Apple kicked off sales of the new Apple TV, its fourth generation media player. Unlike previous models that were available in only one configuration, the new Apple TV is available in either a 32GB or 64GB option. Before you spend your hard earned cash, you may want to take a moment to consider which model you should purchase.
Price Comparison
The new Apple TV is available either as a 32GB version for $149 or a 64 GB version for $199. Though the 32GB model provides the lowest overall cost, it is more expensive on a per gigabyte basis, costing $4.66 per gigabyte. This compares to the $199 64GB model that costs a slightly lower $3.11 per gigabyte.
Storage Requirements
Apple wants to make the TV experience seamless and is using an on-demand storage strategy for the new Apple TV. Instead of downloading everything but the kitchen sink, the Apple TV is designed to download only the content you need immediately. Other content is stored in the cloud, ready and waiting to be transferred when needed.
Apple uses the cloud as a swap space for media. When new content is downloaded, old content is removed from the Apple TV device and transferred to to the cloud. For example, when you download level 10 of Angry Birds, the Apple TV will remove levels 1 and 2 to make space. This game data then is stored online and accessible again as needed. The same is true for photos and music that you access on your Apple TV. This strategy of combining on-demand streaming with limited local device storage ensures users will never run out of space on their device.
Bandwidth
One other consideration when deciding which Apple TV to purchase is your internet connection and bandwidth capacity. Do you have an unlimited download quota and a fast internet connection? If you answer yes, then you can afford to purchase a smaller capacity Apple TV and rely on your internet connection to stream your media on demand. If you have a slower internet connection with a usage cap, then you’ll want to purchase the largest Apple TV available and store most of your content locally on the device.
Who should purchase the 32GB Apple TV?
You should purchase the 32GB Apple TV is you don’t mind streaming content over your internet connection and want to save some cash. It’s also a great choice for users who use storage sparingly because they don’t play a lot of games and don’t plan on installing a lot of apps. If you are using the Apple TV only to watch Netflix or other similar streaming services, then the 32GB model is perfect for you.
Who should purchase the 64GB Apple TV?
If you want the best bang for your buck and plan to use the Apple TV heavily for gaming and applications, then you should consider paying extra for the 64GB Apple TV. It’s also a good choice if you have a poor internet connection and prefer to store media on the deice instead of waiting for the content to stream. If you are on the fence and can afford the extra money, then you should purchase the 64GB model. It will cost $50 more, but you may appreciate the extra space down the line.
How to buy the Apple TV
The new fourth-generation Apple TV is available now for pre-order from Apple’s online store with an initial ship date of October 30th. The model is launching in 80 countries worldwide, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Apple also is selling accessories such as a replacement Apple TV Siri Remote for $79 and the Remote Loop wrist strap for $12.99.
