[jrebman]

I'm currently about to setup a "HT" system (really a music-first system with a 26 lcd tv attached) and I'm wondering if there is any point to getting an AppleTV, or am I just better off connecting the mini directly to the TV?  I'm not concerned about AirPlay capability at all.

Thanks,

Jim

[roscoeiii]

Stick with the Mini if you have one.

And I'd probably choose a used Mini over an AppleTV.

[skunark]

There is nothing wrong with trying it out and return it if you don't like it.     To me the $99 is worth it for Netflix, YouTube and iTunes interface. 

[WC]

I have a computer and an AppleTV hooked up to the system. I don't watch my own videos on either. I use the computer mainly as a music server. I use the AppleTV for Netflix, YouTube and also to AirPlay videos or music from my iPad or iPhone.

[jarcher]

I have both - but if AirPlay is not that important to you, then maybe not. The somewhat more direct access to some content on the apple tv is nice, but if you're already using a Mac mini, dont know if it's worth it.

[wilsynet]

I have both.  The Mac Mini acts as a audio and video server, but controlling it through keyboard and mouse is a pain from the couch.  That's where something like the Apple TV works well, because it's purpose built to make browsing for shows, movies, YouTube, Internet Radio, etc. very straight forward and easy in the living room.

I recently purchased a Western Digital TV Live, a device which competes with the Apple TV.  Same price, similar access to services, but the WD Live also lets you use your computer as a fully enabled source for content.  If, for example, you have ripped a DVD and stored it on a drive through the Mac Mini, you can now play that ripped DVD from the WD Live device.  Pretty much any file format, any number of sources.

By contrast, Apple TV will only have access to Apple approved content sources on the Internet, and iTunes imported content on your Mac Mini.

[jrebman]

Thanks, everybody.

I may just go with the appleTV and an SBTouch for this system and use the mini elsewhere -- mostly based on the control options.

Wilson, thanks for the note on the WD unit, but I can pretty much guess that it doesn't have anything like VoiceOver built in so would probably be impossible for me to control for that kind of extra audio content (my wife is the only one who will need to control it for video content.)

Thanks folks,

Jim