It’s pretty rare that an old product is more popular than a newer one, but with the Apple TV this seems to be the case, 9to5Mac reports. Possibly due to the older Apple TV’s appeal to jailbreakers, a new 720p model is listed on Amazon from $178, compared with a brand new 1080p model which is the standard $99. Prices are also similar on eBay, and with Apple having cut off production of the older model, the prices could get a lot steeper in the coming months.
The need for content such as Hulu, NitoTV, Plex and XMBC is overwhelming for many, and with jailbreaking the only option to obtain that content, it will naturally cause an increase in prices. If you have an old Apple TV, you’ll probably be able to make some money by upgrading. I’m sure that’s a first, and if you’re not interested in jailbreaking it, it’s a no brainer to upgrade.
On the other hand, with the steep prices, if you want to watch the content you want, you might be better off buying a Mac Mini. You can hook it up to your TV, and you can use it for anything from watching Youtube videos to playing a DVD (at least on the older models).