Anyone own Apple TV and can comment on this?

I currently run Vista Ultimate, with an XBox 360 Extender. When I access the Media Center portion of the Extender, the 360 needs to "connect" to the Vista machine. No big surprise there.

The surprise is the fact that "connecting" can take anywhere from one to two minutes. Once connected, I have no problems streaming my recorded TV, movies, music, etc.. But up to two minutes?

Before some people rush to blame how my machines are set up, I have a dedicated 801.11a network JUST for the 360 and Vista machine. Those are the only two items on that Wireless network.  Vista is Hardwired into the router, and the distance between the two machines is about 30 feet. No encryption is enabled.

My question: does this happen with AppleTV and Macs? I'm seriously thinking about switching over all of my machines to Macs (minus my work machine, since we're a .NET development platform, and my employer has to make that decision) and am hoping this is drastically improved. One would have thought that with all of the re-work on Vista they could have improved this from the old Media Center / MCE days: it looks like it just got worse.

The AppleTV connects in a few seconds. It also re-connects in a few seconds. If you quit iTunes and re-start it while the AppleTV is using it, it'll put up a "reconnecting..." screen briefly, then you're back in business.

Wow, thanks.

I wonder who, at Microsoft, thought it would be a bright idea to take 1-2 minutes to connect to their media server.. It doesn't seem like it should take that long.

Now, if Apple could only make a DVR with AppleTV...

Jack Poison wrote:

Wow, thanks.

I wonder who, at Microsoft, thought it would be a bright idea to take 1-2 minutes to connect to their media server.. It doesn't seem like it should take that long.

Now, if Apple could only make a DVR with AppleTV...

I'd be more than willing to wait the extra time to get the extra functionality.  Imagine if the Media Center Remote only had five buttons on it like the Apple TV does.  What a joke.

blowdart wrote:



Jack Poison wrote: Wow, thanks. I wonder who, at Microsoft, thought it would be a bright idea to take 1-2 minutes to connect to their media server.. It doesn't seem like it should take that long.

Funny; it doesn't take that long for my 360 to connect. Even though the main box is over a wireless bridge.

I'm curious, how long does it take your system to boot up? Is your MCE / Vista box a multi-purpose box? Or is its sole purpose to host media?

alwaysmc2 wrote:



Jack Poison wrote: Wow, thanks. I wonder who, at Microsoft, thought it would be a bright idea to take 1-2 minutes to connect to their media server.. It doesn't seem like it should take that long. Now, if Apple could only make a DVR with AppleTV...

I'd be more than willing to wait the extra time to get the extra functionality.  Imagine if the Media Center Remote only had five buttons on it like the Apple TV does.  What a joke.

I really don't use that many buttons on my 360 MCE remote, to be honest. How many buttons do you really need, anyway.

alwaysmc2 wrote:

I'd be more than willing to wait the extra time to get the extra functionality.  Imagine if the Media Center Remote only had five buttons on it like the Apple TV does.  What a joke.

...since when did the simplicity of a user-interface reflect its functionality?

The MCE remote is a joke, it can be vastly simplified. But the FrontRow/AppleTV remote doesn't peform the same function as MCE's remote. AppleTV is more of a FrontRow extender, not a Home Theatre installation (no TV, no DVDs, no DVR)

I had the same issue with Vista.

Switched back to MCE 2005. I find it more suited to my needs then VISTA MCE.

blowdart wrote:



Jack Poison wrote: Wow, thanks. I wonder who, at Microsoft, thought it would be a bright idea to take 1-2 minutes to connect to their media server.. It doesn't seem like it should take that long.

Funny; it doesn't take that long for my 360 to connect. Even though the main box is over a wireless bridge.

Are you connecting to a Media Center? Or your Windows Home Server? Your previous post made it seem like it was instaneous, but to a Windows Home Server.. You can't run a main Media Center from Windows Home Server, right?

Meaning, you launch the Media Center Extender functionality and it has "connecting to Windows Media Center" and then works, right? Or is this something else? I didn't think Windows Home Server has WMC functionality built in it. That would be nice.

EDIT: I'm not complaining about copying the library index. I can understand why this takes a few minutes. But I certainly hope it isn't doing that everytime I connect (I don't think it is..) Anyone from MS care to comment why it takes so long to connect an MCE to a WMC?

blowdart wrote:



Jack Poison wrote:  Are you connecting to a Media Center? Or your Windows Home Server? Your previous post made it seem like it was instaneous, but to a Windows Home Server.. You can't run a main Media Center from Windows Home Server, right? Meaning, you launch the Media Center Extender functionality and it has "connecting to Windows Media Center" and then works, right? Or is this something else? I didn't think Windows Home Server has WMC functionality built in it. That would be nice.

WHS shares (optionally) via Windows Media Connect, just like WMP under XP, or Media Centre does.

Oh, I see. So were' not talking real Windows Media Center functionality, just Windows Media Connect. (sharing files, etc..).

So, it's not an Apples to Apples comparison (not trying to be funny here..)

Perhaps I should have been more clear.

I was hoping that whatever set up I could do with the MCE, I could set up TV shows to record, look at a program guide, etc... I know I can't do that with AppleTV (it is a bit misnamed..).

So, if I connect via WIndows Media Connect, it's practically instaneous. If I use the media Center Extender functionality, it takes 1 to two minutes..

I still would love to know what Program/Product manager thought this would be acceptable to the home users.

blowdart wrote:


I thought Apple's offering was aimed at copying off the PC/Mac then playing, and streaming was the second class solution?

The HDD is for cache, hence the small size.

I just hope in the future Microsoft can think this stuff (Connection times) through for usability, rather than "Cool! Look what we can do!".