AppleTV reviews are in. Still not gonna buy it

  AppleTV (boxed) 
  Originally uploaded by WookieeByte.

The AppleTV made its debut this week, and mixed reviews have been plastered all over the web. Back when it was first announced, I posted that from what I knew of it, it sounded like something I wouldn't use. And now that some reviewers have played with them and reported back, that's still the case. But the review in Computerworld raised an interesting possibility:

"The cable companies have had a great deal of success with subscription video-on-demand for premium channels," Heynen said. "A lot of subscribers see [on-demand programming] as better than having a DVR because it begs the question: Why do I need a TiVo if my service provider will offer content on-demand?"

Olausson added that products such as Apple TV are even better than on-demand programming because they don't require users to pay for expensive cable TV or satellite subscriptions. "If I'm into Desperate Housewives or 24, I can just buy that. I don't have to pay for anything else but a broadband connection."

Good ol' Apple. So not only are they taking on Microsoft and Netflix, but also TiVo and Comcast and Time Warner Cable et cetera. What's that saying about knowing a man's mettle by the caliber of his enemies?