The AppleTV fulfills the role of a box that syncs between your computer and your flatscreen TV. To correct Mike; it is also NOT a broadband modem/router.

If you do NOT have a TV that is capable of 1280p then don't bother.

If you do NOT buy content off iTunes then don't bother.

You COULD of course, hack the hardware/software to force the poor thing to play DIVX and boot OSX but to what point? You might as well buy a Mac Mini if that is the case.

Or do as I do and hook a HTPC (In my case a ShuttleXPC running a lowly Pentium4) and network it to your home network. I use this to play downloaded TV on my Bravia. It works very well.

The AppleTV is slicker, works without having to manually transfer files from your computer to the set-top box and is VERY nice. However, until I'm in the US and am able to buy more credit for my iTunes Store account: it's not very useful.

Nice purchase ASAP. Will be joining you once I get back from New York in May....

Sorry, but you DO get what I mean... Without a LCD/plasma widescreen, AppleTV does not really make sense...

Hey, don't get me wrong.

I think the AppleTV is a great idea. And I plan on getting one while I'm in the US in early May. Although I'm aware it will not sync .avi files which constitute the bulk of my TV watching these days.

Why?

Because it will simplify my life.

Let me explain... At present there are three TV shows that I watch: Heroes, Lost and Prison Break. At present I have to keep track of when the new episodes come out; find a torrent that has enough people seeding and then monitor the download. Then I have to manually transfer the downloaded file to the HTPC in the living room. Needless to say; to transfer and watch requires me to trot downstairs (or get one of my sons to go downstairs) and switch on the HTPC.

With the AppleTV; all I have to do is click "Buy Season"at the iTunes Store. Each time a new episode becomes available; my desktop Mac will download it automatically and it will then sync this to the AppleTV. All without any input from me (other than the original "Buy Season"bit that is).

Caveats are that an iTunes Store account (which I already have) is required. Reloads of the iTS account require a US credit card. Since I don't have this; I'll have to buy a iTunes Store "gift card". This is available on eBay but since I'll be in the US in May; I plan to get a sizeable ammount to enable future purchases.

I'll still use the HTPC for other downloads. But for TV proggies that I will always watch; I'll buy the legit version.

I've read the "hacks" available for modding the AppleTV to do things it was never meant to do. Seriously, my reaction is: Why bother?

If you want to play Divx and avi files, It would cost you MUCH less to assemble a HTPC using parts that you've probably ALREADY have lying around. In my case; a Shuttle box that my son has outgrown. You don't even need a fancy graphics card; onboard intel graphics does fine.

The AppleTV is supposed to be an automated-download-and--sync-to-my-PC box. If you're going to have to manually move files to it....

... but if it's fun, why not?