Ok so this may seem like a stupid question with an obvious answer but I can't find a definitive answer via google so here it goes.

I have a MacbookPro and a linksys wireless-N router and I'm considering buying an appleTV and 1TB external hard drive.

I would like to stream content stored on the Hard drive connected to my mbp via usb, over the wireless network to my HDTV. My question:

Would I need a wireless N card for my mbp to increase the bandwidth and support 720p streaming content? Is wirelss N to G still better than G to G? I'm sure N-N would be the best, but I can't find these answers.

Also would I be better off getting a hard drive with firewire as far as the streaming goes or would it make a difference?

802.11n to 802.11g is the same as G to G. You're limited by the slowest link the chain.

Is it enough? Depends on your signal quality and network. Probably not for streaming if you have other computers.

Why wouldn't you just hack the AppleTV to allow USB storage and plug the HD into the ATV directly?

Hi, i have a macbookpro, wireless n router, apple tv and 2 external HD's and here is how im doing it.

I have the macbookpro hardwired to the router and a usb external hardrive on my desk too. I just plug both of them in when i get home.

The apple tv connects to the network wirelessly through the wireless N router. I also have a 2nd external hardrive connected directly to the apple tv. The apple Tv is fully hacked and has the AFP & SSH turned on. I also use NitoTv for video playback. and the appletv connects through HDMI to my tv.

So what I do is, collect my video to my fist external hardrive on my desk. then from there transfer it over the network through AFP to the harddrive connected to the apple tv.

Presto, all your media is available now with a high speed usb connection to the appleTV which is a better option for playing HD content than trying to stream over the network. The wireless n router is good though to transfer to the Appletv without a hardwired connection. I can generally copy 1 gig files in a couple of minutes.
I really like this layout as the harddrive connected to the apple tv only has media on it in a very cleanly formatted structure, while the desk hardrive has a little bit of everything on it.