couple things . . . i don't see ANYONE giving up cable to just purchase shows off of iTunes, so that cost savings is silly. further, shows on the iTunes store are optimized for a small, small screen. most people are going to be using Apple TV on a larger television of at least 32" or so. i buy a few shows from the iTMS and i have a huge monitor on my computer and i don't even use 1/4 of the screen to watch my flicks, so being able to pipe the flicks to an even larger television is a bit baffling to me.<br><br>i have absolutely no desire to own an Apple TV. i don't get the demand, assuming there is a demand.<br><br>--<br>"I am mindful that diversity is one of the strengths of the country" --president bush on 9/27/05

Simply Apple TV is a way to get stuff off your computer to a TV - thats it .<br>Apple TV would appeal too those who have tons of iPhoto Slide Shows and those home grown DVDs <-- to bore the living crap out of friends and family members . Plus those stuff they would buy off of iTunes . Yep thats about it.<br><br>[color:blue]so being able to pipe the flicks to an even larger television is a bit baffling to me.</font color=blue> - According to Stevie the Apple TV converts to the larger TV format on the "fly" Sooooooo why your Mac cannot do this ? ? I dunno maybe something about monitor resolution -vs- TV screen values ?<br><br>

Thank you for clearing that up.<br><br>But, I thought Apple TVs 720p output would be fine for television viewing? The current stuff I have been buying from iTS supports 640 x 480 resolution, and 480 is what I'm getting now from the cable company so I'm not sure what to think now.<br><br>You sound very resolute in your convictions and perhaps you're right about the cable aspect and you sure sound like you know what you're talking about. Have you thought about writing Apple to let them know? I'm sure they'd love to hear from you.<br><br>Perhaps Apple should have given more thought to this whole Apple TV fiasco. You should have spoke up sooner and saved Apple from embarrassment.<br><br>I iCal'd your comments anyway, so I'll check back with you on this matter in the Fall.<br><br>Thanks.<br><br><br>M i c h a e l (OFI)

I agree about purchasing off of iTMS. I believe you have the same monitor as me (23" HD ACD?) and there is a huge difference between what comes off of iTMS and the HD content I get off of Bittorrent.<br><br>

i am sure that Apple will sell many of the product. it's new and many people just love new gadgets from Apple. if nothing else, this will save just about any innovative product from being a complete failure these days. they've hyped it and it will sell. i was merely describing what i don't like about video that i buy from iTMS. if it's better than video being piped into my television now then i would be pleasantly surprised. i am merely explaining what i see on my computer cinema display (see john's post). i don't know that i've seen apple use the angle that you can cancel cable television and just buy content from iTMS to suffice for typical cable television dollars. in fact, i think that's ludicrous so please do save that comment and this one. and since apple didn't market the product this way, i had no reason to contact Apple and explain this to them.<br><br>i am not saying the product will fail; rather, i am saying that apple will have to update the features that Apple TV can do to make this a real winner. in fact, apple could still make the product somewhat appealing to me. but, it would have to be more like tivo for me to desire it.<br><br>--<br>"I am mindful that diversity is one of the strengths of the country" --president bush on 9/27/05

<br>I think this is a work in progress. If it stayed static it would be a failure but of course it won't. 4OGB hard drive? Crazy. Can't add another one? Nutty. It will have tivo like controls within three years.<br><br>I was listening ot the radio driving to work yesterday and I missed a comment. I almost reached down to hit the backup button. I have gotten so used to it on my TV that not having it is foreign. I have my remote programmed so the extra buttons jump back 60 seconds and another jumps forward 30. With a little practice I can always do my own replays and cut out commercials. The Colbert Report song at the beginning is 62 seconds long for a reason. One click and it's gone.<br><br>This type of stuff will be in this thing before long but they have to start simple. Tivo would require a second set of hookups going in the other direction. The cost goes up. They want to keep it all simple and clean (the Apple Way) and add only what we want.<br><br>I doubt I will buy this thing either for at least a few years. My comcast DVR gives me enough to watch right now. <br><br>

Actually, you could do a DVR with a mac mini and elgato software, right? Rather more expensive up front though if you buy the lifetime Tivo, then it's about equal.<br><br>

What would be *really* handy is a combination of what's already there and a 'Slingbox'-type device - one that not only snagged media from the computer and displayed it on the TV, but vice versa as well.<br><br><br><br>

that would be cool. or, a device that allows content to be delivered over the internet. so, if i take my laptop on a vacation, i can access my Apple TV while i am away and access content (e.g., a KU game i recorded on Apple TV) and watch from a long way away. there's currently a device that does this, but for some reason i thought it was PC only???<br><br>--<br>"I am mindful that diversity is one of the strengths of the country" --president bush on 9/27/05

Psst, go buy a Slingbox. <br><br>