topic Re: smart tv in Electronics

smart tv

17thfloor — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 19:09:00 GMT

I am shopping for a new 32" tv and want to know about smart tv. Do you recommend this to an older not too savey person? I like a somewhat simple life where I can't get into too much trouble. Thanks for any input to my decision making. I am also interested in brand recommendation for someone on a budget. Thanks again.

Re: smart tv

kivah — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 19:46:23 GMT

I recently purchased a 40" Samsung Smart TV from Costco.com - and I'm totally challenged. I got it on sale for $300 - with a 2-year free Costco warranty -- and an additional 3 yr warranty thru Costco (Fair Trade) for a total of $30. Can't beat that!!!! I replaced my 30 yr old, 26" Sanyo t.v. This is the BEST tv I ever owned. If this tv is for a bigger room, u may want to get a 40".

You can also call or email Costco and they'll recommend which tv fits ur needs - and u can also read the reviews on their site. If u have any problems, Costco handles it quickly.

Re: smart tv

jackthebear — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:01:45 GMT

http://www.howtogeek.com/176392/smart-tvs-are-stupid-why-you-dont-really-want-a-smart-tv/

this might help

Do you watch Netflix or any of the other streaming video services? those are reasons to have one

how to buy a smart tv my google search for u

Re: smart tv

meem120 — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:15:53 GMT

you really only need a smart tv if you want to stream movies or tv shows from Netflix or Hulu or Amazon. It really just means your smart tv can be used with your wifi directly without using a device such as Roku or one of the other ones. Your smart tv is wifi ready, just hook up like you did with your computer and your good to go. So if youre interested in one of those services then a smart tv is a nice choice.

Re: smart tv

chickenbutt — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:46:52 GMT

I haven't felt comfortable with the Smart TV yet, but we have some Roku3 units and a Blu-ray player, so we're more than set. Also, my Tivos have streaming.

I don't know how different brands are for all the streaming stuff but it's worth looking into. For example, my Roku3 units seem to have very fast processors. My Tivos, OTOH, aren't as good. I wouldn't be without them but I almost totally use the Roku3 for Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.

As for Smart TVs, I'd want to know how good the processors are for streaming. Also, you probably know you need to have a network, right?

One of my favorite TV/electronics brands is Sony. I hear good things about Samsung. I also like Toshiba a lot.

I need to find a comfort level with electronics that do so many things - i.e. so many things to go wrong. Not quite there yet.

Re: smart tv

Nuttmeg — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 00:10:31 GMT

Energy Star http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/tv.html This is an older link that looks at energy star.

A new article http://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/by-size

Most TV's are energy star, save a tree.

Re: smart tv

feline groovy — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 00:17:33 GMT

@chickenbutt wrote:
I haven't felt comfortable with the Smart TV yet, but we have some Roku3 units and a Blu-ray player, so we're more than set. Also, my Tivos have streaming.

I don't know how different brands are for all the streaming stuff but it's worth looking into. For example, my Roku3 units seem to have very fast processors. My Tivos, OTOH, aren't as good. I wouldn't be without them but I almost totally use the Roku3 for Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.

As for Smart TVs, I'd want to know how good the processors are for streaming. Also, you probably know you need to have a network, right?

One of my favorite TV/electronics brands is Sony. I hear good things about Samsung. I also like Toshiba a lot.

I need to find a comfort level with electronics that do so many things - i.e. so many things to go wrong. Not quite there yet.

Yes, yes, yes - and LG. 8)

Re: smart tv

SueB27 — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 03:51:04 GMT

My mom got a Samsung smart tv. She loves it! She's 82 and can figure it out, although my son did set it up for her. She loves to watch concerts from You Tube on the big screen.

Re: smart tv

glb613 — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 09:59:57 GMT

@17thfloor wrote:
I am shopping for a new 32" tv and want to know about smart tv. Do you recommend this to an older not too savey person? I like a somewhat simple life where I can't get into too much trouble. Thanks for any input to my decision making. I am also interested in brand recommendation for someone on a budget. Thanks again.

Do you have dementia? If not, you can learn new things. I wish people would stop using age as an excuse to not learn technology. Learning how to use a computer or smart TV is no different than learning ANYTHING new. It takes a willingness and practice.

You don't have to use the internet part of the TV if you don't want. I want an episode of Downton Abbey last night through my Smart TV using Amazon Prime. All it takes is to have an account and push a couple of buttons. I say go for it.

Re: smart tv

Jordan2 — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 11:27:35 GMT

Last year I needed to replace 4 old boxy tvs. I got 2 19", 1 32", and a 50", all Samsung. I really think as far as tvs go Samsung is tops. I thought I just had to get a Smart TV and the 32" and 50" are. In all honesty I haven't ever used the smart features! Maybe I'm not "smart" enough not being tech savvy. I spend so much money on my cable bill each month I don't want to spend an additional $10 a month for Netflix or Hulu. If your not going to use the smart features save your money and buy a regular TV.

Re: smart tv

Nuttmeg — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 14:15:48 GMT

Most This are smart sets.

Re: smart tv

JGalt — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 18:52:06 GMT

17thfloor, to take advantage of a Smart TV, you need to have WiFi set up in your home, and then you can subscribe to Netflix or other streaming TV services (at a monthly fee). I have experience only with one Smart TV, a Vizio. Based on my experience, I do not recommend Smart TV.

To obtain the internet streaming of TV/movie programming, I much prefer attaching a Roku3 to a TV because it loads programs a whole lot faster, plus it allows you to get loads more channels, many of which are free. The loading speed has proven valuable to me as I saw not only how much faster getting the programming is on my TV with Roku, than on my Smart TV, but also how significant it is to get the fastest Roku device. The speed differences are very noticeable.

There are not loads of choices any more of the smaller TVs, and while I remember well when a 32" TV was huge, it is considered small now. Because of the limited choices, I would concentrate on important features, and not limit yourself to only the choices that are Smart TV. For me, important considerations are:

how does the volume sound on the TV (I've had to return TVs that had unclear sound and insufficient volume)
can the TV be watched from various angles and heights (some TVs have a narrow angle of view)
is the remote control easy to use, to change channels (unless you are only using the remote from your cable box)
I like the 1080p resolution over the 780p...harder to find on the smaller TVs.

Another argument against Smart TV is that the streaming technology seems to be changing fairly quickly. I keep a TV for several years (hopefully) and I'd rather attach a Roku device that I can replace than to replace the entire TV or be saddles with not so good streaming.

It's not even a year that I have a Roku3, and I love it. It's my first streaming experience, and it ranks right up there with computers as a modern device that has improved the quality of my life.

Re: smart tv

JGalt — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 18:58:17 GMT

Oh, in terms of brands, I have no brand loyalty. I had Sony all my adult life, but a few years back found they are no longer great (short life). You read raves about Samsung, but one TV I had to return was a Samsung with poor volume control and limited angle of viewing. Had to return a Sharp because of terrible sound and poor picture quality.

So I no longer stick with a specific brand. Also, the quality of the TV even within a brand varies greatly depending on which size screen you are getting.

Re: smart tv

glb613 — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 19:15:03 GMT

@JGalt wrote:
17thfloor, to take advantage of a Smart TV, you need to have WiFi set up in your home, and then you can subscribe to Netflix or other streaming TV services (at a monthly fee). I have experience only with one Smart TV, a Vizio. Based on my experience, I do not recommend Smart TV.

To obtain the internet streaming of TV/movie programming, I much prefer attaching a Roku3 to a TV because it loads programs a whole lot faster, plus it allows you to get loads more channels, many of which are free. The loading speed has proven valuable to me as I saw not only how much faster getting the programming is on my TV with Roku, than on my Smart TV, but also how significant it is to get the fastest Roku device. The speed differences are very noticeable.

There are not loads of choices any more of the smaller TVs, and while I remember well when a 32" TV was huge, it is considered small now. Because of the limited choices, I would concentrate on important features, and not limit yourself to only the choices that are Smart TV. For me, important considerations are:
how does the volume sound on the TV (I've had to return TVs that had unclear sound and insufficient volume)
can the TV be watched from various angles and heights (some TVs have a narrow angle of view)
is the remote control easy to use, to change channels (unless you are only using the remote from your cable box)
I like the 1080p resolution over the 780p...harder to find on the smaller TVs.
Another argument against Smart TV is that the streaming technology seems to be changing fairly quickly. I keep a TV for several years (hopefully) and I'd rather attach a Roku device that I can replace than to replace the entire TV or be saddles with not so good streaming.

It's not even a year that I have a Roku3, and I love it. It's my first streaming experience, and it ranks right up there with computers as a modern device that has improved the quality of my life.

Are you serious? You can attach a streaming device to a smart TV so there is no reason to replace it. It won't be long before all TVs stream.

Re: smart tv

hckynutjohn — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 21:42:24 GMT

@17thfloor wrote:
I am shopping for a new 32" tv and want to know about smart tv. Do you recommend this to an older not too savey person? I like a somewhat simple life where I can't get into too much trouble. Thanks for any input to my decision making. I am also interested in brand recommendation for someone on a budget. Thanks again.

There are all kinds of "smart" tv sets. If you want to go simple stick with something without the smart features. There are some out there at that size for under $200.

LG/Vizio, just to name a couple of them. Check the online retailers or go to a Walmart or Sams Club in your area.