Will the new Apple TV be able to stream a DVD from my MacBook Pro?

FredDC wrote:
I just bought Apple TV and I'd love to replace my DVD player with it but only if I can stream DVDs from my laptop for the times I need to view a DVD on my TV and don't have enough time to rip.

no, and never will.

This may be a showstopper for me. If Apple TV wants to connect to the HDMI port on the TV then it has to be able to deliver my content to the TV which includes DVD. Do not ask me to Handbrake movies just so I can watch them on my TV.

Can't quite understand why if it's DVD's you want to play, why you would spend $99 on a device so you can play them via your macbook when you can get a DVD player to plug into your TV for $10.

I have one HDMI connection on the TV. It goes to the most versatile device possible. Apple TV could be that device if Apple would let me stream the video content played from my computer to the Apple TV and not just iTunes.

OK, so we are now up to $20 to get a switch and a DVD player, obviously you see some merit I don't in being able to play them from the macbook.

I paid the extra bucks for my tv's a while ago, but that was to remove DVD's from my set up, I think the tv's I bought were well worth the money to remove the headaches that DVD's caused, but I can't see the attraction in finding a convoluted way of keeping the DVD's and playing them via an tv.

For the avoidance of doubt, I'm just curious, I don't have a point to prove by asking you to explain your point of view.

Don't forget the extra HDMI cable! Plus, I live in Canada, the cheapest HDMI switcher I could find is CDN$ 39 plus shipping.

That's really not the point though. The point I am making is that if the Apple TV would stream from DVD Player it would be a smashing hit for probably a lot more people than just me. I would have no reason to own a DVD player anymore. I do have a large investment in DVDs.

Yes I am being selfish. I'm asking Apple to spend their money to develop streaming capabilities for another one of their applications (DVD Player). I don't think I am the only person that would find this attractive. I would have already put my order in for the new Apple TV if this was the case.

Message was edited by: Joe RS - grammar issue

I agree. I'd love to rid my set up of the DVD player. The fewer boxes the better. It's a shame the Apple TV won't perform this function.

I agree too, I would be very interested in apple tv if it would be able to play DVDs from my iMac. Less devices you have, better it is.

JulBret wrote:
I agree too, I would be very interested in apple tv if it would be able to play DVDs from my iMac. Less devices you have, better it is.

the point of the appletv is so you don't have to use DVDs.
it's a device to remove physical media from your setup.

physical media has had its day and the sooner the studios realise that the better.
we don't want apple supporting physical media, as if they did the studios would latch on to that and continue to fleece us even more.

Sorry, but Apple does not deliver, and likely never will, all the content that I want to view on my large screen. I author content on DVDs for various organizations. This will never be in the iTunes store. It is lame to not allow streaming from whatever is playing on your Apple computers. Again, a large investment in disc based content should be accomodated. Someone will say 'get the Mac Mini if that's what you want.' That's a better rebuttal than what's being presented here. I'd like to see a proper poll done with the simple question of 'would you prefer AppleTV to include streaming from DVD Player' and I'd be surprised if the results weren't heavily in favor of it.

Joe RS wrote:
Sorry, but Apple does not deliver, and likely never will, all the content that I want to view on my large screen. I author content on DVDs for various organizations.

there is nothing stopping you creating an appletv version of your DVD.
if you produce the DVD yourself, then you already have everything you need to create the appletv version.

problem solved for you ?

also, all my DVDs are now stored digitally and in my itunes library. it's quite simple really.

I might be able to create an AppleTV version of the content I personally author but not everyone that authors disc based content is going to do that. Let's face it, you want to see DVDs (any disc based content) go away. Many people, including me, do not.

Joe RS wrote:
I might be able to create an AppleTV version of the content I personally author but not everyone that authors disc based content is going to do that.

not everyone who authors disc based content will have (or want) an appletv though.
anyone who buys an appletv knows exactly what it is for - to give users access to itunes store content on their TV, and that is the what the appletv is designed for.

Let's face it, you want to see DVDs (any disc based content) go away. Many people, including me, do not.

it's already happening.
DVD will be phased out (if it isn't already).

blu-ray isn't taking off like they hoped, and it will certainly be the last of the physical medias.

if you need access to disc based content then the appletv is clearly not the device for you.
i'm sure you'll find a device that does suit your needs.

every device is not for everyone... clearly appleTV is not for you...

appleTV is a hit with people who think of optical media as a backwards, outdated media format.. apple tends to look forward with their product not backwards.. appleTV also never accommodated older TV with 4:3 aspect ratios that couldn't deal with 16:9 ratio video input properly, the whole adobe flash thing etc.. again appleTV tends to look forward not backward. on top of that most people already have a DVD players since they are so incredibly cheap these days.. people like yourself (no dedicated DVD player and way to connect it to TV) are a tiny, tiny minority that i'm sure you'll understand that it's just not reasonable for apple to accommodate every small minority of users out there.. they have to give the masses what they want.. i think there is something like 30 million appleTVs out there.. i think apple is willing to give up the sales to the 20 guys out there that don't have a DVD player and a way of connecting it to their TVs

ps just saw a switch with included HDMI cable at futureshop for $40.. so no extra shipping, and no additional cable.. just make your way down and pick it up off the shelf..