Thinking of ditching AppleTV and using PS3 for movies/music/photos

[bobogs]

I've had an original AppleTV for a few years, and I got a PS3 (not slim) earlier this year. I like the atv and its interface, and I've encoded many of my dvds to h264 using Handbrake. Unfortunately my atv has started acting flaky, with many pixel issues on the various menu screens as well as when playing a video/music/photos. This could be a software issue, but from what I've read it appears to be an overheating and/or dying video card issue. Maybe it's time to ditch the atv and use the ps3 (with ps3 media server) for all my streaming needs.
Here are some pros and cons of each device as I see them:

PS3 pros: doesn't require itunes to serve up media; works off the media server's file system; responsive UI/menus; seems to "just work" (pun intended)

PS3 cons: needs to play my handbrake m4v and mp4 files through the TRANSCODE virtual folder in ps3 media server (unnecessary transcoding/compression); can't work with my harmony remote; no 5.1 audio even if it's in the m4v or ripped video_ts folder (this is a big drawback); tied to the server's file system structure; NO PARENTAL CONTROLS; no partitioning or filtering of the shared folders on ps3 media server (e.g. playlists)

AppleTV pros: existing library of h264 videos; integration with itunes for playlists and entire music library; pretty and functional UI; good wife-and-kid-can-use-it factor; can do 5.1 audio; basic parental controls

AppleTV cons: very sluggish UI; pixelation problems; gets very hot; has to be unplugged and left unused for a long time to clear up the pixelation problem and watch a video

I don't keep any media on the atv or ps3...it's all streamed from my Windows 7 pc.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Gary

[jagabo]

WDTV Live, ~US$120
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=735

[bobogs]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't need or want a third device.

[jagabo]

I thought you were looking for something to replace your ATV since it's nearly dead. Guess you're stuck with the PS3.

[bobogs]

I suppose I will be stuck with the ps3, but maybe someone has some suggestions for media server software, settings, or setup that can fill the cons or the gaps left by ditching the atv.

I don't hate the atv...it's done very well for us, but it has its drawbacks and problems, and if the ps3 can fit the bill for everything, I'll do that. They're both good devices...I'm just wondering if I could do it all with just one of them.

[rumplestiltskin]

If the problem with the aTV is overheating (mine has not had any issue in almost two years). check how you have it placed. I put a small wooden grate (something like a trivet) under it to let some air flow under it. When I originally installed it at that location the underside was so hot that we thought it would peel off the finish on the wood cabinet. The grate has resolved that. You could accomplish the same thing simply by sticking on four plastic "feet" (from HomeDepot).

[jagabo]

http://Playon.tv

[guns1inger]

The transcoding option in PS3 Media Server works very well. I can only stream wirelessly at the moment, and find that MP4 material that the PS3 will happily play from disc or USB has buffering issues over wireless (this is not a bitrate issue, as mpeg-2 or Divx/Xvid material with higher bitrates stream without issue). If I transcode on the fly to high bitrate mpeg-2 I have no issues with quality or stuttering.