Should i get an Apple TV?

[Babyt]

I recently inherited an extremely large (400+) DVD collection. I was thinking if burning these to my external harddrive . What I want to know is should I get an Apple tv to play these on? Im not really sure what the Apple tv does honestly.... If I got one, would I store onto the Apple tv? Or use "AirPlay" (which I have NEVER used and rather confused about) thanks.
Also I have Netflix too so I could stream with that.

 

[Babyt]

Also I'm thinking of buying this monitor (too hook up to my MacBook pro)
http://www.frys.com/product/6555113?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Can I hook the Apple tv up to it? How so? I'm a complete noob whenit comes to external monitors. Infact..which cord would I use to hook my Mac up tout with? Mini to hdmi?

Haha sorry for the million questions.

 

[Smarty2600]

Well I don't think the Apple tv could directly take your burned DVDs but if you burn them and use the air video app you could stream the burned movies to your iDevice and then AirPlay that app to the Apple tv. The air video app has a server that runs on your computer, I'm pretty sure it could find your external hard drive. Then open the app and then AirPlay the app. Also I'm reasonably sure that while using AirPlay you can actually continue to airplay in the background and use the iDevice as normal. And the Apple tv has Netflix streaming built in. The Apple tv comes with a remote but it also has an app with a full keyboard you can use on your iDevice. It sounds like the Apple might be a good fit for you depending on if air video works well for your needs, I would check out the developers site for more info.

Also I don't think the Apple could be hooked up to a monitor but maybe, the way to hook up an Apple tv is hdmi.

 

[Hondamaker]

You can burn and convert your movies and import them into iTunes so you could play them on your Apple tv, or you could copy them to an external hard drive like I did and then use air video to stream through your iDevice to your Apple tv. It's really very easy!


Sent from my iPhone using iCafe app

 

[FriarNurgle]

You would need a lot of storage for 400 movies.
I love the idea of a home media server but never did it. It would take way too long to rip all the DVDs and most of them are available streaming on Netflix anyway. Granted Netflix still doesn't have subtitles on the ATV yet.
The kids and I use the ATV mainly for Netflix anyway. I wouldn't mind swapping out the ATV for a MacMini one of the days.

 

[chris]

If your plan is to watch these movies on a monitor, that would be hooked up to your Mac, then I would strongly urge you to consider using Plex. It's free and incredibly awesome. You create a folder that you designate for 'Movies' on your hard drive. Rip your movies to that folder. Title them in the format, Title (YEAR).m4v. For example, The Social Network (2010).m4v. Plex will go out to IMDB and grab all the meta data. Within the front end of Plex, you can browse movies with cover art, background art and information about the movie. It's really incredible.

Down the road, you could easily move this setup to an HDTV, with a Mac of some sort being the go-between.

 

[Michael Baturin]

So you have 400+ DVDs, an external Hard-Drive (hopefully large), and MacBook Pro - and you are considering a monitor for the MacBook Pro. Your question is how can you use an Apple TV 2 to stream those movies to your TV?

My Answer: You would need to spend a lot of time ripping and converting the movies to be added to your iTunes Library They can be added to iTunes even if stored on the external HD, but will only be accessible when the external HD is plugged into the MacBook Pro. Once there, the Apple TV will stream them from your MacBook Pro with HD attached to the TV. You will need to rip the DVDs no matter what you do if you want them to be part of a digital library. Therefore - having a monitor to hookup to the MacBook Pro would do little more than adding a larger screen to watch movies (definitely nice though).

As Chris said, Plex would be a good way to organize the content in this fashion as it creates an awesome User Interface automatically finds content related art/metadeta to your movies. I believe Plex can be run on some Blu-Ray players and maybe PS3 that hookup to your TV as a media server (like AirPlay but just through this software installed). This may be an option to consider.

To clear up your confustion on Apple TVs

Apple TV 1 had internal storage and was able to store I believe up to 320GB modified - or so I've heard. Don't go this route for that many movies.
Apple TV 2 has no internal storage and is meant to be used purely as a streaming content device from Youtube, Netflix, Your Home Computer(s), Apple Movies/TV Shows, and some others.

 

[Phil DeLong]

If your plan is to watch these movies on a monitor, that would be hooked up to your Mac, then I would strongly urge you to consider using Plex. It's free and incredibly awesome. You create a folder that you designate for 'Movies' on your hard drive. Rip your movies to that folder. Title them in the format, Title (YEAR).m4v. For example, The Social Network (2010).m4v. Plex will go out to IMDB and grab all the meta data. Within the front end of Plex, you can browse movies with cover art, background art and information about the movie. It's really incredible.

Down the road, you could easily move this setup to an HDTV, with a Mac of some sort being the go-between.

That sounds absolutely amazing, I'm checking it out right now.

 

[Babyt]

Lol I'm not gonna burn All the movies. Just the ones I haven't seen and I'm interested in.

 

[Babyt]

If your plan is to watch these movies on a monitor, that would be hooked up to your Mac, then I would strongly urge you to consider using Plex. It's free and incredibly awesome. You create a folder that you designate for 'Movies' on your hard drive. Rip your movies to that folder. Title them in the format, Title (YEAR).m4v. For example, The Social Network (2010).m4v. Plex will go out to IMDB and grab all the meta data. Within the front end of Plex, you can browse movies with cover art, background art and information about the movie. It's really incredible.

Down the road, you could easily move this setup to an HDTV, with a Mac of some sort being the go-between.

I will definitely get plex. Thank you

 

[Babyt]

So you have 400+ DVDs, an external Hard-Drive (hopefully large), and MacBook Pro - and you are considering a monitor for the MacBook Pro. Your question is how can you use an Apple TV 2 to stream those movies to your TV?

My Answer: You would need to spend a lot of time ripping and converting the movies to be added to your iTunes Library They can be added to iTunes even if stored on the external HD, but will only be accessible when the external HD is plugged into the MacBook Pro. Once there, the Apple TV will stream them from your MacBook Pro with HD attached to the TV. You will need to rip the DVDs no matter what you do if you want them to be part of a digital library. Therefore - having a monitor to hookup to the MacBook Pro would do little more than adding a larger screen to watch movies (definitely nice though).

As Chris said, Plex would be a good way to organize the content in this fashion as it creates an awesome User Interface automatically finds content related art/metadeta to your movies. I believe Plex can be run on some Blu-Ray players and maybe PS3 that hookup to your TV as a media server (like AirPlay but just through this software installed). This may be an option to consider.

To clear up your confustion on Apple TVs

Apple TV 1 had internal storage and was able to store I believe up to 320GB modified - or so I've heard. Don't go this route for that many movies.
Apple TV 2 has no internal storage and is meant to be used purely as a streaming content device from Youtube, Netflix, Your Home Computer(s), Apple Movies/TV Shows, and some others.

the reason I want an Apple tv is that ALOT of times I can't use my Mac to watch videos (my family's on it or I'm doing something else on it)
That's why I'm debating getting the Apple tv
Also I'm getting the monitor for purely other reasons. I was just asking if I could hook up the Apple tv to it cause I know nothing of monitors and cables.


Thanks for the info on the Apple tv versions


And I have a 2 tb external harddrive my parents bought and don't use that I plan on commandeering for some movies.

 

[Michael Baturin]

2TB is definitely more than enough. Is the Macbook Pro somewhere when your family uses it that it can have the HD always attached? If so, this would solve your problem as you could stream from it while they use it. However if they use it around the house in a more labtop type way, you would have to make sure the HD was attached before you could watch your movie.

The Apple TV hooks up via HDMI. So if the external monitor has that, you could plug the Apple TV into it.

 

[Babyt]

2TB is definitely more than enough. Is the Macbook Pro somewhere when your family uses it that it can have the HD always attached? If so, this would solve your problem as you could stream from it while they use it. However if they use it around the house in a more labtop type way, you would have to make sure the HD was attached before you could watch your movie.

The Apple TV hooks up via HDMI. So if the external monitor has that, you could plug the Apple TV into it.

They use it in a laptop way, but it would be nothing for me to hook the hd up. If anything I would just put the movie(s) on my computer until I'm done with it so they aren't around it.

Thanks for answering my questions

 

[iapplebro]

plex works great! thank you :]

 

[lemoon]

Well, think you have already got the Apple TV 2?

burning these to my external harddrive . What I want to know is should I get an Apple tv to play these on

Just do it, you can use handbrake to use the Apple TV as a home media centre! Tough you have NetFlix and Airplay.
For AppleTV info, this wiki collected some useful tips: http://wiki.awkwardtv.org/wiki/AppleTV_2

 

[Jmjacj00]

No. It doesn't do anything...although it is nice if you like extra wires, little plastic boxes, and inevitably a computer laying around the room.

 

[imutter]

BabyT I was thinking of you yesterday haven't heard anything in a while.
So now to your questions
I am not certain if a Monitor is working with Apple TV but I would believe so. The hook up is HDMI cable
I was in your situation we had accumilated 100s of DVD's. DVD is an outdated format . I actually sold all mine. Many I have bought for hubby while overseas on deployment. Many titels are playing regulary on Cable. I did not like Netflix because there was nothing new either. I considered Blockbuster but it is not able to stream on ATV. Like some here said it'd take forever to rip the DVD'd and take quiet some storage.
So at this point I have sold my DVD's cancled Netflix. I love to go to the Theaters.
I do hve the Apple TV and I watch TV through my ipad airplay. The movies come from a website. But I have used AVPlayer and AirVideo before.
At this point if you have not gotten the ATV I would rather wait. I just read that Apple will come with a new technologie for streaming and may even offer a service. I believe the cable TV days are counted ...
Also how did you come about 400 DVD's if I may ask?

 

[Hondamaker]

the reason I want an Apple tv is that ALOT of times I can't use my Mac to watch videos (my family's on it or I'm doing something else on it)
That's why I'm debating getting the Apple tv
Also I'm getting the monitor for purely other reasons. I was just asking if I could hook up the Apple tv to it cause I know nothing of monitors and cables.


Thanks for the info on the Apple tv versions


And I have a 2 tb external harddrive my parents bought and don't use that I plan on commandeering for some movies.

I love my ATV. I've used it to watch Netflix and to stream movies from an external hard drive on my Mac with AirPlay. No conversion necessary, nor any reason to import to iTunes.

 

[Rugaby]

I am curious why watching the DVDs in a DVD player on an hd tv is. Out of the question. Maybe I am missing the point but why go and buy an Apple tv just because u have suddenly a bunch of DVDs. Am I missing something?
And just realized this is a resurrected thread and haven't seen Babyt in a while.

 

[imutter]

I have an HD DVD player what makes the quality better .Well I use a region free one anyway for my German DVD's