Since moving to the MBP a few months back I have been enjoying watching movies and podcast videos on our HDTV via Front Row, but since Apple announced the Apple TV at Macworld earlier this month I’ve been trying to justify whether or not to purchase one.
Having our music, photos, podcasts and some movies quickly accessible without the need to hook-up the MBP every-time is very tempting. The real reason I’m not prepared to buy is because we use NetFlix - movie rentals for a fixed monthly fee. With Apple TV there would be access to [Disney/Paramount] movies and TV shows on iTunes Store, but only for purchase. Watch 4 movies a month on NetFlix: ~$10/month; from iTunes: ~$40/month.
iTunes Store needs movie rentals. I want to own my music, but I want to rent movies.
Then I started thinking about the enhancements that Apple TV brings over Front Row on the Mac. It’s beautiful, graceful and full of possibility. Front Row is still very limited and hasn’t really been updated since it was introduced. It’s sufficient, but bare bones basic at this time.
During the Leopard preview at WWDC last summer, Jobs announces that Leopard would be a full suite for everyone. 10.5, Photobooth and Front Row. That’s great for folks who don’t want to purchase a new Mac to get Front Row, but with Apple TV shipping, will Front Row be upgraded to the equivalent of what’s on Apple TV ? I doubt they’d ship a crippled version of Front Row with Leopard to drive sales of Apple TV, more the opposite. Seeing the benefits of enhanced Front Row on my Mac would make me want to purchase an Apple TV.
Add more studios to iTunes Store and introduce movie rentals then I’d buy an Apple TV. Actually, at that point I’d be sorely tempted to buy one for each TV. Damn, we have 3 TiVo’s in the house, why not 3 Apple TVs too !
