and 720 the old standard. From what I read, the difference in bit rates matters with sporting events and larger screen TV's. Yes, Roku supports full 1080HD. It's also wireless capable, but I find it works much better wired directly to the router.

In order to take advantage of streaming boxes like Apple TV and Roku and certain Blu-Ray players, you must have a high speed internet connection with a cable/dsl modem and a router (for wireless), which you probably do. We dumped our deluxe cable TV services (including the DVR) for basic, basic cable (networks in HD, a few other channels) and bought a roku box so we can stream movies and shows on Netflix and Hulu plus. I really haven't missed all the other stuff. As for the kitchen, I use our iPad to stream netflix and Hulu while it sits on a stand on the counter so I can watch something while I cook. the 720p programs work fine on that.

 

[uk_wildcat]

We have the older version of AppleTV and it does not do streaming from Netflix. It does have a hard drive and movies are downloaded to it from our iTunes account. We cannot use it to watch Netflix. The new AppleTV does not have a hard drive and can stream things like Netflix.
My dh is an IT/home theater guy and we are a family that uses Apple computers and products. Even he does not recommend the new AppleTV because for a lower price you can get the Roku. Really the only advantage to the AppleTV is the music option from iTunes.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

we stream Pandora on the Roku, which I really like. I find I enjoy that just as much as my itunes collection. In fact, I can listen to genres and artists on Pandora that I like but for which I am unwilling to plunk down moolah for an entire album or albums.

 

[DawnM]

ExPirateShopGirl,

THis is going to be a really dumb question, but where do you use your ipad?

I am looking at getting an ipod touch because I want something easy to carry in my purse. At home and on vacation I take my laptop with me.

Do you take it out and about with you or do you use it at home mostly?

Thanks,

Dawn

 

[uk_wildcat]

I take my iPad on trips, to my son's swim practice and while I wait at appointments. I don't have 3G, but I have downloaded movies and quite a few games to keep me occupied. It is so much more convenient on planes because it isn't bulky and can easily fit into my purse. My dh also has one and travels frequently for work. He always takes it with him. He also got rid of his personal laptop and only uses the iPad at home around the house.

 

[DawnM]

Does it have an operating system (Snow Leopard?) Does it have things like iphoto on it?

Or is it primarily for viewing movies/surfing the net?

Dawn

I take my iPad on trips, to my son's swim practice and while I wait at appointments. I don't have 3G, but I have downloaded movies and quite a few games to keep me occupied. It is so much more convenient on planes because it isn't bulky and can easily fit into my purse. My dh also has one and travels frequently for work. He always takes it with him. He also got rid of his personal laptop and only uses the iPad at home around the house.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

We use ours around the house, mostly. I use it as a small TV in the kitchen, or when I am in the tub, or my daughter uses it. I use it to download/borrow travel and other graphics-intense books from the library through the Overdrive App. I don't think the iPad has a true Apple operating system on it. I think it's more like a large ipod touch. I haven't even put any songs or shows on it yet from itunes, although I am planning to put some video podcasts I've been meaning to watch on it soon.

It's a little heavy to just hold and read, unless you can balance it in your lap. I have a little stand for it that holds it vertical at close to a 90 degree angle on a flat surface so it can be viewed more easily without being held.

I normally don't travel with it, but over the holidays we brought it along so my daughter could watch her favorite TV programs online through Hulu Plus and not use our hostess' TV. It is a really neat product, but it does have its limitations, like not being able to run Flash, which is a component in many media-heavy websites.

ExPirateShopGirl,

THis is going to be a really dumb question, but where do you use your ipad?

I am looking at getting an ipod touch because I want something easy to carry in my purse. At home and on vacation I take my laptop with me.

Do you take it out and about with you or do you use it at home mostly?

Thanks,

Dawn

 

[DawnM]

I see.

Well, there may come a time when I see the need for it for us, but right now, I think between an ipod touch (I plan to get) and my laptop, we should be ok with most of what we need.

Dawn

We use ours around the house, mostly. I use it as a small TV in the kitchen, or when I am in the tub, or my daughter uses it. I use it to download/borrow travel and other graphics-intense books from the library through the Overdrive App. I don't think the iPad has a true Apple operating system on it. I think it's more like a large ipod touch. I haven't even put any songs or shows on it yet from itunes, although I am planning to put some video podcasts I've been meaning to watch on it soon.

It's a little heavy to just hold and read, unless you can balance it in your lap. I have a little stand for it that holds it vertical at close to a 90 degree angle on a flat surface so it can be viewed more easily without being held.

I normally don't travel with it, but over the holidays we brought it along so my daughter could watch her favorite TV programs online through Hulu Plus and not use our hostess' TV. It is a really neat product, but it does have its limitations, like not being able to run Flash, which is a component in many media-heavy websites.