Apple TV Isn't Perfect - But So What?

Oy, Brent Schlender's anti-Apple (AAPL) TV piece in Fortune is hopelessly silly. Sure, Apple TV is not perfect -- matter of fact, I wouldn't buy it.

But so what? As Steve Jobs said yesterday, it's a hobby, an experiment. Apple TV is a bold first try in an emerging market. You have to love Apple's ego, its willingness to break the rules, scare shareholders (and journalists), and generally try something new -- even if it fails more often than not.

Apple isn't infallible, never has been -- no company is -- but it currently has the confidence and smarts to try some brave new experiments. That is great to see, and potentially value-accreting -- not to mention utterly unlike a host of other companies.

Comments

[Tom B:]

The only valid concern raised in the Fortune piece is that there wasn't enough HD content on the iTunes store. That will change, as content providers get there act together. Their alternatives would be to do nothing; to "go it alone"; or to deal with late-comers, like MSFT. Their clearest road to profit BY FAR is to work with Apple.

2007 May 31 08:49 AM

[Hugo van de...:]

So you're not buying an Apple tv. Big deal, it's only $299, so why not just try it and see how it evolves. I think the Youtube connection will now really start to boost sales of Apple tv. I already bought one when it came out, only to find out that I could not get it connected to my widescreen tv. I will go buy a plasma in a week or two, just in time for the Youtube connection.

Hugo.

2007 May 31 09:19 AM

[Jon T:]

The problem is the SOURCE CONTENT, which isn't HD...yet. That's all that's "wrong" with it.

Apple TV works fantastically well, everyone agrees. Even Microsoft cannot do what Apple has done on Windows. ie produce a software programme that links wirelessly to an external gadget without any input form the user.

Just watch Walt Mossberg talking to Steve jobs yesterday at 'D': "

d5.allthingsd.com/2007.../

2007 May 31 10:04 AM

[Edward Gorin:]

Paul Kedrosky's comment on Fortune's article is silly. On one hand he says that yes, he would not buy Apple TV himself because if its shortcomings, on the other he calls the article "hopelessly silly". Define where you stand, Paul.
Yaroslav G.

2007 May 31 12:22 PM

[Hugo van de...:]

iTunes (and Youtube) not HD, so what? Do you have that same complaint when you're watching Youtube movies on your computer?? It will get better in the future, but for now Youtube is just fun to watch if there's nothing interesting on tv.

Hugo.

2007 May 31 04:02 PM

[ginajfarley...:]

Why are cable and phone lines necessary if consumers can wirelessly transmit from their computer to their TV? Remember when everyone had a "land line" for their phone? Now most people are wireless, guys. Change is in the air ... the forward-thinking folks at Apple sense this.

I hope Apple is talking to the major networks about lining up exclusive programming ... the networks lose viewers to cable channels and need to compete. And as more local HDTV channels are transmitted over the airwaves, more people will wise up and use an antenna for free programming.

I wish I had a crystal ball, but at least Apple isn't stuck in the past.

2007 May 31 04:25 PM

[Sebhelyesfarku:]

What a dumbass Apple apologist site.

2007 May 31 04:37 PM

[Alan Williams:]

Everyone is ignoring the elephant in the room. What is the source for most of the music on the iPod? P2P music sites and the user ripping their own CD collection. Now where do you think Apple TV owners get their video? Bit torrents and ripping their own or rental DVD's.

Free, open source software can rip any DVD on any Mac or PC into about a 1 GB file that is playable on Apple TV. You store it in iTunes and stream it to Apple TV over your wireless network. It works and it looks as good as a regular DVD on a HD TV.

Once you've seen it play a ripped movie, you understand where Jobs is coming from. To bad he can't market, "Rip it, Store it, Watch it". He's trying to get the major movie studios on board. If the movie studios don't get with it, they'll miss the boat just like the major music labels did with music piracy.

Apple TV works so well I ordered another one for the second HD TV in our house.

2007 Jun 01 12:31 AM