MacService introduces a new storage upgrade service for the newly released Apple TV media controller. For as little as $195 the internal storage capacity can be increased to 160GB, allowing over 200 hours of video, 36,000 songs, or 100,000 photos to be stored on the AppleTV. You can now store all of your movies, music and pictures on your Apple TV without having to stream it from you computer. All pricing includes a new hard drive, professional installation, roundtrip shipping and data transfer.
How it works- MacService sends a courier to your location to retrieve your Apple TV. Once it arrives back at MacService, a certified technician installs the new drive and transfers the data over from your old drive. After the upgrade is completed, your Apple TV is tested and sent back to you, along with your old drive. All upgrades are completed within 24 hours of arrival.
MacService is a leading provider of mail-in repairs and upgrades for Mac and PC laptop computers.
For more information visit http://www.macservice.com/
I’m bored
Hey, “Price (reality) Check”—
So if you don’t already have most of this stuff, don’t buy an Apple TV! Duh…
Price (reality) Check: “$299 TV + 195 for a decent HD upgrade+ 150 for Analog/Digital Tuner + 1,199 for the least expensive Mac with a decent graphics card + 179 for an AirPort Extreme N base + 20 HDMI cable.
$2,042 in order to play in Apple’s ecosystem. You must have an iTunes equipped computer in order to purchase or sync content to TV.
X-Box 360 Elite $479, comes with HDMI cables, a 120 GB HD and can get movies directly from the internet.”
Dear Myth perpetrator…
Myth #1: You need to spend $195 to upgrade the HD.. That’s patently absurd. You don’t need</n> to upgrade the drive at all. 40GBs is perfectly fine for 99% of TV users.
<b>Myth #2a: You need a Mac. Yes, TV requires iTunes, but if you have a PC, you don’t have to buy a Mac to use it, as it works on BOTH Macs and Windows computers. TV’s target customers are clearly targeted primarily at the tens of millions of iPod+Tunes users, and secondarily at anyone with a Mac or PC… full stop. Even so, is this REALLY a limitation for any potential TV, or for that matter, Xbox buyer? Do you really think anyone interested in either of those products doesn’t already have a Mac or a PC in their house?
Myth #2b: You need an $1,199 Mac with a “decent” graphics card: Wrong. First, by defining the price as $1,199, you are obviously defining an intel iMac as the minimum for “decent” graphics. However, Even if you needed a Mac, which again YOU DON’T, you don’t need an intel iMac to use iTunes. Anything from a 500Ghz+ G3 on up is perfectly fine as an iTunes media store.
Myth #3: You need a 802.11n Airport Extreme: No you don’t. First off, 802.11g is probably fine for users in stand alone homes, though apartment dwellers might have enough interference that they would be better off with a wired or “wireless-n” connection. If you have an intel mac with an 802.11n Airport card or a PC with a wireless-n adapter, you can connect TV wirelessly to it, bypassing the need for any basestation. Besides, the Xbox can’t do wireless-n at all.
Myth #4: You need to buy an HDMI cable: No you don’t. If your TV does not have an HDMI port, an HDMI cable would be rather useless, wouldn’t it? If your TV only has a DVI port, then you would be best off buying a HDMI to DVI cable. If your TV only have component inputs, you’d be best off with a component cable. Since only about 50% of widescreen TVs have HDMI, Apple made the smart choice by not including a cable(s) that could go to waste.
There are only two reasons to go with the Xbox360 over the TV. You want to play Xbox games or want to play HD-DVD movies. Otherwise, the TV is clearly the better value. I’m not saying those are bad reasons either. If that is your choice, then get the Xbox. who cares? I am sure Apple is selling plenty of TVs regardless of your FUD…
Price (reality) Check:
The other flawed portion of your logic is that the two end points are not equal. You can do a heck of a lot more with the iMac setup that you described than with an Xbox. Or have you ditched your Dell and started running MS Office and Photoshop on your Xbox?
As others pointed out, the premise is that you already have a computer and you want to send audio/video to your TV.
I find it more than a bit ironic that for years computers have inefficiently (cost) attempted to be cutting edge game platforms, and now game platforms are inefficiently attempting to become computers. Convergence only works when it makes sense (iPhone), otherwise the dedicated tools (iPod) rule for a specific function.
macschemer,
Better be careful! She may trade you in for someone with a bigger “hard drive”.
There web site says $195 gets you an upgrade to a 60 gig HD. It costs @295 for the 160 gig. That seems quite steep. It’s the cost of another Apple TV.
This hard drive upgrade gets my vote for “most useless” upgrade to an apple product ever. Seriously, you don’t need it unless you’ve got more than 40 gig of photos you must have instant access to on your TV.
I’ve been messing with my apple tv all day, it streams fine. I sync’d four playlists and all of my photos so I could play slideshows with music, then I set the rest of my itunes library to stream. I’m using the component connection to a 4 year old Sony TV, works fine. Image is fine.
Also… mythbuster…. nice job rebutting the fudpacker.
@Price (UnReality) Check
Mate, you really need to get a handle on yourself… Your constant baiting of Mac fans is ridiculous. Not only do you spend far too long dreaming up negative things to say, but you then have to deal with 50 times that amount of negativity, generated by your silly comments, and reflected straight back at you…
Its not a recipe for a long and happy life mate.
Continually changing your name doesn’t work – we all know that you are the only Windows troll on here, whether you call yourself Machopeful, Reality, or anything else…
Why don’t you save your energy and find a site where you can make positive commentary – and leave us to our own (Apple) devices.
That would be a win/win in my book…
@ M.X.N.T.4.1: “… And for £30 I can buy a dvd player. What’s your point?”
You just made it. A 30 pound device allows one big part (maybe the biggest) of people’s existing video library from becoming useless. The 300 (or so) pound AppleTV totally excludes them. AppleTV has no optical drive. You can’t put a DVD in your computer, play it normally, & have AppleTV stream it to your TV either. And ripping, while possible, is extremely time consuming and – right now – illegal. Imagine if you had to jump through those hoops with the iPod & your existing CDs – would you have bought one?
For a $300 device that’s supposed to be the ‘iPod for video’ (as we all hear it described), AppleTV seems particularly overpriced & undercapable.
@ KingMel: “The other flawed portion of your logic is that … You can do a heck of a lot more with the iMac setup that you described than with an Xbox… As others pointed out, the premise is that you already have a computer and you want to send audio/video to your TV… ironic that for years computers have inefficiently … attempted to be cutting edge game platforms, and now game platforms are inefficiently attempting to become computers. Convergence only works when it makes sense (iPhone), otherwise the dedicated tools (iPod) rule for a specific function.”
You can’t really square this circle. For one thing, his iMac set up, while hitting the target, is too expensive for most consumers to piece together. Apple should have saw that as an opportunity. Second, the XBox (& all the other consoles) sell primarily b/c they are dedicated gaming machines. If sales numbers are to be believed, people seem to want that vs having their computer being involved in it. And in that regard XBox has a further simplicity advantage over AppleTV, which can’t do its job WITHOUT a PC.
So, the XBox gives you some interesting things (allowing you to watch DVD & HD vids you might already own, or get via download through the XBox itself) in addition to accomplishing its primary mission (advanced gaming), all on it’s own. TiVo does some interesting things (allows recorded videos & music to be transfered to/from your computer) in addition to its primary mission (recording broadcasts, time shifting on the fly, etc … and seeing it on your SD or HDTV), again, all on it’s own.
What’s AppleTV’s “primary mission”? Its not a gaming machine, nor a computer, nor even a video device that provides capability that every other video device I own does in one form or another … AppleTV just does the “interesting things” part, and incompletely at that when you consider that XBox allows me to access M$’s online store & AppleTV can’t even handle that. Plus, not only does it not eliminate the need for some A/V devices, but it ALSO requires your computer to be involved. That’s not simplifying anything, no matter how easy it is to set up or how nice the GUI is.
You say, “Convergence only works when it makes sense (iPhone), otherwise the dedicated tools (iPod) rule for a specific function.” I’d agree with that, while pointing out two things:
1] Last thing first; AppleTVs specific function is very narrow (streaming iTunes content), and of limited overall utility; I still want my DVR & my optical disc player, my computer must be on for AppleTV to work at 100%, and my video may/may not play if isn’t an iTunes purchase. A mechanic that can only change oil is of limited utility. A math teacher that only knows how to do fractions is of limited utility. And artist that can only work with a broad brush … you get the picture? Sometimes you can be TOO dedicated.
2] Convergence in this area MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD! Its what people want most, AND its what Apple is supposed to be best at! Its certainly what the iPod/iTunes system provided so brilliantly – it took all the music you already had or had access to, and all the devices & technology you needed to play it, and said ‘Hey, why not put it all in here?’ iPod let you take it with you, iTunes let you play it on your computer, & the dock (or Airport Express) let you pipe it into your home audio system. Brilliant.
AppleTV could have provided just such useful, kick-ass convergence. But now … Got DVDs? Tough. Got HD-DVDs or BluRay discs? Tough. Got video that plays in iTunes or on your iPod just fine? Great – but it may not play on AppleTV. Want to record the video that’s already piped into your home A/V system, legally? Sorry, keep moving. Oh, and that’ll be $300 – thanksforcominghaveaniceday!
It’s easy to see that AppleTV is just another doo-dad to buy. It does some interesting things (though not being able to access the iTS is just frickin ridiculous), and does /some/ of them pretty well (though if I can play a vid in QT, I should be able to play it on AppleTV – period). But it doesn’t actually simplify things, or give me cool features I can see in other mainstream devices. Am I supposed to forget all my existing video? Or what a Tivo can do? Or even my VCR for that matter? Hell, even the iPod plays games.
iPod solved problems for me. It gave me what I wanted. It simplified. AppleTV gives me what Apple thinks I should want (overpriced movies from iTS) in a nifty package.
I think ‘Price (reality) Check’ got it right.
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@ SydneyStephen: “@Price (UnReality) Check … Mate, you really need to get a handle on yourself… Your constant baiting of Mac fans is ridiculous. Not only do you spend far too long dreaming up negative things to say, but you then have to deal with 50 times that amount of negativity, generated by your silly comments, and reflected straight back at you…
Its not a recipe for a long and happy life mate.
Continually changing your name doesn’t work – we all know that you are the only Windows troll on here, whether you call yourself Machopeful, Reality, or anything else…
Why don’t you save your energy and find a site where you can make positive commentary – and leave us to our own (Apple) devices.”
This is hysterical – and I don’t mean that in the ‘laugh very hard’ sort of way, but in the ‘mentally wierd’ sort of way. Just because people aren’t falling all over themselves blindly for this device, they must be ‘consumed with negativity’ and all the other things you accuse this guy/girl of doing??
Seriously, what is WRONG with you people?
Look, I love Macs. I’ve personally ‘converted’ about a dozen people to the platform. Apple owes me some comissions. But AppleTV is a crok. It is designed from the ground up to get you to buy iTS content – that’s it’s primary purpose. You can tell this b/c that’s what it does best!
I wish this thing was as good as it’s press. I WANTED an answer to my video wants & needs, the way that iPod provided for my audio wants & needs, but AppleTV does not do this. It takes the iPod paradigm of ‘use your music & buy ours when you get around to it’, and turns it on its head to ‘to hell with your video, buy ours and be happy with it’. If iTS had anything close to the selection of video I have on DVD already, or have coming into my home (via cable or antenna already), I’d be singing its praises. And I imagine ‘Price (UnReality) Check’ would too, since he spent all that time & money setting up a MacMini to do all those things – all the things an AppleTV should.
Jeeze, fanbois – get a grip.
MDN magic word = “perform”
As in, “The AppleTV doesn’t …”
@Odyssey67
Well you won’t buy one then will you!
No vendor can make a single product which suits every individual’s requirements.
Apple TV is aimed squarely at iTunes users – whether they be Windows or Mac – in markets where the iTunes store provides video content. And, in that sector of the market, Apple TV should do very well according to the reviews.
Apple is building an infrastructure to provide its customers with a simple alternative to cable TV, and DVD purchase/rentals, and an easy way to incorporate your TV in your viewing experience for photos, cover art etc.
If this is not for you, it doesn’t mean the product is poorly envisaged. It just means you should buy a different product to meet your specific requirements.
Price (reality) check made a number of absurd assumptions and has already been taken to task for those… And, as you obviously have not been watching, he is yet to post a positive remark on this site, on any topic… When every post is negative is gets very boring very quickly…
@Odyssey67
Man, you have soooo misunderstood the AppleTV, Apple’s intent and the capability of the box. PVR is a minority. Blueray is currently a minority (Do you really think Apple computers will never have Blueray drives?).
If you want a PVR, go out and buy one.
If you want a Blueray player for your AV system, go buy a Blueray player.
If you want a Blueray drive in your Mac, go buy an external drive or wait for Apple to decide that saturation of Blueray technology (and manufacturing costs) are right for Apple to adopt.
AppleTV is a media content delivery system that is simple, cheap and soooo cool. End of story.
I like those in the majority that have no interest in PVR or Blueray (at this point) love the idea. I hate having to store bloody hundreds of DVDs, go to video shops to rent DVDs or even having to walk to my home DVD library, choose one and put it in the bloody DVD player (petty as that may seem).
I can’t think of anything better than being able to stream content from my Macs to the TV. Go and get either Handbrake or VisualHub or something similar and turn your DVD’s into streamable content. FANTASTIC!!! Who said I had to buy iTunes content??? I have an iPod Nano with 500+ songs – but I’ve only purchased 5 songs from iTunes. I just extract from CD’s. No difference to this scenario. Granted, extracting a DVD takes time, but who gives a sh$#. Let it run over night. Magic!
@ SydneyStephen: Your post is pretty myopic. I agree that “Apple TV is aimed squarely at iTunes users … in markets where the iTunes store provides video content …” and if you read what I wrote I’m saying that’s the problem. That target is way to small, especially considering how few of the national iTS’s actually offer movies and TV shows, and NONE offer anything in HiDef yet. And why should I have to buy all my vids from iTS anyway? The iPod certainly doesn’t work that way. I have access to movies and TV shows all over the place, and a more fully functional – yes, even ‘traditonal’ – DVR AppleTV with typical Apple ‘panache’ would have sold like hotcakes. Just like the iPod – a DAR – did and does.
As for the ‘every post being negative’ thing – all I can say is I get accused of being an Apple acolyte in other, less partisan environments. So, I’m not going to worry about whether anyone here appreciates critical thinking. I’m just going to speak my peace.
Like it or lump it dude
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@ Rossco: “Man, you have soooo misunderstood the AppleTV, Apple’s intent and the capability of the box.”
Yeah. I am so easily mislead. Continue.
“PVR is a minority. Blueray is currently a minority (Do you really think Apple computers will never have Blueray drives?).”
Guess what else is a “minority”? Video content on iTunes. Especially compared to what I can get over cable, over the air, and off my DVD shelf.
And I couldn’t give flying-you-know-what about the overpriced BluRay format, per se. But since Apple supports it, supposedly, why not have a BR player on AppleTV? iTunes lets you play CDs, so not being able to play an optical video disc of some sort on AppleTV seems strange to me, if the goal of the device is to be an ‘iPod for video’. The lack of a DVR is even more out of place.
“If you want a PVR, go out and buy one. If you want a Blueray player for your AV system, go buy a Blueray player. If you want a Blueray drive in your Mac, go buy an external drive or wait for Apple to decide that saturation of Blueray technology (and manufacturing costs) are right for Apple to adopt. AppleTV is a media content delivery system that is simple, cheap and soooo cool. End of story.”
Except it’s not the end of the story. Apple had THE Golden Opportunity to make all that crap unnecessary – people could just go out and buy an AppleTV. I’d like Apple to make as much money as possible, so when they miss opportunities like that I say so.
“I like those in the majority that have no interest in PVR or Blueray (at this point) love the idea. I hate having to store bloody hundreds of DVDs, go to video shops to rent DVDs or even having to walk to my home DVD library, choose one and put it in the bloody DVD player (petty as that may seem).”
Except for your first statement, you’re actually making my point for me. People have all the instrest in the world for a DVR – they just don;t want to pay monthly fees (to TiVo or their cable company) for it. The standalone models are complicated to operate. Yet people want them – why else do you think so many people – those who don’t have DVRs – still have VCRs?
As for the rest – all those things you hate – all the more reason for Apple to make it easy for you and me and everyone else to get it on a video player with an ADEQUATE amount of HDD space (the same way they helped us get our music on an music player) to be used as I wish later. Recent court rulings make home video servers that hold ripped (though still DRM’d) movies perfectly legal.
“I can’t think of anything better than being able to stream content from my Macs to the TV. Go and get either Handbrake or VisualHub or something similar and turn your DVD’s into streamable content. FANTASTIC!!! Who said I had to buy iTunes content??? I have an iPod Nano with 500+ songs – but I’ve only purchased 5 songs from iTunes. I just extract from CD’s. No difference to this scenario. Granted, extracting a DVD takes time, but who gives a sh$#. Let it run over night. Magic!”
“Magic!” “FANTASTIC!!!” May I add “braindead”? You sound less like a critical consumer and more like an ad agent. You say how great it is that iTunes let’s you rip your CDs so easily, then in the same breath minimize how AppleTV gives you no option at all to do the same thing for any source video. No DVR lets you get the latest episode of anything you could capture with a $50 VCR. And you admit yourself that you have to use software DVD rippers that take 2Xs as long as the movie you’re ripping to do the job. Which leads you to conclude, “Who said I had to buy iTunes content???”
Ummm … common sense?
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Sorry. I stand by my criticisms of AppleTV. If it’s ‘magical’, it’s Wicked Witch of the West kind of magic.