Apple TV
 

Anyone have it?

I was thinking of ditching Comcast ($160+/mo) and buying the Apple TV unit and use it in conjunction with Hulu Plus/Amazon stream etc. I'd save at least $100/mo. I can get wireless internet through a local provider. Ditching TV/cable isn't an option because the wife won't allow it.

Eagerly awaiting the responses for similar reasons...

Wired Magazine says this month that the best device to challenge cable or sat . . . is Roku 2 XD, which is not iTunes dependent. The 3rd gen Apple TV is great if you're an iPhone and iPad household.

We started using netflix and that permitted us to return one of our cable boxes as a result.

It’s nice to see groups starting to cut the legs off of the increasingly mafia-like cable organizations

"mafia-like?" Seems to me that I subscribe to a service, choose features based on my habits and budget . . . does your cable company threaten to burn your house down if you want to go terrestrial or sat? ;)

I have been considering that, too. I will keep Verizon's internet service and drop the cable TV service. In spite of all the channels they offer, there never seems to be much on it that I want to watch.

Picked one up about a month ago. Like it, but don't love it....


The setup, like all other apple products is super simple, the unit is easy to use, and plays nice with other Apple devices. Downside - I find its pretty limited and clunky to use unless you have something like an iPad connected to it.

The majority of TV shows I watch are available on it, but there are still some that are not available for streaming.

Why not just use your lap top? Most folks have one. If yours has a HDMI out put just hook it up with a wireless keyboard and mouse and have at it. A home theater PC can be built for a few hundred which will be far more capable than google/apple TV.

I use Roku. Ditched regular cable 5 years ago and have relied on streaming through the roku box ever since.

I might give it a go, I ditched regular cable years ago.

Now I just use netflix, but I think I'll get Hulu plus and Amazon prime soon as well.

If you have a newer TV, I would follow David's suggestion and build a cheap PC with HDMI out on the video card.

I use Roku because I am too cheap to replace my old Trinitrons, and have no interest in spending money to convert VGA to composite.

Amazon Prime is great. Not only do you get free shipping on many items(and 3.99/item overnight), but you also get about 10000 titles to stream free.


The 3.99 overnight option even works on air conditioners....:D

I have had the apple tv for years. The wife and I used it all the time until about 6 months ago. All the shows are hi def and commercial free.

We got cable for the first time about a year ago, and I really dont know why.

I plan on buying a new TV soon and I have a very good PC that would easily run whatever I want on it.

Maybe I should just skip the Apple tv...

I stream 1080 HD content to my computer screen all the time.


Which begs the question, whats the best LCD TV you can get right now in the 45-50 inch size range? I want thin and light because its getting mounted on a wall.

Building an HTPC is sooo 2004 . . . ;)

Most flat panels or bluray players have Amazon, Netflix, Pandora, Vudu, YouTube, Facebook, Skype etc. built in. All you need is ethernet cable or wifi. My 2 year old Panasonic plasma even has USB ports so that I can plug in a keyboard to make typing easier than using the remote.

I need a TV.