alternative to apple tv?


I recently bought a new apple tv. Most of my music is on the iMac in my study. I wanted music in my living room, so I set it up to download wirelessly from the iMac to the apple tv and from there by component video to my 60" hdtv and by toslink to a dac and then to my integrated amp. I did it that way because I wanted to be able to read and control my music library (which was on the iMac in my study) while seated about 12 feet from the speakers in the living room. Because the apple tv displays this on the big tv, even I can read it, and can control it with the remote. It works well - when it works.

But today the apple tv crashed (no audio or video from it), and apple's "expert" told me that it crashed because it overheated. He said it has to be turned off regularly or it will get too hot. There is absolutely nothing in the manual about overheating - and in fact no instructions as to how to turn it off. Even the trouble shooting section has no mention of overheating. There is plenty of air around the apple tv. I can leave any other component on without it overheating. I think apple should be ashamed to put out a product with such a problem and hide the problem from consumers.

I just got the thing and can send it back. Here's my question: is there something else I can get that will do the same thing - (1) receive and store music wirelessly from the computer, (2) display the music library on my tv, (3) connect to my dac, and (4) allow me to control the music library remotely?
twilightround

Showing 1 response by robr45

There is no fan in the ATV- so while the supervisior is right that crashing is abnormal- he isnt very familiar with the product.

My ATV runs hotter than I like, but October will be one year of smooth operation. (knock knock knock) I have found that adding some small rubber feet to the bottom to get some air flowing underneath will cool it down a few degrees. (Still runs hot though)

Also- in my opinion if you are using the ATV for music- your missing the boat if you dont get an iTouch with the "remote" application. This allows direct access to the ATV in the palm of your hand. You can access tunes much faster and there is no need to turn the big tv on.

-Rob