Apple TV my best bet?

[Matt34]

Reason I ask is because between the wife and I we have a ton of music bought from the itunes store. I know this stuff is encoded in mp4 or whatever and I can't stream it to my Roku. We do have a spare HP P.III PC laying around but I really don't know where to start on getting it setup to work with the home theater.

The Apple TV looks easy to use and appears I will be able to stream everything I have on itunes. So did I answer my own question or is their a PC option that would be easy to setup?

 

[lsiberian]

Reason I ask is because between the wife and I we have a ton of music bought from the itunes store. I know this stuff is encoded in mp4 or whatever and I can't stream it to my Roku. We do have a spare HP P.III PC laying around but I really don't know where to start on getting it setup to work with the home theater.

The Apple TV looks easy to use and appears I will be able to stream everything I have on itunes. So did I answer my own question or is their a PC option that would be easy to setup?

If you want easy I would go that route. I know apple makes very good multimedia computing equipment. Though it's too pricey for my tastes. I just hookup my laptop. But I also run a PJ which makes hooking it up super easy.

If I had the funds to throw around I might add one of those though. They look cool to me.

 

[Matt34]

If you want easy I would go that route. I know apple makes very good multimedia computing equipment. Though it's too pricey for my tastes. I just hookup my laptop. But I also run a PJ which makes hooking it up super easy.

If I had the funds to throw around I might add one of those though. They look cool to me.

I do have an external sound card so I could hook it up I suppose and run my external HD from it. I just don't know how I would get video from it.

 

[lsiberian]

I do have an external sound card so I could hook it up I suppose and run my external HD from it. I just don't know how I would get video from it.

What are you goals?

What are you size constraints?

How much time can you spend on this?

What is the meaning of Life?

These are questions I always ask at the start of a project.

 

[jinjuku]

Are most of your iTunes tracks in Apples DRM envelope? You could use iTunes to burn standard CD's and then re-rip those cd's to another format (WMA, FLAC, MP3, etc).

If you don't want to look at a full fledged PC then check out the Popcorn Hour Media Tank 110.

krzywica seems to have hands on with this unit and is pretty stoked about it.

 

[egreen1976]

Get it!

I have had my apple tv for years and I love it. It is a necessary component. It is easy and intuitive. The movie rental feature is great and the HD looks pretty good. You can stream music from any device, including iphone, or you can use the iphone as a remote. It's not even that expensive. Opt for the larger drive though.

 

[jamie2112]

Matt I have a 40gig Apple TV it is freakin great. I love it. I would whole heartedly recommend it to you.........

 

[Duffinator]

Get one!

I run two ATV's one for my HT and the other for streaming music to my dedicated stereo system. I use ALAC files and run them through my Denon 3805 in my HT and a Cambridge Audio Dacmagic in my stereo. If you are using a monitor I don't think there is anything as easy to use and cool as an ATV. Ask any specific questions you may have but there are other forums that have lots of info on the ATV. I picked up my second one off of craigslist with all the original packaging for $100. You can buy a refurb directly from Apple and save a few dollars as well. If you are going to stream audio or video there is no reason to buy the 120 GB model. If you need one larger than the 40 there is a guy selling 250 GB on eBay for around $120 delivered.

Oh and you can use an iPhone or Touch as a remote for the ATV. Sends the coolness factor off the charts!

 

[Matt34]

Are most of your iTunes tracks in Apples DRM envelope? You could use iTunes to burn standard CD's and then re-rip those cd's to another format (WMA, FLAC, MP3, etc).

If you don't want to look at a full fledged PC then check out the Popcorn Hour Media Tank 110.

krzywica seems to have hands on with this unit and is pretty stoked about it.

Thanks Jin, I have a bunch that are DRM hence why I don't use my PS3 as a media server and honestly, I just don't want to mess with ripping 250g+ of media. That PHMT looks interesting though!

I think when I get smart on this whole HTPC thing I'll just have one of you guys build one for me and setup the software.

 

[Matt34]

I have had my apple tv for years and I love it. It is a necessary component. It is easy and intuitive. The movie rental feature is great and the HD looks pretty good. You can stream music from any device, including iphone, or you can use the iphone as a remote. It's not even that expensive. Opt for the larger drive though.

Matt I have a 40gig Apple TV it is freakin great. I love it. I would whole heartedly recommend it to you.........

I run two ATV's one for my HT and the other for streaming music to my dedicated stereo system. I use ALAC files and run them through my Denon 3805 in my HT and a Cambridge Audio Dacmagic in my stereo. If you are using a monitor I don't think there is anything as easy to use and cool as an ATV. Ask any specific questions you may have but there are other forums that have lots of info on the ATV. I picked up my second one off of craigslist with all the original packaging for $100. You can buy a refurb directly from Apple and save a few dollars as well. If you are going to stream audio or video there is no reason to buy the 120 GB model. If you need one larger than the 40 there is a guy selling 250 GB on eBay for around $120 delivered.

Oh and you can use an iPhone or Touch as a remote for the ATV. Sends the coolness factor off the charts!

Well I think you guys did a good job of convincing me on the ATV.

 

[jamie2112]

Well I think you guys did a good job of convincing me on the ATV.

Jeeze that was easy........good choice IMO Matt.

 

[Matt34]

Hasty setup

Got the room painted and all this talk about HTPC got me fired up. So here is my temporary setup running itunes off my laptop via sound blaster then optical to receiver. JBL's are standing in until the Polk's arrive.

Wireless keyboard and mouse, I now need a bigger screen, can barely make out the 19" monitor from the seating position.

 

[jamie2112]

I have a purple vaccum just like that one......looks good Matt.....

 

[Matt34]

I have a purple vaccum just like that one......looks good Matt.....

I love my Dyson, best thing for carpets if you got dogs.

 

[bigred7078]

Did you ever get an appleTV?

I freaking love mine. Its an amazing unit with one of the best User interfaces i have ever experienced. I use mine constantly for music, but the one function i thought i would barely ever use(movie rental) i use constantly! The video in HD with 5.1 DD is just fantastic!

How could you not want this as a media server???

 

[Matt34]

I almost got a 160g off Craigslist for $200 but I was too a little to late. I'm going to get one for sure though.

 

[daniels_co]

i would also go for an apple.....

 

[TotalControl]

Media Center PC

I think Apple TV is somewhat overrated myself. Being in the custom install and specifically control system industry, they are a pain in the neck to control first and foremost. They revolve their experience entirely around itunes which in my opinion is not very cool with the encryption and forced formats. Also, they don't really allow you to do much outside of that. They don't like to work with other companies on better products - can you say XBMC?

I would hold out for Windows 7 and leverage Media Center. They allow streams from Hulu, Netlfix, you can store your own movies ripped into virtually any format (bluray included), pandora, etc, and a many, many more integratable features (yes itunes as well).

To me AppleTV is a tempermental little heat sinker with an itunes only mentality (not that I blame Apple for this).

Vincent
Total Control Remotes
www.totalcontrolremotes.com

 

[Duffinator]

I think Apple TV is somewhat overrated myself. Being in the custom install and specifically control system industry, they are a pain in the neck to control first and foremost. They revolve their experience entirely around itunes which in my opinion is not very cool with the encryption and forced formats. Also, they don't really allow you to do much outside of that. They don't like to work with other companies on better products - can you say XBMC?

I would hold out for Windows 7 and leverage Media Center. They allow streams from Hulu, Netlfix, you can store your own movies ripped into virtually any format (bluray included), pandora, etc, and a many, many more integratable features (yes itunes as well).

To me AppleTV is a tempermental little heat sinker with an itunes only mentality (not that I blame Apple for this).

Vincent

While the ATV is not the end all media server most of us are not custom installers either. The ATV is a simple solution that works well for most users. But that sucker does throw off a lot of heat.

FYI I just discovered one of the last software updates now allows you to sync the ATV with any remote. That gets you away from using the chicklet remote it comes with and was difficult for other remotes to learn.

You can now get a refurb 160 GB unit from Apple for $189. Contrary from what I previously posted I'd now get the larger HD for that price.

 

[abboudc]

Reason I ask is because between the wife and I we have a ton of music bought from the itunes store. I know this stuff is encoded in mp4 or whatever and I can't stream it to my Roku. We do have a spare HP P.III PC laying around but I really don't know where to start on getting it setup to work with the home theater.

The Apple TV looks easy to use and appears I will be able to stream everything I have on itunes. So did I answer my own question or is their a PC option that would be easy to setup?

If you're only streaming music, an Airport Express is a cheaper option.