kybearfuzz: (iPod People)
kybearfuzz ([personal profile] kybearfuzz) wrote2011-01-03 03:18 pm

Apple TV

I've been using Netflix for years. One of the perks is that I can stream movies, but only my new Mac mini computer upstairs was new enough to run them. I've been wanting to find a way to watch them downstairs. Most friends commented that I should get a PS3 gaming system, but strangely enough I don't get into video games that much. If I had one, it might change, but I tend to be happy with the App games on my iPhone.

Apple TVSo today, after getting awake and messing around the house for a bit, I drove up to the Apple Store. I LOVE the Apple Store. However, it's a dangerous thing as a lot of my Mac stuff is getting old. My iPhone is a 3G. My laptop is an iBook G4. And I dream of iPad. My credit cards have little to no balances. See... dangerous.

At 10:30 AM, the store was flooded. "WTF!!?" I thought. With the help of a cute daddy bear named Steve, I found the Apple TV unit. It's not much bigger than my iPhone. After drooling over several other i-Products, I managed to exit with my savings account intact with my Apple TV in tow.

The set-up was amazingly easy and it works like a dream. I didn't realize I could see my Flickr on there, but it's just too fun. Now I get to figure out what movies I want to watch. My instant queue is pretty full.

Yeah, I'm geeking out.

[identity profile] snowboardjoe.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Woohoo! It's about time! :) You are one of the must frugal geeks I know.

I've had my old aTV for about 3 years now and it's been good to have. The youtube and flickr stuff has been there a long time. I think I have my background set to cycle through Mikey's favorite photos.

The new aTV has been great and have been streaming stuff off of Netflix like crazy the past few months particularly while I was sick over the holidays. Already burned through several TV shows. I like the simplicity of not having it store anything and just pulling stuff off my iTunes library on demand.

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I am a frugal geek, I admit it. I am always saying I need to be prepared when something goes awry, so I often forgo spending money on cool things for the security of a "just in case" savings.

I am looking forward to seeing what the Apple TV can do. So far I'm loving it. And it will allow me to cut my Netflix back by $3, so it will pay for itself in three years (*joke*).

[identity profile] dendren.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I am consistently amazed at how many hottie guys work in the Apple stores, especially how many hottie daddy bears there are. It's almost enough to make me switch to a Mac LOL

[identity profile] dewittar.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Come shop at my Apple store for some disappointment. Filled with 12 year old twinks.

Sadness.

[identity profile] dendren.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
eeeek... no, I'll stick with the furry 20-something's and daddy bear locations.

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Then you should come to mine! When I bought my Mac Mini a few months ago, it was a nice graying daddy bear who helped me then! It seems like my Apple Store has a good mix of bearded cubbies and graying daddy bears.

Only one more reason to visit there more often.

[identity profile] ricksf.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
As a died-in-the-wool technogeek, I've got both a PS3 and a new Apple TV (and have to sell my old Apple TV now that I think of it). The new Apple TV is very neat, I've been totally pleased with it, particularly the 'Airplay' feature which permits me to play music and show pictures directly from my iPhone. The PS3 (the old model) is still considered one of the best Blu-Ray players out there. Like you, not much interest in gaming but the movies look great!

I'm not sure if Apple hires floor staff based on cuteness factors but damn if they don't make a lot of sales because of it!

[identity profile] snowboardjoe.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
That's one of the main reasons I use my PS3 to play BD movies. The PS3 is the fastest player out there and so much more intelligent (and remembers where you left off with multiple discs).

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmmm... maybe I'll consider getting one... eventually :D

[identity profile] barak.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I've been thinking about getting an AppleTV simply to allow that darned roommate of mine to watch Netflix through it. But given that he really can't figure out how to turn on the DVD player, I doubt he'd watch it much. And I won't get one myself until Netflix supplies captions across the majority of their catalog, not just "subtitles on select foreign and limited television shows" - which is next to nothing.

Besides, I've got my iPad to play with for a while now.

But yay! What's on your queue now? Mostly horror, I expect. ;-)

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL... you might be surprised. I just looked through it and it's a wild mix of documentaries, foreign flicks, horror movies, TV shows and comedies. :)

[identity profile] bootedintexas.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
i love my apple tv

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
I will love mine I'm sure. :)

[identity profile] dewittar.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
So ... do you have a cable tv account? If so, do you use any of the premium movie channels or does Netflix cover that for you?

I'm asking because Comcast is running us into the poor house and I'm trying to find ways to cut our costs and it sounds as if AppleTV might help to do that.

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2011-01-04 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
I have cable, but have cut out all of my movie channels because I really never watched them. Netflix deals with a lot of that for me, so I don't feel I'm missing out.

A friend of mine actually doesn't have cable at all, he watches all of his TV shows through Netflix, Hulu, or others. In fact, ABC I know allows people to go to their website to watch recent episodes of some shows.

Except for the local news, there isn't a lot on TV that can't be watched online.

[identity profile] itzgid.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't grok Macs, and I have a cell phone that does nothing but make telephone calls. I'm an antigeek.

I do, however, grok bears, and if they want to spout technospeak from now til next Tuesday, that's fine by me, as long as they're cute and furry.

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2011-01-04 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
You do grok bears? :)

[identity profile] mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com 2011-01-04 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
Congratulations!

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2011-01-04 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! :)

[identity profile] designerotter.livejournal.com 2011-01-04 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
Congrats on your new buy! Since I just got a MacBook Air (I'm on it at this moment) the Apple TV may be in my future. I'm treating the Air like 'trainer wheels' ;0)

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2011-01-04 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL.. sounds like you've got quite a treat yourself! I hope you're enjoying it! :)

[identity profile] mort-83.livejournal.com 2011-01-04 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
Excellent! Good to hear a great review, for I am planning to get an Apple TV. I just haven't gotten to the Apple Store yet.

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2011-01-04 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)
I think you'll enjoy it.