http://www.apple.com/appletv/?cid=AOS-AM-107244-C0001372-A10000072640

This sounds like it has all kinds of potential. What's the word from you tech heads?

It's Apple's way of making their video sales jump (and obviously sell more hardware), by letting people watch them on a big screen. Long term, they could easily add more features, but for now it's officially just an extension to the iTunes store. Rumor has it they will add games (nothing too complex to start out with) soon enough.

It's not on my radar at this point. But if/when it gets Tivo-like capabilities I could see it being valuable. But for now, I'd sooner buy a Mac mini to plug into my HD. You could not only watch iTunes movies, but also use the DVD player and watch movies in all sorts of other video formats, plus surf the web.

It has a built in hard drive, Intel processor, as well as a currently unused USB port, so there is a lot of room to add features.

Perfect for those who don't know how to burn a VCD or DVD on a rewritable disc, and want to spend some money.

Everything is moving in this direction. Pretty soon one "server" type computer in our homes will store all of our digital entertainment (music, movies, television, photographs) and then will distribute all of that to our devices (radios, televisions, portable devices, etc.) over a home wireless network.

The technology is already there and not terribly expensive. It's just a good time to watch the different companies fight over what will be the standard. I think the model is already established.

from what i've heard, it could be a lot better.

whenever (if ever) this thing is given an HD-DVD drive and DVR/burning capabilities it will be as hot as the iPod

You'll be needing an iRack (http://www.glumbert.com/media/irack) ;)

hmm iRAQ