Product Reviews: Apple TV - Interesting, but Inherently Flawed

Sometimes, it seems as though a market can become so stale that almost any new idea is a breath of fresh air. However, with the torrent of new technology innovations pouring out daily, that time is not now. In fact, it can be just as damaging for a company to release too many products instead of too few. The newest product of the "everything Apple" revolution, the Apple TV (or iTV as some call it) may represent an interesting idea, but it just doesn't live up to the hype, nor is it worth purchasing.

True, the idea behind the Apple TV is very interesting. After all, wouldn't it be nice to watch the videos and movies on your computer on your television screen whenever you want to? Or maybe being able to play your favorite songs across your living room with only the push of a button? Of course it would, but although the Apple TV claims to offer that possibility, it really does not.

To begin with, the "great quality" that Apple both promises in press releases and demonstrates on it's commercial just seem to be missing. Although it isn't quite clear what product is shown in the Apple TV commercial, it definitely is not the three hundred dollar aesthetically pleasing whit piece of plastic that can be purchased by consumers.

This isn't to say that Apple TV is necessarily a "bad" product, just that it does not do what the company promises it to do. First of all, while getting it to run properly on your TV may not be that complicated, it definitely isn't an instant thing, and ironing out the difficulties that come with the picture quality is even more complicated.

Speaking of quality, the single worst thing about the Apple TV is what it actually looks like when it comes onto your television screen. Movies and music videos end up looking very strangely. The actual picture is either too tiny and compressed, or far too stretchy to look right. Also, not surprisingly, the Apple TV does not broadcast in high definition, so it really makes no difference what kind television one chooses to use with the Apple TV.

Although movies and videos may not be a strong point of the Apple TV, music does come across much better. The sound is crisp, clear and truly enjoyable if you happen to have a decent home sound system. However, there really isn't a major difference as compared to listening to music through the Apple TV or listening through a standard CD.

However, maybe the real question with the Apple TV has already been answered. For Apple fans who have to have every new product, there is not likely to be a large amount of disappointment with the Apple TV. However, for those that actually want a quality product with their money, the unit is best avoided. Although it accomplishes its job, being able to send videos and music wirelessly to your television, it does not exactly do it's job very well. Unless you absolutely must have the Apple TV as the newest thing on the market, there is really no need to purchase this device.