What alternatives are there to the Apple TV?

[Leros]

I'm debating how to get my media to my TV: Apple TV, game console, htpc, big dvi cable, etc.

What similar devices are there to the Apple TV? And are they better?

 

[Slick5150]

www.popcornhour.com

The interface is a bit slow, but it'll play anything you throw at it (including 1080p HD material).

www.istarhd.com has the exact same hardware/software. They're both based off the Syabas chipset.

I have the iStar and am happy with it.

 

[GregGreen]

The 360 works pretty well if you are streaming XVIDs or MP3s. I know it plays other formats too, but I haven't tried most of them besides x264 (which failed terribly!)

 

[Gooberlx2]

The 360 does work well. If you're running vista HP or ultimate, there's also the v2 Media Center Extenders.

You could probably also pickup an old modded Xbox for the widest array of support for file formats.

 

[Modelworks]

I'm using the big dvi cable and a uhf remote right now and found I like that the best.
The uhf remote works anywhere in the home.
http://www.snapstream.com/products/firefly/default.asp

http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=2808&seq=1&format=2

You can use it with media center or just about any other software .
Under $100 and your streaming content with any codec/site out there.

I think the most promising is going to be the XBMC on OSX or plex.
XBMC works great on the xbox1 but the original xbox cpu is too slow for hd content. A 360 is okay , but I dislike that its ultimately controlled by MS.

http://dn-0.com/xbmc-trac/wiki/FrequentlyAskedQuestions

 

[aphex]

What type of media/formats are you looking to get on your TV? I think that will be a big factor in what ultimately ends up being the best choice for you.

 

[mshan]

If budget isn't a significant constraint, I would go for a Mac Mini or Hackintosh instead of the Apple TV.

AppleTV seems to crippled, unless you really need to stay under that $200 price point.

 

[dwell]

Messed around with a ton of devices: Xbox Media Center, TVersity + PS3, 360, etc but nothing works as well as a big fat PC jacked right into the TV. I can do whatever the hell I want without worrying about codecs, streaming, disk space, etc.

 

[Calculator83]

Originally posted by: Chris
Messed around with a ton of devices: Xbox Media Center, TVersity + PS3, 360, etc but nothing works as well as a big fat PC jacked right into the TV. I can do whatever the hell I want without worrying about codecs, streaming, disk space, etc.

Thatz right. You tell um'

piratez rulez.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: aphex
What type of media/formats are you looking to get on your TV? I think that will be a big factor in what ultimately ends up being the best choice for you.

Xvid, h.264, mp3s

It would be a huge plus to get things like netflix or other streaming video sites (nbc, etc) on there too, but I can live without it.

I have a few extra computers laying around (AMD 3800 x2 w/ 2GB ram and AMD 3200+ w/ 1GB ram) that I could turn into HTPCs for a few hundred dollars. I like the smoothness of a dedicated built-for-purpose solution though.

If I have room in my apartment for a desk, it looks like a big HDMI cable with Media Center on that monitor might be best.

 

[dwell]

Originally posted by: Calculator83
Thatz right. You tell um'

piratez rulez.

1) Netflix streaming works on a HTPC. No need for Roku.
2) iTunes rentals (sans HD) work on a HTPC. No real need for AppleTV.
3) The dozen or so other pay and free commercial services work (Amazon Unbox, Hulu, Vongo, Movielink, etc.)

Piratez what?

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: Chris

Originally posted by: Calculator83
Thatz right. You tell um'

piratez rulez.

1) Netflix streaming works on a HTPC. No need for Roku.
2) iTunes rentals (sans HD) work on a HTPC. No real need for AppleTV.
3) The dozen or so other pay and free commercial services work (Amazon Unbox, Hulu, Vongo, Movielink, etc.)

Piratez what?

Not to mention what my brother is setting up.
His wife obsessively collects dvd. If it comes out , she buys it, especially if it is a disney or family oriented movie. I think at last count , she had about 800 or so. She has an entire bedroom with nothing but cabinets and wall to wall dvd.

They are going to convert them all to xvid, then place them on some raid arrays so they can just pick a title and watch. Right now it is a major pain to find the movie you want in the collection. Often involves going through boxes and boxes of dvd.