AppleTV

[CardinalFang]

So what do we think?

http://www.apple.com/appletv/

At £199 (in the UK) it's very good value with a 40G drive thrown in.

[ModelCitizen]

I bought a third generation iPod as soon as the product was released. The experience put me off Apple for life. I am now almost psychopathically averse to anything white with rounded corners (yes, even my fridge gives me the shakes).
MC

[Matt B]

and the iPhone looks neat. I wonder how the handheld or nokia skins would work well on it?

[CardinalFang]

and the iPhone looks neat. I wonder how the handheld or nokia skins would work well on it?

They should work well - it's a full Web 2.0 browser.

Mind you $499 plus 2 year contract to Cingular for a remote is a bit steep! (yes I know it does a lot more than that for the money) The Nokia 800 still looks the better bet.

My main gripe with it is the need for a new HD TV, I wish it had RGB so you could attach a cheap monitor. It does have optical out, so use of an external DAC is on the cards, and it suppports Apple Lossless, so I'll be keen to read some reviews of the audio side.

[Andyoz]

The sooner Apple takes over the word the better...did anyone see Bill Gates speech at the CES. That guy makes my skin crawl!!

[tomsi42]

The sooner Apple takes over the word the better...did anyone see Bill Gates speech at the CES. That guy makes my skin crawl!!

Steve Jobs is as bad as Bill. But at least with Apple, you get great design.

[jeffmeh]

Since Apple refused to honor the warranty on my son's Ipod Nano, citing external damage for a barely perceptible depression on the back of the unit, there will be no more Apple for us. Based upon the numerous apologies from the Apple CSR, it is clear that I am not alone. If the device cannot withstand normal wear and tear, then sell it at a price relecting its disposable nature. Or do not, but I am not buying.

Throw in lossy, DRMed Itunes, ....

Isn't it ironic that Apple is to the personal media player market what Microsoft is to the personal computer software market?

[ezkcdude]

I think both the TV and iPhone miss the mark. There are numerous solutions that do what the AppleTV does, and the iPhone is way too expensive for what it does. Although, I agree with the above poster that a nice SlimServer skin would make it more appealing, in that it could be used as a Wi-Fi remote.

[Juggler]

I think it looks like it could be a pretty cool product. The real power of it is in the easy syncing built in. I do have a couple of questions that I want answered before I drop $300 for it:

1. Can you have video out the HDMI at the same time as audio out the Optical connector? Most TVs only have 2 pathetic speakers.

2. I don't think this is the case, but can you play movies/music etc (that are on the devices HDD) without a computer on (providing DRM management?)?

3. What is the USB port for? Can you attach additional storage?

[adamslim]

But when you calm down, is it really good value? What does it do that a £300 laptop won't - and that will be much more flexible.

What we need are home servers that work like blade servers, happy to feed thin client devices. Get wifi thin clients around the house, doing audio, video, games and more - the Apple is only half a solution.

Given the lack of support for content in the way I want it - my recordings from my PCTV card, my FLAC files and my games - I shan't be bothering. It's nice, however, that Apple is going in this direction.

Adam