01-15-2008, 10:06 PM
Re: built-in disc player wish for AppleTV:
"I’d actually consider one if along with the new features it had DVR capabilities and might have even bought one now if it had an optical drive. That way, I could ditch the TIVO, VCR, DVD Recorder and DVD player. One box to handle the chores of all these items. People want less gadgets and the AppleTV doesn’t do enough to reduce the clutter.
I hear you. I don't disagree that strongly. It is a valid point of view. Apple did the right thing, though, I think. re: reducing clutter--for some multi-purpose devices, that's true, iPhone is a good example of gadget-reducing, simplifying (and very popular) device. Other times it's better for a device to NOT try to be everything to please everyone, and aim instead for a more purist and forward-thinking (rather than backwards compatible) approach.
I don't imagine Apple getting into the business of building and selling DVD players (that also rent-and-stream HD movies, play photos, play iTunes music, etc., it already does a LOT for one device) and here's why: If an optical drive were to be included, it would absolutely have to play High Definition discs. Otherwise, it makes no sense. Which means it would have to be a Blu Ray optical device. Which means it would drive the costs up beyond what consumers would be willing to pay. If it had a disc player, but didn't play High Def discs, people would bitch and moan like you wouldn't believe.
Also, the clutter you speak of can only mean cable clutter, because the amount of space an Apple TV takes up is pretty slim.
I like multi-purpose devices, too, for the same reasons.
If not for the Blu Ray paradox mentioned above, it *might* make sense for Apple to build in a disc player, but I'd add one more problem to building in an optical drive: it sort of competes with, rather than being a companion to, Apple's aim to be a serious leader in the movie-rental business. Convenient movie rentals with no physical disc, in Hi Def, via network, without ever leaving your couch. Works for me.
Speaking of couches, I often think of the "Sofa Bed" analogy. If you've ever owned a
Sofa-Bed, you know what a beast they are. They're heavy. They aren't good at being a couch, and they aren't good at being a bed. They're uncomfortable at BOTH. I'd rather have a couch be a couch. And a bed be a bed. And be good at each.
What I wouldn't mind seeing is an External Blu-Ray disc player that burns discs, plays discs (both standard DVD and Hi Def) and has a small footprint, so that it could easily be plugged into a desktop computer or an AppleTV or a laptop, etc. Is something like that in OWC's future? I'd like to see that. Making it an appendage, rather than being built-in, might be a solution. Doesn't exactly reduce the number of devices, but making it optional sort of keeps things simple.
Q: Maybe you could ditch the VCR to make room for a new multi-purpose device? Or is the VCR built into the DVD player?
"I’d actually consider one if along with the new features it had DVR capabilities and might have even bought one now if it had an optical drive. That way, I could ditch the TIVO, VCR, DVD Recorder and DVD player. One box to handle the chores of all these items. People want less gadgets and the AppleTV doesn’t do enough to reduce the clutter.
I hear you. I don't disagree that strongly. It is a valid point of view. Apple did the right thing, though, I think. re: reducing clutter--for some multi-purpose devices, that's true, iPhone is a good example of gadget-reducing, simplifying (and very popular) device. Other times it's better for a device to NOT try to be everything to please everyone, and aim instead for a more purist and forward-thinking (rather than backwards compatible) approach.
I don't imagine Apple getting into the business of building and selling DVD players (that also rent-and-stream HD movies, play photos, play iTunes music, etc., it already does a LOT for one device) and here's why: If an optical drive were to be included, it would absolutely have to play High Definition discs. Otherwise, it makes no sense. Which means it would have to be a Blu Ray optical device. Which means it would drive the costs up beyond what consumers would be willing to pay. If it had a disc player, but didn't play High Def discs, people would bitch and moan like you wouldn't believe.
Also, the clutter you speak of can only mean cable clutter, because the amount of space an Apple TV takes up is pretty slim.
I like multi-purpose devices, too, for the same reasons.
If not for the Blu Ray paradox mentioned above, it *might* make sense for Apple to build in a disc player, but I'd add one more problem to building in an optical drive: it sort of competes with, rather than being a companion to, Apple's aim to be a serious leader in the movie-rental business. Convenient movie rentals with no physical disc, in Hi Def, via network, without ever leaving your couch. Works for me.
Speaking of couches, I often think of the "Sofa Bed" analogy. If you've ever owned a
Sofa-Bed, you know what a beast they are. They're heavy. They aren't good at being a couch, and they aren't good at being a bed. They're uncomfortable at BOTH. I'd rather have a couch be a couch. And a bed be a bed. And be good at each.
What I wouldn't mind seeing is an External Blu-Ray disc player that burns discs, plays discs (both standard DVD and Hi Def) and has a small footprint, so that it could easily be plugged into a desktop computer or an AppleTV or a laptop, etc. Is something like that in OWC's future? I'd like to see that. Making it an appendage, rather than being built-in, might be a solution. Doesn't exactly reduce the number of devices, but making it optional sort of keeps things simple.
Q: Maybe you could ditch the VCR to make room for a new multi-purpose device? Or is the VCR built into the DVD player?