10-26-2009, 06:43 PM
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#101
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GOAT!
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The strong benefits of the Airport Extreme are the dual band wireless (so you can run both a G-compliant and a dedicated N wireless network simultaneously), and the built-in file/print server.
Other than that, it's on par with any other higher-end N class router.
Before I switched to the Airport Extreme, I used this bad boy: http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodde...39&catid=26055 and loved it. I'd have no problems recommending it to anyone who doesn't want to go with the Airport Extreme.
I know it's a bit pricey, but after burning completely through two $60 routers, and giving up on a different $70 router that I couldn't keep a solid connection to, I learned to avoid skimping on routers.
Edit: Also, some important advice about buying a router, is to avoid buying to meet your current needs... instead buy something that will have some future to it. You might not have any N-class devices right now, but you will. Changing routers is a pain in the ass, so if you spend a few dollars now on something that has some future in it, you'll thank yourself later.
Last edited by FanIn80; 10-26-2009 at 06:50 PM.
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10-26-2009, 07:16 PM
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#102
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#1 Goaltender
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SW calgary
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As Fanin80 mentioned, its a dualband N router. you can get N routers under 80$ now, but the dual band ones are around 140. The Airport Extreme also has a USB port for a hard drive, or a printer, acting as a wireless print server and everything. The range i get on this thing is incredible.
and apple just updated the airport extreme, and its no longer "Draft" n as it is now certified n 
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10-27-2009, 10:12 AM
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#103
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Franchise Player
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Thanks for the advice. I think I am going to go with D-Link's Extreme Dual Band Wireless Router DIR-825. I figure that should be adequate for the Apple TV and should future proof me for a while.
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10-27-2009, 06:24 PM
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#104
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Scoring Winger
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The Apple TV is great as if you intend to use iTunes video rental/purchase services a lot. However as general purpose player it lacks the flexibility of say a WDTV or Popcorn Hour player.
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10-27-2009, 07:57 PM
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#105
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#1 Goaltender
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SW calgary
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cal_guy
The Apple TV is great as if you intend to use iTunes video rental/purchase services a lot. However as general purpose player it lacks the flexibility of say a WDTV or Popcorn Hour player.
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Not if you hack it :P ( easy to do, just needs a usb drive)
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10-27-2009, 08:37 PM
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#106
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Scoring Winger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silentsim
Not if you hack it :P ( easy to do, just needs a usb drive)
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It's still not powerful enough to play 1080p files though, and the other players or a bit cheaper as well.
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10-27-2009, 09:16 PM
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#107
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GOAT!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cal_guy
The Apple TV is great as if you intend to use iTunes video rental/purchase services a lot. However as general purpose player it lacks the flexibility of say a WDTV or Popcorn Hour player.
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Simple file conversion is all it takes to watch any illegally acquired movie or tv show on the Apple TV.
In the meantime, the iTunes rental service is better and cheaper than going to a video store.
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10-27-2009, 09:40 PM
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#108
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Lifetime Suspension
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bitter, jaded, cursing the fates.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cal_guy
It's still not powerful enough to play 1080p files though, and the other players or a bit cheaper as well.
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If Apple ever releases a 1080p model AppleTV, I will be first in line to get it.
They probably won't, though. The sheer size of 1080p movies would mean downloads from the iTunes servers would take the majority of a day.
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10-27-2009, 09:45 PM
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#109
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GOAT!
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Yeah, that's the thing. 1080p is just too unpractical right now (in terms of digital files). There's just no point.
Besides, the more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that the Mac Mini is the new Apple TV.
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10-28-2009, 06:56 PM
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#110
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Lifetime Suspension
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bitter, jaded, cursing the fates.
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I just had a quick look at it.
It lacks an HDMI port, and the AppleTV interface.
Neither the MiniMac nor AppleTV have a Blu-Ray drive either... If Apple intened the new MiniMac to replace AppleTv, inclusion of a Blu-ray drive would've been a major factor.
Not that the MiniMac isn't a splendid machine, but I'll stick with my AppleTV for the time being. :P
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10-28-2009, 07:24 PM
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#111
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GOAT!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire
I just had a quick look at it.
It lacks an HDMI port, and the AppleTV interface.
Neither the MiniMac nor AppleTV have a Blu-Ray drive either... If Apple intened the new MiniMac to replace AppleTv, inclusion of a Blu-ray drive would've been a major factor.
Not that the MiniMac isn't a splendid machine, but I'll stick with my AppleTV for the time being. :P
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Yeah, you have to go Mini DisplayPort to HDMI (or DVI) and then run a separate audio cable (the audio out is digital).
Audio cable: http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2
Mini DisplayPort to HDMI: http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2
Last edited by FanIn80; 10-28-2009 at 07:28 PM.
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10-28-2009, 08:14 PM
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#112
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#1 Goaltender
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SW calgary
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The APPLETV interface is basically frontrow + a mix of itunes
frontrow comes preloaded on Mac Mini
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10-29-2009, 03:15 PM
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#113
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#1 Goaltender
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AppleTV 3.0 software is out and available to existing users. I don't have it installed yet, but the feature list looks great - including, for the first time, Internet Radio!!!! and browsing of photos organized in iPhoto by face and event..very nice.
Can't wait to take it for a test spin.
__________________
-Scott
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10-29-2009, 04:40 PM
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#114
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GOAT!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sclitheroe
AppleTV 3.0 software is out and available to existing users. I don't have it installed yet, but the feature list looks great - including, for the first time, Internet Radio!!!! and browsing of photos organized in iPhoto by face and event..very nice.
Can't wait to take it for a test spin.
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Ha! You beat me to it.
Internet Radio on Apple TV is all kinds of rawr.
Edit: Also, new iTunes with a dark version of the grid layout (whew).
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10-30-2009, 11:11 AM
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#115
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Franchise Player
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Another question. I like what Russic has done with his total conversion of DVD movies onto his computer. Is there anything special I should do for this? I was thinking I would go out and buy a 1TB or 1.5TB hard drive and install it into my computer and dump all the movies onto it. Will it slow up my computer if someone is watching a ripped movie and I am on the computer?
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10-30-2009, 03:29 PM
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#116
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#1 Goaltender
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burninator
Another question. I like what Russic has done with his total conversion of DVD movies onto his computer. Is there anything special I should do for this? I was thinking I would go out and buy a 1TB or 1.5TB hard drive and install it into my computer and dump all the movies onto it. Will it slow up my computer if someone is watching a ripped movie and I am on the computer?
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It won't slow it down. It creates a small spike in network activity while the movie starts to stream, but even then, it will stream the movie out faster than real time, so its not like your network is even busy for all that long.
__________________
-Scott
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10-31-2009, 11:28 PM
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#117
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Lifetime Suspension
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bitter, jaded, cursing the fates.
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If you're like me and have nearly half a Terabyte of videos, including movies and TV shows, then you should consider getting a NAS. Network Attached Storage.
I'm treating myself this Christmas to a 2 Bay D-link NAS. I'll be tossing in two 2 TB hard drives with RAID1 redundancy.
I would hate to lose any of my movies, especially since all the hard copies are elsewhere.
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11-01-2009, 09:10 AM
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#118
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Dances with Wolves
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Section 304
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I really like the 3.0 UI change. Much cleaner now ... more PS3ish.
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11-07-2009, 03:40 PM
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#119
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#1 Goaltender
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Calgary
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Russic
Congrats on the pick up! If you're anything like me you'll slowly collapse into a hell of digitizing dvds and finding the proper box art for each one, making sure to crop everything to the proper dimensions. I went a little crazy like Jack in "The Shining" for a few weeks there, but in the end it was worth it to start up my apple tv and be greeted by hundreds of dvd's.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burninator
Another question. I like what Russic has done with his total conversion of DVD movies onto his computer. Is there anything special I should do for this? I was thinking I would go out and buy a 1TB or 1.5TB hard drive and install it into my computer and dump all the movies onto it. Will it slow up my computer if someone is watching a ripped movie and I am on the computer?
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How does one go about digitizing a DVD?
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11-07-2009, 05:03 PM
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#120
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GOAT!
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I use Mac the Ripper to rip the DVD and then Handbrake to encode it.
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