There are 3 pieces of tech that will be pried from my cold dead hands my Drobo, my iPhone and my AppleTV; and there’s a new AppleTV.
After everyone hearing about my enthusiasm for the AppleTV. I’ve had a lot of people ask me if I think they should buy the 2nd gen AppleTV that just came out for $99. This not an easy question considering all the variables involved so I thought I would write a short post.
First of all let me say that I am not a typical user (What you Jake, not the typical user I find that shocking!)  I watch a lot of HD video podcasts and I have converted all the media in my household and imported it into iTunes. This does not make me the typical user.
Second I have purchased some TV seasons/shows from iTunes. There are some TV shows that are not being released on Blu-Ray but I wanted an HD copy. Currently iTunes is the only way to purchase them in a download offline format. This is getting me a little closer to the typical user.
Now we have to conduct a sidebar on purchasing video from iTunes. Unlike the iTunes music store all the of the video still has DRM. As you may know I am not a real fan of DRM but I can live with Apple’s version for video. Content providers are not going to allow their video to be sold in a download format without some sort of DRM. This is just something we are going to have to accept until the delivery and business models change for TV and movies.
Let me explain to you how this works:
You purchase a video title from Apple via your iTunes account. This video is now authorized to play when it detects your account is being used in iTunes.  5 PC’s can be authorized to play your legally purchased content. Your AppleTV, iPhone, or iPod does not count in the 5 devices because they have to be synced or connected to one of these PC’s to work.
So for example lets say that you have 1 PC, 2 laptops, 2 AppleTV’s, 1 iPhone, & 1 iPod you would only be using 3 of your 5 authorizations. Using this model I am perfectly ok with the DRM because it fulfills my overriding goal of
I want what I want, when I want, and where I want it.
Then you add in the bonus that for every HD purchase you make from iTunes they give you an SD version as well for your iPhone and iPod to play. This requires no thought when you are syncing to iTunes it just knows if the device is HD capable or not and moves the correct file for you.
mini-rant
Content providers have got to get on board and realize this is the way that people are moving. They expect their content to delivered at their convenience. Lets be honest, when was the last time you watched a TV show live? I don’t care if you are using a DVR or a VCR, I bet there aren’t too many of you that settle down at a set time to watch anything on TV besides a sporting event.
With all this being said lets move on to the review portion of the post.
The AppleTV 2nd gen rocks! It has a much faster processor then it’s predecessor and none of the heat problems. I am also taken aback by how well it streams HD from my home computer over the wifi network. I’m running a wireless N network in the house and even though I have a hardwired option available where the AppleTV is located the N is just so much faster. With the faster processor and the N streaming it works just about as well as having the file locally available on the 1st gen AppleTV hard drive. There a few annoyances with the sorting of the TV shows on the menu but I am sure that will be addressed soon. The Netflix streaming on the AppleTV is also far superior to what I have on my Blu-Ray player. It’s snappy and adds several functions from Netflix you used to only be able to get through their website. So overall I am very pleased with the update and I am sure Jess will love it. The first gen AppleTV I will continue to use until it gives up the ghost. (Oops forgot to mention that it also brings all your music from iTunes to your TV as well.)
(The paragraph above did not mention how easy it is to use and navigate the AppleTV. If you have ever bought anything from Apple you know that you can train your grandmother or spouse to use it. That’s just how well Apple does interfaces.)
I am sure that you have all heard me say before that if I did not have Jess I would not have DirectTV. Now I have nothing against DirectTV (or Jess) but there are just so many legitimate ways to get your content legally over the web nowadays that a cable or satellite service is rapidly becoming obsolete in my opinion. This is especially true considering what little bit of TV I watch. Between iTunes rentals, iTunes season purchases, Hulu, & a Netflix subscription I can get my content other ways a lot cheaper. Once again fulfilling the my goal of what I want, when I want, and where I want it.
If you just read a list of 4 services to get everything you can find in one place by TV subscription and think “I get all that from cable or satellite in one place, Jake you bonehead” you would be correct. There lies the problem with all the set-top TV boxes coming out this Christmas season. In the next few weeks you will see a new Roku Player with Hulu, Boxee Box, and Google TV enabled devices. Many of the devices listed have no storage and rely on an internet connection to be useful. You also need to keep in mind to stream that you will need pretty decent internet speed to stream (let’s say 1.5 mbps or better) to these boxes. You standard crappy hotel internet speed will not meet the needs of video. Not one of these devices have everything and thats because the content providers won’t let their media free from the old business model. Each box has content available that is just a little bit different, this new space is still shaking out so we will have to be patient.
For now I am pleased with iTunes and a Netflix subscription. Netflix is getting more and more streaming rights all the time, and if they can’t stream it you can just get the DVD sent to your house. iTunes has the industry leading relationships with media companies and with its stability will be around when many solutions have come and gone.
Since a lot of you come to me for advice on technology and media matters, I hope you have found this explanation to be useful in considering your choices. If after reading all the disclosures and explanations above you still feel that an AppleTV will meet your needs, then you can not go wrong with the purchase. Enjoy!
Here is a link to another review of the AppleTV you might find useful that touches on game consoles as well.
11-22-10 Update 1:
The AppleTV software version 4.1 was released today. It took care of all the minor issues I had with the device.
12-18-11
What a difference a year makes.  Now the AppleTV is useful as a stand alone box not connected to iTunes.  If you are a iTunes Match customer all your music is available as long as you have any internet connection.  The AppleTV has also added a “purchased” category that will let you stream all your iTunes purchased video content straight to the device with just an internet connection.  If you live in an all Apple household this small inexpensive media box will serve you well.  If you have ripped every piece of media in your household and use iTunes as an enormous Video On Demand system it will serve  you double well!