Yours truly recently ventured out to purchase an Apple TV. Yep, I really wanted to – I wanted to buy a product of the oh-so-hated, evil and bad Cupertino-based company(:)) and move away from the good and health-bringing ways of the M$ 
. But jokes aside -the fun with the 300€ box ended as soon as it was carried home from the local austrian Saturn superstore(it will work allright, blah).
Step 1: no video cables included
After unpacking our AppleTV; we had our first shock. The 300€ box we just purchased didn’t contain a video cable for connecting the box to the TV – even though the shop clerk told us (sic) that a cable is contained and that it will work immediately!
Going to Saturn ended in me having to wait about 20 minutes for a cable, which another clerk finally produced. But our woes weren’t over!
Step 2: weird composite outputs
The cable we were given didn’t fit the AppleTV mechanically… . Cutting the plastic cover on the connector away finally made the cable fit. We were delighted and hoped for the best…but on to Step 3.
Step 3: no real Scart support
After having modified the cable to fit into the AppleTV and having established an electrical connection, the TV screen still stayed black. The reason for this was that the cable we were given simply COULDN’T work in this situation – our TV expected RGB signals, but received the regular composite output sent from the AppleTV. So, the clerk basically gave us wrong information yet again – and Apple apparently doesn’t care about customers who have a 2year old(it was very expensive) TV…
Overall, this “flirt” with Apple technology left both me and my girlfriend in a very dissatisfied state. Having lost about 10h of lifetime and probably the cost of the Hama cable(not much, but annoying as hell); the Cupertinians have thoroughly pi**ed us off and will not see any more business from us for a long time. Not including TV cables into a 300€ device AND not giving a warning about Scart incompatibility is simply too much idiocy in one place…
P.s. We will return the box to Saturn on Tuesday…stay tuned for what happens next!
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Hey Tam!
Why the senseless rambling?
1.) Why should they include a cable? Since there are so many ways of connecting a device to the TV (Composite, Hosiden (= Mini-DIN), SCART, BNC, RGB, YPbBr, HDMI, DVI, VGA, …), they would have to include a dozen cables, and you wouldn’t want to pay for them all when you can only use one. The Apple TV box clearly says that there is no signal cable included, why didn’t you believe that instead of what the brainless Saturn monkey said.
2.) RCA cables fit the Apple TV perfectly. If the cable didn’t fit, the brainless Saturn monkey gave you the wrong one. Also in this step, being able to read gives you an advantage: You look into the manual of the TV, on the box of the Apple TV, and buy a cable that fits the TV on the one side and the Apple TV on the other side. You don’t have to wait for 20 minutes, if you can read yourself, you can just take it out of the shelf.
3.) First, the Apple TV doesn’t put out composite. If you have composite, you bought a cable that is wrong on both sides. Composite video is the way of transmitting video with the worst possible quality. (Well, OK, it is a close second worst to RF…) Second, why does your TV expect RGB? Because you told it to? Perhaps you should push the AV-button on your remote control or have someone read you the manual of the TV when that doesn’t work. Or because it doesn’t support anything else? Than your expensive TV was a big rip off.
So, I see that you tried saying something bad about Apple, but I’m afraid you failed miserably. If you are too stupid to connect a device to your TV set, ask my grandmother, she will do it for you.
As brutal as what simon says, he’s right. Composite (1 cable for video) and Component (3 cables for video) are different.
The apple tv (asfaik) gives out normal component and has a hdmi port.
Yes, a 2 year old TV really should have one of these ports, and if it didn’t, it must be a stoopid brand manuf, who wants you to buy tv’s every 2 years…..
Usually, they would have to put in the “worst quality, best quality” cable in the package, at least. That is, composite with an optional SCART converter.
If that wasn’t in the box, then it’s all Apple’s fault.
While I certainly feel your pain, don’t blame Apple on this one. It’s been widely publicised that the AppleTV doesn’t come with cables. So the store clerk was wrong to tell you that it did to begin with. Secondly, they also didn’t have a clue about what to give you for your specific model of TV. I’m really surprised that you seem to have not done your homework before you went out and spent your cash.
Apple’s not to blame here. The service at Saturn is. They sold you a product that they clearly knew nothing about.
Hi,
yep – Saturn was to blame here. And as said in the followup, they took the blame and took the box back…all over, now!
Best regards
Tam Hanna
Just to have my say – Tam, i think you are completely right (apart from the composite/component thing) I run an AV accessory shop and have seen countless customers in my shop on the verge of tears/killing sprees having bought this useless overpriced device and finding they have compatibility issues. Most 2 year old TVs DO NOT have component or HDMI inputs. It would’ve cost Apple no more money to include an S-Video or RGB output (component cannot be transmitted via Scart). In my opinion this is another poorly designed Apple product to add to their self absorbed elitist catalogue. There are plenty of other viable and higher quality alternatives on the market.
Hi,
to be honest…I have already given up on Apple for good…prolly wont get the iPhone either…and god protect me from a Mac.
We’ll probably get a PlayStation 3 when the price gets slashed….
Best regards
Tam Hanna
Apple products are great you just have to know how to use them. I have used both apple and microsoft products and over all over the last 3 years I have had no issues with Apple. I do not know who Saturn is but you should go to an actual Apple store. The people there know the products and can help you buy what you need before you leave the store.
Hi Didi,
thank you so much for talking back.,
The story is over for us(we will buy a Media Center PC eventually) – so not much more to say here
.
Best regards
Tam Hanna
Thats just sounds like way too much trouble to watch some tv. I am going to seriously consider buying AppleTV. I have been thinking about getting it for a while. But the past few days I have found tons of negative reviews. Thanks for posting about your experience.
Hi,
good idea – don’t do it.
I currently try to get a review of a SlingBOX – thats the better and more comfortable way IMHO…
Best regards
Tam Hanna