Typo on page three: "but you must reach into your pocket to rental or download them."

"rental" should be "rent"

You must not run your home theatre with a universal remote - like the Harmony 880 I use.

Smart designers get their codes into the hopper at Harmony's website before public release. I plugged in to requisite codes when I added a Yahama YSP to my system. My Apple TV took a few days before they showed up in appropriate detail...but, show up they did.

But, they're all there and ready to rock. One remote for everything.

You forget to mention that the Apple TV allows you to view your own home made videos as well as ripped dvd's in your library. Since I have easily over 200 dvds in my library, this is an important feature.

Glor

Hmm... why can't we all just get along? I have been an avid Netflix fan since 1999. I also bought an AppleTV when 2.0 came out. I think they are completely complimentary. I don't see why they don't partner up and allow Netflix Watch Now work over AppleTV. All they need is a browser plug-in for Safari, which has already been seen working on AppleTV with various hacks.

While they are at it, why not do the same for Hulu? Apple could get advertising revenue sharing for views made on AppleTVs. While Hulu is cool for those on the road or living in a dorm room, Hulu is kind of pointless for those with an actual living room who like to watch TV on the couch.

If ATV got Netflix and Hulu, and the ability to browse other TV network web sites, like ABC, I would cancel my cable and use iTunes and the other 2 for all my entertainment.

"Netflix says that around ten percent of its library of 100,000 DVDs is available for streaming from its Watch Instantly service."

Actually, they don't say that. They say they have 10K *TITLES* available for download. Since dvds often contain multiple episodes, that means they have well more than 100K total titles available on DVD, and it's less than 10 percent available. Looking at a variety of listings on their site, you won't see any categories where they're even close to ten percent available as download. I know, I'm being picky, but that distinction should be made.

I don't see how this box could support 720p with a wireless G connection and no buffering. It seems like they're promoting it as a theoretical possibility, but I doubt many people would be able to get it to work reliably, if at all.

This looks like a cool idea, but far too limited to lay out the money and space/connections for a box that is so limited.

I agree w/ some that the differences are too great to really compare these products. This falls into the category of "match your needs".

That said, this version 1.0 from Netflix is way too limiting to appeal to me. Even if the unit is only $100, I wouldn't pay it because it offers so little at this stage, from content to technical features. And one has no assurances that when future enhancements do show up to better match Apple TV, that the current box will be able to handle it or that future boxes will not cost more (due to additional hardware components).

Plus, I just don't want a whole lot of "boxes" sitting around my big flatscreen TV w/ remotes to match! At this stage, I'm quite happy w/ my Apple TV 2 and a HDTV-tuned TV.

/

I received the Roku box last night, set it up...and took it down this morning. Picture quality was terrible, despite going through multiple set-up and connection issues with Roku tech support. They admitted that the Apple Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme base stations had "issues" that had not been resolved. Selection of titles was very limited. I'm returning the Roku today.

I was a sucker to buy the Apple TV last year and have taken that down after regular synching problems that Apple product managers in tech support are not able to resolve. Next step: hook up my Mac Mini and go that route. To Apple TV's credit, when it works, the picture quality is outstanding.

This seemed like a pretty fair comparison, and I agree that the two devices really look like they're more a compliment to each other than a direct competitor.

The only issue for Apple making a deal with Netflix to run on the AppleTV may be the DRM issue Apple has with every other service out there. Apple won't license FairPlay (or whatever they call their iTunes DRM solution) to anyone else, and the Studios won't let Netflix offer the service on any platform that doesn't have DRM. That's a big hurdle to overcome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pairof9s

I agree w/ some that the differences are too great to really compare these products. This falls into the category of "match your needs".
...
Plus, I just don't want a whole lot of "boxes" sitting around my big flatscreen TV w/ remotes to match! At this stage, I'm quite happy w/ my Apple TV 2 and a HDTV-tuned TV./

Quote:

Originally Posted by minderbinder

"Netflix says that around ten percent of its library of 100,000 DVDs is available for streaming from its Watch Instantly service."

Actually, they don't say that. They say they have 10K *TITLES* available for download. Since dvds often contain multiple episodes, that means they have well more than 100K total titles available on DVD, and it's less than 10 percent available. Looking at a variety of listings on their site, you won't see any categories where they're even close to ten percent available as download. I know, I'm being picky, but that distinction should be made.

This looks like a cool idea, but far too limited to lay out the money and space/connections for a box that is so limited.