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AppleTV - Why Buy It? Then Again, Why Not?

Almost a year into its life and people still aren't convinced

Jan 30, 2008 10:51 GMT  ·  By
And here's the final reason why AppleTV isn't something overlooked
   And here's the final reason why AppleTV isn't something overlooked

Burning question on Apple Discussions: "What is the point of AppleTV?" As a proud owner of one, you're probably already upset that not everyone can see its potential the way you do. Some will go through hours of searching the web for all its features to prove it's just great, but it all comes down to what you need from an entertainment center (if you even need one with a computer laying around too).

One user posts: "As a photographer its a great way to show clients your work, syncing music in the background is very cool. I also find the quality of pictures to be very good and represent the actual photo. With the upcoming ability to rent Hd and reg tv shows and movies it will make this device truly worth having."

Sure enough, having one in your living-room does present some advantages, if you're the type that often invites people over for business interests. Normally, people don't keep the computer in the living-room, whereas the AppleTV is perfect for this area of the house. But other than that, showing clients your work can be done just as well (if not better) on a PC. Say, you need to add a last minute change to a piece of your work. Wouldn't it be embarrassing to let your clients watch you running from one room to the other with flash memory sticks in your hands?

However, watching movies, TV shows and podcasts downloaded from iTunes seems the most solid reason of all for owning an AppleTV. Videophiles don't even turn on their TV to watch regular programs. Plus, services such as iTunes offer content long before television networks can get their hands on it.

But it seems that every person who bought the AppleTV when it first came out is pretty satisfied with what it has to offer: "I'd just like to say that we've have also had an AppleTV since they first came out, and we absolutely love it!" - posted a proud AppleTV owner on Apple Discussions.

Also, everyone's looking forward to being able to rent movies. The 24-hour limit might be a problem though. Referring to this particular aspect, one reader confidently stated "This will have to change or it won't work out."

So, what do you think? Is the AppleTV a price-worthy acquisition for the common folks, or does Apple need to throw in more benefits to draw a more visible line between it and the almighty PC?