News

Experts See Success for Apple TV

Friday, January 26th, 2007 at 11:25 AM - by

Industry experts are predicting that of all the home media center manufacturers, Apple has the highest likelihood of succeeding. 228 experts were polled in mid-December to get their perspective on trends in the "digital livingroom," according to SeekingAlpha.

When asked about the current line up of media center devices and manufacturers, 43 percent said that Apple has the best chance of mass market acceptance. 14 percent voted for Sony, and only 11 percent chose Microsoft.

16 percent of the respondents said that Apple TV is very likely to be a huge success, and 48 percent said it was somewhat likely. 28 percent said that Apple is the company to watch in 2007, while 11 percent said to keep your eye on Sony, and only 8 percent said to watch Microsoft.

The key to Apple TV's projected success is ease of use. One survey respondent commented "They understand the biggest impediment to adoption is that people hate complexity, they just want to plug in and play."

These numbers don't ensure success for Apple TV, nor do they indicate that 2007 will be the year that home media center devices take off in a big way. It does, however, show that Apple has a big lead in the industry - even though it came to the game after Microsoft.

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A guest said: (hide)

Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:30 pm

Quoting... The key to Apple TV's projected success is ease of use. One survey respondent commented "They understand the biggest impediment to adoption is that people hate complexity, they just want to plug in and play."

Bingo. Sony and Microsoft do not understand this. They're such idiots.

If PS3 and Xbox will ever be media centers it will be strictly for gamers only. The rest of us will look at the onscreen interface at the Bestbuy demo, then we will glance down at the gamepad and its incomprehensible button layout and labels, and quickly say forget it, I don't have time to figure this out.

The only other company that has a clue is Nintendo. That's why their eating Sony's and Microsoft's lunch. And that's why for the first time ever, I will be buying a game console (once the supply eases).

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nealg said:

member since 22 Mar 2006 with 123 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:31 pm

I am always leery of what a panel experts proclaim, especially since the study was from before the product was previewed at MacWorld. I would like to see what sales are actually like as well as see how really easy it is to set up and how much the users like it before it is proclaimed to be a success.

Just my opinion.

Neal

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A guest said: (hide)

Thu Feb 01, 2007 4:57 pm

The Apple TV is going to be amazing! I found a community already, if you going to get one check it out www.appletvusers.com

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