Apple TV (or Pretty Proprietary Crap) and the Alternatives
So, it’s not really a new concept — But thanks to Apples relative success in creating a proprietary market for entertainment media, it’s one that might [sadly] become a pretty popular device.
But wait! If you’re not already locked into using iTunes or you don’t want to become a slave to iTunes, there are Apple TV Alternatives you might not be aware of.
Ok, so you want pretty — but you want options. You like that sassy-sleek Apple design. TA-DAAAA:
“WHAT?” you say. “But Mr. Antiblogger! That’s a Mac Mini, thats not a media extender.” … Yep, thats right. Just about as easy to hook up as the Apple TV, even comes with the same remote (option?).
If you get an older one, you’re looking at the same price tag, or go with the newest model and you’re spendin’ a couple hundred extra.
So, not only do you get your iTunes support, you also get support for just about every video format, built in DVD player, Internet browsing and anything else you would otherwise do on your Mac or PC — all from the comfort of your couch and displayed on your nice new 42″ HD display. Yes — it really is that easy.
But lets you’ve decided you’d rather stay away from Apple entirely. Maybe you’d rather have something Micro$oft based, or perhaps you wanna be a real rebel and try something crazy like Linux!? Well, then you have hundreds of options. Whether you need to stay on a budget or you want to go mad-high-end, the possibilities are endless.
This is just one of the many pre-built HTPC options available to you. The HUSH ITX series. I’d consider these to be of the “higher-end” systems you can quickly and easily purchase, plug and play. The HUSH Series of HTPC’s are full-blown PC’s packed into adorable little set-top box cases.
If you’re on a budget and do a little research, you can purchase a pre-built HTPC for as little as $300. With a little know-how, you can set yourself up for even less by rolling your own Apple TV alternative. A neat case, a little motherboard, some memory and a hard drive and you’re in business. Add Linux (Whichever flavor you like) and you’re ready to roll.
Ok, so — you like these ideas, but you really want something SUPER FUCKIN’ SIMPLE. “Mr. Antiblogger”, you say, “I just want something that plugs in, plays my movies and videos and then shuts up and sits there.”
I gottcha covered brotha. You want an Apple TV that works with your current PC or MAC without the restrictions and not a damn thing more. I present the contenders:
The NetGear EVA700 Digital Entertainer. All the features, half the price.
The D-Link DSM 510. Yep, it’s all there and it’s also about half the price.
Thats just a few of the existing Apple TV alternatives and I’m sure that many more will soon follow.
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March 24th, 2007 18:51
I know it’s cool to hate on Apple and everything, but your “alternatives” are a bit lopsided and aren’t really equating to the AppleTV well.
Mac mini
- Twice as expensive. This is non-trivial
- Requires you to use a full computer operating system. The living room is about simplicty. I don’t want to boot OS X to get my toaster to toast and I don’t want to have to navigate and launch programs just to get to content. Front Row alleviates some of this, but not all. Just “booting up” the computer is a big deal in the living room.
Netgear/D-Link
- No hard drive (hard drive presence and size being a big deal to many, apparently)
- No wireless N. High def streaming is not so fun when you are buffering everything (especially with no hard drive as a failsafe).
- No official mac support (at least according to their own websites)
- No HDMI (small point, but it’s nice if you can use it)
Home-built HTPC
- Obviously only for nerds who actually enjoy the trouble and complication.
The key is that the AppleTV is much more simple to use than any of your alternatives. There is a certain price/ability/simplicity combination that equals mass market success. It’s not being the best at any one of those things, it’s being the best thing that does all three. The iPod hits this mark and I think the AppleTV is going for the same brass ring.
After over 5 years of the iPod, people still haven’t caught on that you can’t simply have more features and assume you have a better product?
March 24th, 2007 19:42
I guess you missed the point.
You’re locked into iTunes to make this thing work and that is not an option for most. The lack of support (without hacking) for extended CODECS is also a major limitation.
I’m not trying to hate on Apple or Apple TV — I’m just trying to point some attention in the direction of the alternatives that the general public may not notice through the haze of Apples marketing machine.
March 26th, 2007 01:49
I have always thought the Mini would be the ‘better’ solution. But, I have yet to find a way to get audio out of the mini at the level of quality as the Apple TV.
The mini is much better at being a DVR, and playing a DVD, but that isn’t what the Apple TV is supposed to do. Apple is going after the folks that would love to get rid of all of their cable and just get the shows they want, when they want them, via iTunes. With a simple interface, these users do not want a ‘computer’ in their TV watching area. It’s a great market for Apple, not my cup of tea, but it is simple and does that well.
March 26th, 2007 10:19
Now, if only every other so-called tech review would say that rather than calling this thing the end-all be-all of entertainment technology convergence.
March 26th, 2007 17:27
[...] after writing a bit about my opinion about the Apple TV yesterday, the guys over at Mvix sent over a little note to remind me that they too offer an Apple TV [...]