Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners (Mac people) Has anyone looked into this?

Have any of you looked into or purchased this?
If so, what do you think?

There's not enough data on it, and it seems overly expensive for what it does, especially when you count the cost of electricity for keeping your rig and this halfway computer on. It would largely depend on what video you can send to this thing; if you're limited to purchased h.263 stuff from the iTunes store, it's remarkably silly. I doubt that it is (technically), but there may be no other content out there to put on it.

Please, someone come prove me wrong.

For me if it's Apple it means - stay away! I just went through a nighmare of a year with Apple when I purchased a Power G5. Yes, the system has its bonuses, but on a whole it is a terrible company to deal with. I akin them to snake-oil salesmen who take advantage of their consumers. They have a horrible customer releationship with people. They also have a terrorible bravado which stands in their way of seeing things from the consumer's point of view. Their coverage for their products is also limited compared to other companies. I finally just sold my G5 and just washed my hands of Apple for a lifetime.

But seriously, tell us how you really feel.

Pretty cool idea. I know that it is only one of several download services trying to really get rolling right now. Netflix is getting a bit of attention with its download service (included in the regular price of their service), but no HD, and limited selections right now, but AppleTV probablly is very limited too in what they are initially offering. The benefit of the AppleTV would be that it plugs right into your display, where Netflix downloads to a PC (or HTPC). Like I said, there are others with boxes that plug into your TV, but it is a bit too early to jump on board with any one of them right now, unless, again, you happen to already have Netflix, and a HTPC...

First off, I have to admit, I am an Apple fanboy in recent years. But Mr. Jobs, in my eyes is a marketing genius, in the likes of George Lucas. You may not like their methods, but you have to admit, it works. The iPod was not the first MP3 but it sure is the most successful.

ditcin, not sure what happened, but from my experience and dealings w/ Apple, that is an exception to the rule. My situation is different because I live w/ in 5 minutes of 2 separate Apple Stores. Another 20 miles and there's another 2 stores, not including the one on the Apple campus. I have
had to bring my Mac in for various reasons, some of them mine. I like that I can schedule an apt online and show up at the Genius Bar in 15 minutes to get my Mac fixed. I show up w/ no receipt, no power cord, no display etc. If there's a part they can swap out, they do it on site. Try that w/ a Dell, or even at Best Buy or Fry's.

I deal with their products a lot and I understand where they are going w/ their products. The Apple TV is the first real attempt to get into the living room. They are not the first digital media adapter, Netgear, Linksys, Buffalo all beat them to the punch. But once again, content is king and Apple has it w/ iTunes. If you know how to use iTunes, you know how to use this box.

I was at MacWorld and saw the iPhone (GORGEOUS), Aiport Extreme Base Station (have it), and Apple TV. The Apple TV is pretty much a Mac Mini, shaved down. It only connects thru it's iLife-like interface. It'll show your iTunes movies (including ones you've imported into iTunes), songs, trailers on line, etc. It can pull them from your Mac or someone else's, wirelessly or wired. The wireless is the new 802.11n, which has been tested already to about 130 Mbps. The thing to keep in mind that iTunes vids are barely 480p at this point, so PQ can be suspect but much better if you rip your own DVDs. This will surely improve. I have 4 on order and will be happy to post a review after I play with it.

I also now use the new Airport Extreme. It uses multiple antennas so range is much better than before. Because it uses 11n, you can run in the 5GHz so my throughput is much better at that frequency, no 2.5 GHz interference. Also, it supports a USB hard drive, so you can now attach ANY kind of hard drive for read/write access, you're not limited to a FAT/FAT32 to share w/ PCs. You can share an HFS drive w/ a PC transparently. VERY cool.

oldskoolboarder
Thanks for the input.
Keep me posted on it.

no prob.

When you think about it, $299 for a Mac Mini is a pretty good price too...

BTW, did you see my Mii's?

I too live very close to an Apple Store (about 8 mins) There too I only experienced nothing but problems. The G5 I ordered had Kernal Panics from just after 30 of getting it. My problems however started with I conjifured the unit on the phone - I was completely taken by the rep who "guided" me into features I didn't need - raking up the price. He even lied to be about the "Apple Care" and called it Apple Care Pro" stating that it not only extended my coverage for 3yrs, but allowed me access to the Genius Bar at a local store for advise and lessons. It wasn't until I tried to book a session at the Apple Store that I found out I taken. I also found out that I was supposed to get a red box that said Apple Care w/the agreement. I was charged, but never got it. I contacted Apple and then found out he left the same day he made my order. It was confirmed that he never set out my Service Plan, but was charged. The people at the Appple store also couldn't answer my question about a program which I inquired about in terms of features - they simpley kept saying, "Mac is used by the pros, of course it can do what you want." Yet not one could show me how, but they expected me to laydown $1,200. Finally when the power board on my G5 went the in home tech (this was after the Apple store couldn't fix it btw) told me I not only needed to purchase the $1,200. program but another $800. to do what I wanted. Next, while searching on the Apple site I found, almost hidden, a recall of sorts on the G5 - concerning the power boards! (My serial number was one) Yet, no one admitted it, the the tech, the online help, the store and even the phone techs. It took 3 months for techs to fix my G5 and only because I had mentioned the power issue. In fact, it was this same issue that was causing the Kernal Panics - but I was told to do a recovery because my programes were not "layered" right. (I thought that was the problem with Windows?!) I also found out one can't extend coverage beyond the 3yrs either. And when I when to get an isight web cam I was told Apple discontinued it, yet most of non-apple cams don't work well with the Mac and the webcam built program. I never had this problem with Dell XPS. I got 4yrs coverage. (latter with the option of renewing yearly, in home & phone.) 24/7 phone help, and even third party phone tech aid. (With XPS all tech phone tech aid is domestic.) I now await my new XPS HTC which has specs that have out shot the G5 in reports/reviews (especially in Adobe Photoshop) If it werent' for the iPod, I think Apple would have rotted. I know there are people out there who swear by Apple, but I wonder if their aware about the lack of support (Apple only coveres 3yrs because they feel anthing beyond that is outdated.) Not everyone can spend $5,888.oo on a system every 3-4 yrs like I did.
What someone else said here is right, Apple should take lessons from Axiom on customer service and product support.

I am really torn on the Apple - PC battle. I have both at home and use the Mac primarily and prefer it. However, it will soon be time to pick up a new desktop and I don't know if I want to go with Mac or PC. I prefer the OS X to Windows (haven't tried Vista yet) and could run either on the Mac which is nice.

But it seems like I could put together a better computer for less taking the PC route.

I hate how Mac makes it so you have to be so strategic about when you buy. If they would just let you personalize your computer like Dell a lot of this would be mitigated. Not to mention not having a new OS X version come out every year.

I'm not sure that Mac support is anything spectacular. I get the snake oil feeling as well not that I think many of the other computer makers are any better.

J

Jordan,
For the short time my G5 was working properly there were many amazing things about it, and its operating system I very much enjoyed. Its simplicity, especially when deleting a program, as such are extraordinary. However, due to Apple having only about 5%
of the computer market makes their products extremely limiting, especially creatively. They boast on how much one can do with a Mac, but the gambit the programs are too extreme. They are either extremely simplistic or vastly complex. Either way the price tag on these programs are over priced. The basic audio and video editing programs each Mac is shipped with are nice but very basic – to up grade them just a little with iLife is rip off considering what one can purchase for PC. The big mistake people make on that end is lack of ram and memory on PC and thus encounter poor quality or dropped frames.
Color-wise I’d admit the Mac’s are incredible – especially in photoshop. I agree with you that Apple should be more like Dell in in configuring a consumer’s purchase, and if you order from their site they try. The tech that came to my home admitted because Apple has only 5% of the market they can’t afford to keep a replacement parts inventory like someone like Dell. Beside, Apple has their part specially produced – sometimes just for a single release. Unlike Dell which can trade out from anyone since the Windows platform is more wide-spread. This makes sense from the company’s view but where does that leave the consumer who invests in a configured machine which may be only offered for a year then when parts run out – are truly gone – leaving one without company support because they feel the machine has outlasted it technical welcome!
That is scary, and very unknown to many. I would love to have an Apple notebook and know I can feel completely safe to surf the web. But the trade off of owning one weighs highly against it. My first sighting of Vista makes me laugh since it is so “Mac”. But in the end, if I can have part of what makes a Mac so nice to have work within the safer consumer environment of the PC so be it. Companies need to realize they aren’t the only one counting beans – consumers need to, too.

In the title of my thread I made sure to add (Mac people) thinking somehow this wouldnt become a Mac bashing thread.










Silly me.



I could go on and on with how I've seen Macs totally abused in a photo studio enviroment but still do there job................but






Oh nevermind

Meh, a computer is a computer. It'll only do what it's programmed to do. Sure you get some lemons here and there. Sure some people like one GUI over another. Sure Windows has problems, but MacOS does as well and always has. Now that every major desktop OS is on the x86 platform your choice is mostly one of either taste or functionality.

Personally, I love the modern Mac GUI. And I love having that good ol' Unix terminal in there to do geek stuff on. But I am a gamer as well, so I have an XP/Vista machine. I refuse to tout one over the other because they both do what I want them to do and they do it well.

And now to the point. I ordered an AppleTV because with the HDD built in and HDTV output it seems like a great way to get our media onto the new TV. I don't know if $300 is too expensive or not. We'll just have to see. I'm not an aficionado of industrial design but it looks nice enough, better than many I suppose. My current Netgear unit streams only and has no HDD which causes problems at times and has no HDTV support at all. So we'll just see if this thing does the trick.

Macs suck.

My Mom always used Golden Delicious and Granny Smith for the best pies.

Disclaimer: I'm a PC guy, but I appreciate what Apple has done for the MP3 player market and for their polished and (usually) well polished UI skills. Although I'm the only person I know that regularly crashes Macs as soon as I use them.

I was excited about it until I read that it didn't support regular TV and was not a DVR. I haven't jumped on the HDTV bandwagon yet, and the AppleTV requires at least a 480i set.

Personally I believe a MacMini is a better investment as an enterainment device in my HT. Yes, it's twice as much at $599, but along with the FrontRow interface you get a real PC that can actually hold/manage your iTunes library (my understanding is that Music is still streamed, while it's the video content that is actually copied), sync up your iPod, work with any TV, surf the web, burn CD/DVD's, write your papers, etc, etc, etc.

If the AppleTV had DVR functionality, and I had an HDTV, then it might be worth it.

Yeah, it would've been nice if AppleTV had a DVR function. Give them time...

If you want a DVR, you can get a USB versions in SD ($99) and HD ($150) from companies like El Gato and Miglia. I have an SD version from Miglia and it runs a program like EyeTV. VERY easy to use and there's no subscription. So you're only cost is the hardware. You can convert the videos to PSP and iPod very easily. The iPod versions can the be viewed on any iTunes as well.

Something I forgot to mention, now that Peter's on this thread. If you are looking for a Digital Media Adapter, there's always a Series 2 Tivo if you have it. It'll stream photos and music from a PC/Mac to a Tivo.

As far as Mac/PC, that's an endless debate. Taste great/less filling. To each his own.

There is much speculation that the HDD is there for reasons other than caching iTunes files. Who knows? I'm happy with my current DVR which is provided by Comcast. I just needed a device to hook up to the media on my computer. And HD is certainly a big plus. I have a Mac mini on my desk at home. I suppose I could have used it instead but I want to keep it in my office because it's mine! My own! My precious!

my understanding is that the HDD is only for caching. It's only 40 GB, so it can only hold so much content.

W/ new products like their new Aiport w/ USB HD capability, I couldn't see them use the AppleTV's HDD for DVR functionality. Makes more sense to use existing space in other places for that.

Hmm... I suppose. We shall see. My understanding is also that the HDD is for caching content. But being that the box runs on an Intel proc, I would assume it's running a fairly current version of OS X. Which of course means that the possibilities are wide open. Everyone is trying to pry open the door to your living room. This is Apple's entree, so to speak. Something is brewing down the road with this little contraption. I guess I'm paying the plankowners fee to find out what it is.

Jeez, I almost forgot: The AppleTV allows connections for up to 5 computers at a time. And believe you me, for the most part my wife's taste and mine for music and movies couldn't be more different. I won't have to keep updating a master folder for my current solution. Intriguing? I think so. Heck, a friend could come in with a laptop with 802.11(x) and entertain for hours without any fuss NOR muss. How're them Apples?

And BTW, you think I won't be working on blasting an image of that piddly 40GB disk onto a 500GB monster the same day I open the box?

For the record I don't consider myself an Apple basher at all. I prefer it to my PC but just happen to not like a few things that apple does.

Word.

J

I'm not especially a "fan" of either, as in "fanboy." The "coolness" factor of Apple is of course hyperbole. The "Microsoft makes crappy software" is extreme in its own right. I tend to work at the command-line level at work most of the time, whether in Unix (HP-UX) or Cisco IOS. But at home I want to spend most of my time pointing and clicking at my leisure when using my confusers. So everything serves their purpose. Compu-politics holds no truck for me anymore. I started out as an MS "hater," considered Macs the computer for people to stupid to use a real machine, and was an open-source jihadist. Years of experience plus I suppose maturity has made me much more pragmatic. Whatever gets the job done is fine with me. Couldn't possible care less anymore about the rest. Plus, guess what? With a little trial and error you can make all the frickin things work together in perfect harmony, thereby maximizing the best traits of all of 'em. So the heck with it.

As far as the AppleTV goes, I guess I'm intrigued by where they intend to take it. All things being equal, I think they plan much bigger things for it than what is being promoted initially. And it could be huge. This is their foray into your living room, and you know they aren't going to stop at simply streaming/caching media from iTunes. Just watch. There are big things coming from the likes of Apple and Google and such. Big Media just doesn't have the imagination to move things forward. They think trying to apply a pre-Internet business model to post-Internet media is the way to go. So maybe I'm wasting my money, maybe not. Oh well. It's my money, call me a fool if you will.

I have to say that I am an Apple aficionado. I'd never ever change it for any sort of PC, PCs feature in my worst nightmares. Obviously, it's all very personal. I just had very bad experiences with documents vanishing & all things going wrong with PC, while there's been years of sheer pleasure with Mac. Some programms are pricey & I am positevely tired of new i-pod models showing up every half a year or so. However, I definately want an i-phone, it looks so gorgeous. I am bit afraid that it won't actually do all that they say or there might be some issues with screen.

Umm, let's see: x86 architecture? Check. PCI-Express bus? Check. SATA HDD? Check. USB 2.0? Check. 802.3 Ethernet? Check. 802.11(x) Wireless Ethernet? Check. So, to summarize: An Intel-based computer that uses non-proprietary industry standard hardware and protocols. Nope, sorry. You own a PC. You just happen to run MacOS on it.

I am not that tech-savvy, just judging from experience. Whatever is that that makes my Mac run smoothly is great. I just thotoughly enjoy Mac, that's it. I am not very much concerned with protocols and stuff & that's exactly what I love about Macs (Mac Os) - is that it enables you to work efficiently without ever bothering about how it actually works.

Not alot of mystery to it. Apple used to control the hardware used in Macs by using mostly proprietary architectures. And they were extremely careful about which software was allowed to run on Macs (they are still much more rigid than MS). So it was hard to kill one. That started changing with the original iMacs, which used standard, off the shelf components and architectures for the most part, thereby reducing costs greatly. Next, the original and VERY, VERY archaic and tired MacOS was replaced by the Unix-based OS X. This gave them an extremely flexible and lightweight base for their current system. Last, Apple switched from the IBM/Motorola Power architecture to the ubiquitous Intel x86 architecture. This allowed them to get the performance gains they wanted with the benefit of the economy of scale built into buying x86 chips. So the conversion to the PC platform is now complete. It's just that the platform is running OS X. Unless like me you are running OS X AN WinXP in a dual-boot format using Boot Camp (I actually haven't booted to XP on the Mini for quite awhile). When booted to XP, the process is complete. I am literally using a classic "PC." Just happens that the hardware came from Apple.