24-inch iMac: Perfect synergy of computer and HDTV?

Can't you see this 24-inch iMac mounted up on your office wall with a DVR full of [insert favorite HDTV show here] The new 24-inch iMac may be the closest thing on the market to a perfect platform for a HDTV with a built-in computer. Or is it a computer with a built-in HDTV? Alas, the model doesn't have any type of tuner action, but that can easily be added and suddenly, you have a great sized computer/HDTV for a bedroom or home office. 24-inches is a great size for close to medium viewing and since these iMacs can be equiped with 500GB hard drives and come with built-in Bluetooth and 802:11g you would only need to run a power and a cable line if you wall mount it. (VESA mounting adapter sold separately) Finally you have a way to get your mid-day HD Rosie O'Donnell fix without leaving your office chair.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 8th 2006 9:48PM]

But it's not HDCP-compliant so what happens when if you try to hook it up to a Blu-ray/HD-DVD drive? Black screen, that's what. Oh, and it doesn't have component connections either. Nice job of future-proofing for an imminent technology, Apple.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 8th 2006 8:53PM]

Sweet! It seems Apple really has some awesome items in the works!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 8th 2006 9:39PM]

It really is disappointing that you can't connect an external device to the iMac's beautiful screen. There should have been at least one VGA and one DVI input on that. They provide a mini-DVI out but what's the point of that when you are already connected to a 1920 X 1200 screen? (I know it's useful for connecting to projectors and stuff...just saying).

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 9th 2006 5:57AM]

Peter, this doesn't have to be a solution for everyone, nor ration or logical for that matter. It only has to make sense, even irrational illogical sense, to a very, very small minority of compoter users because that is the only market that Apple makes up. I, too, would like to know how you are expected to get HD content onto this thing (iToons?) and especially protected content from third parties.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 9th 2006 7:46AM]

I, too, would like to know how you are expected to get HD content onto this thing!!!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 11th 2006 5:08PM]

Well you could have easily done that on any iMac by simply switching to Linux and using MythTV.

A message from your friendly neighborhood Linux user.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 9th 2006 2:06PM]

It has firewire. I actually think this is a much better 'future proofing' than dvi or hdmi or ***i or whatever next year's digital input standard is. Audio/Video professionals use firewire and for my money I'll bet that we see a firewire breakout box that accepts any number of video sources. Hook up a firewire enabled HD cable box and you've got one of the nicest DVR's money can buy with minimum hassle. If all you care about is s-video or RF inputs, just buy an elgato device and you're set.

Chris

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 9th 2006 6:10PM]

I think it is funny that this sorta thing is just now getting attention. I have a g4 imac in my bedroom for this purpose. of course I am still working on it a little bit but with mythtv frontend and linux the imac is serving as a great tv/dvd viewer and still looks nice.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 12th 2006 12:26AM]

I'm having trouble bieng impressed with apple. Sure it's pretty but until they imbrace the flexibility of the open market for graphics/sound/physics they are like Porshe. Overpriced status symbols.