Apple TV: Thoughts? - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

FanIn80 · 07-21-2008, 10:20 PM

I've had both the 360 and the PS3 and used both of them almost extensively for movies/music. I know all about streaming from my PC etc. I also have a TiVo that does the same thing.

When I had the 360, there were no movies in Canadian XBOX Live. When I had my PS3, there were no movies available at all (I've heard they are finally adding the service, but not for Canadians!).

I'm also extremely familiar with downloading movies and all the different ways to get them to play on my TV.

What's attracting me to the Apple TV is the sleekness, and elegance and the simplicity. More importantly than that, though, is the iTunes movie rental service. I like the idea of not having to drive 16 blocks to the nearest video store, and have to deal with late fees, low stock, crappy catalogue selection and obnoxious clerks.

I'm looking for 3 things: simplicity, convenience and quality.

(I'm also looking forward to hacking it and getting it to run the full Leopard OS, turning my 42" plasma into a humongous iMac.

)

underGRADFlame · 07-21-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Not true

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...=2#description

Hey you can make a cable any length you'd like, you can make a 500' cable if you want. But the HDMI cable is not meant to be any longer than 5 meters with out being boosted. With the highest quality cable a booster is recommended for lengths over 10 meters. Long cable lengths can cause instability of HDCP and blinking on the screen due to the weakened DDC signal which HDCP requires. Some equipment does boost signal on its own but you never know until you get the equipment out of the box and have it tested.

Vulcan · 07-22-2008, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by underGRADFlame

Hey you can make a cable any length you'd like, you can make a 500' cable if you want. But the HDMI cable is not meant to be any longer than 5 meters with out being boosted. With the highest quality cable a booster is recommended for lengths over 10 meters. Long cable lengths can cause instability of HDCP and blinking on the screen due to the weakened DDC signal which HDCP requires. Some equipment does boost signal on its own but you never know until you get the equipment out of the box and have it tested.

Well I just wanted to point out that running a 100' HDMI cable is possible and workable [ even if a booster is required] and flat out wrong statements need to be mentioned.

I looked into this myself a while ago with the idea of running an HDMI about 35' but I bought an HD PVR to go along with my HD STB so I didn't need it. It seemed easily doable as the customer reviews all give this cable a 10/10 so your 5 meter length is kind of conservative.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...mat=4#feedback

and here's some 50' HDMI cables that get a 10/10 customer reviews with no booster.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...mat=4#feedback

and here's some 75' with good success with no booster

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...mat=4#feedback

FanIn80 · 07-22-2008, 06:48 AM

At the end of the day, does it not make more sense to just spend a couple hundred bucks on an Apple TV that does everything (and more, a software hack) you want it to do, than it does to spend the same amount (if not more) in a new video card and 100' cables and signal boosters?

Barnes · 07-22-2008, 08:48 AM

The Apple TV is great. When they came out I said to my fiance we should get one. She didn't she the benefit.

Last week she was plugging in my Macbook to the TV upstairs to stream the shield off my iMac in the office and she said "I wish I didn't have to......".

She immediately realized what she had done.

Barnes · 07-22-2008, 08:50 AM

Oh and the Xbox does a great job at doing the same things as the Apple TV but it's loud and hot and kinda ugly.

And I don't play video games.

FanIn80 · 07-23-2008, 05:51 PM

So I guess the next question is... where do I buy one (locally)?

Hmmm...

Vulcan · 07-23-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FanIn80

At the end of the day, does it not make more sense to just spend a couple hundred bucks on an Apple TV that does everything (and more, a software hack) you want it to do, than it does to spend the same amount (if not more) in a new video card and 100' cables and signal boosters?

I'm not saying the Apple TV isn't good but it depends on what your interests are, what gear you have and your layout. MY computer happens to have two HDCP video cards. I don't need two V cards but I might as well use it. I happen to have my computer about 10' from one TV and on the other side of the wall, it's about 12' from my other HD TV, so this works fine for my needs. Anybody with a fairly recent computer should be able to connect it to their HDTV if they want.

Russic · 07-24-2008, 09:46 AM

Futureshop and bestbuy carry them, but they seem to be sold out in calgary:
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...0098764&catid=

Or you could always just use the online store:
http://store.apple.com/ca/browse/hom...tv?mco=MTE3MjA

Tyler · 07-24-2008, 11:57 PM

London Drugs also sells them

Russic · 07-25-2008, 09:29 AM

you know as far as computer stores go, London Drugs is highly under-rated imo.

FanIn80 · 07-25-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyler

London Drugs also sells them

Awesome! Thanks for the tip!

My office is literally a 5 minute drive from the Heritage London Drugs. It's funny how I never remember them when I'm looking for things, yet they always have it.

Just got back with my new 160GB baby!

Russic · 07-25-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Awesome! Thanks for the tip!

My office is literally a 5 minute drive from the Heritage London Drugs. It's funny how I never remember them when I'm looking for things, yet they always have it.

Just got back with my new 160GB baby!

Congrats. I'd love to hear your impressions.

FanIn80 · 07-25-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Congrats. I'd love to hear your impressions.

Yar. I'ma play around with it on the weekend and rent some HD movies, etc.

I'll definitely post my thoughts!

sclitheroe · 07-26-2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

you know as far as computer stores go, London Drugs is highly under-rated imo.

As a last resort, yes. I find them more expensive almost always, but if you don't mind taking the hit, they are OK.

Russic · 07-27-2008, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

As a last resort, yes. I find them more expensive almost always, but if you don't mind taking the hit, they are OK.

They'll take back ANYTHING which is why i like them. I found some items i had purchased months prior and never used (but had opened). The returns were quick, easy and they actually gave refunds instead of credit.

FanIn80 · 07-28-2008, 08:16 AM

So far, so good!

I have all my music sync'd up (47GB) and have rented a few movies already (Batman Begins, Independence Day and Charlie Bartlet - all in HD).

Was really easy to set up, and the quality on the HD rentals is much better than I was expecting.

Next up: Ripping and syncing DVDs!

ps: One really cool thing I noticed is it changes the EQ automatically according to the genre of the song. So songs marked as "Live" as their genre end up actually sounding like they're being played in a stadium. Very nice touch!

dennisdahl3 · 08-27-2008, 02:02 PM

Anyone want sell their Apple TV?
I want to buy a used one in or near Calgary.

llama64 · 08-28-2008, 06:03 AM

The only thing holding me back from buying an Apple TV is the inclusion of a DVD drive.

I'm actually wondering if a Mac Mini might be setup to do the same thing with the added bonus of being able to rip movies directly.

Antithesis · 08-31-2008, 08:37 AM

You guys are all mentioning ripping your DVDs using Apple TV as if it's a function of the hardware itself - is this process easy? I'd love to get rid of my shelf of DVDs (or at least downsize). Am I reading wrong? I've been eyeing an Apple TV for a while now ...