Ok dont kill me you Apple haters, but we bought Apple TV few days ago and everyone in the family is loving it.
We are AirPlaying (that means ‘streaming’ to you non-apple backward people) our photo library from our PC, and the slideshow with some kick ass music is so great, not to mention that somehow Apple TV/Plasma HDTV combo is displaying those pics in very vibrant color and resolution.
Then our older one is enjoying Netflix movies because the Apple TV interface for Netflix is the coolest. We have a BD player, Ipad and PCs to play Nteflix on but ATV experience is the best so far.
You can also AirPlay youtube and homemade videos and photos off your ipad.
I bought Apple TV when it was released thinking I will be able to use my TV as a monitor but found out that Apple TV does not work that way so returned it and bought VGA cable with sound interface built in and a wireless keyborad. This works great. I watch Netflix and Hulu plus using Roku box that work great too.
My laptops are always Apple MBP’s (17" and 15") but I’m not a fan of everything Apple just because I like the brand. They overcharge for many things.
I was looking into it before I made the wise decision to get the WDTV Live Hub.
I much prefer the WDTV Live Hub over the ATV. It destroys the ATV in every category.
If you want to spend less than on the WDTV Live Hub, get the WDTV Live Plus or the lesser WD TV Live.
You can connect is multiple devices to it using USB ports and Ethernet.
You can also connect it to your router and anything that is connected to your router will link up with WDTV which means streaming from multiple locations anywhere in your house.
Stream from iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android phone and Android tablets. Official app and its free.
It also supports more media formats than the ATV.
It has a built in 1TB drive too.
Also the ATV/Plasma (Why Plasma?) work better because you need to calibrate your monitor’s display (Adjust colours better).
With the ATV you need to put everything in iTunes and what not. With the WDTV you can just throw stuff into their folders and it just organises them based on location and you can pick and choose. Simple as!
Laptops x 5 - Connected to WLAN so you can stream off them.
WD Pandora 4TB media servers x 2 - Connected to the router using ethernet.
WD My Book x 2 - Connected to the WDTV Live Hub.
I already have that arrangement. Our TV is hooked up with a PC (wireless keyboard with touchpad), Wii, Bluray and Apple TV (off course all this through Home Theatre system) and I agree that a hooked up PC can do the same job but not with the convenience that a streaming box offers.
