topic Re: LED vs. Smart TV's in Electronics

LED vs. Smart TV's

NickNack — Tue, 10 May 2016 17:47:56 GMT

I started out thinking I just wanted a basic LED TV for my bedroom to replace an old set. I went to Best Buy yesterday, and all they had were smart tv's. When reading the reviews, some people complain about the "smart hub" and the "lack of channels." Is a Smart TV going to work properly with Tivo? I hadn't considered that until reading the reviews.

At HHGregg they have a regular LED TV. I'm leaning more towards that. I can't imagine ever wanting to go to the internet on my TV screen. Is there some reason other than going to the internet where a smart tv would be better? There's only $20 difference in the 32" that I'm looking at. I've already bought a new Tivo Bolt for the new TV. I'm excited about getting the TV and getting everything set up.

I was really shocked at the delivery charges. Best Buy charges $150 to deliver anything under a 51" TV. HHGregg charges $80. I have to have it delivered. My old TV is one of those really old deep ones, and I couldn't possibly lift it and take it to the curb for trash pick-up.

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

ChynnaBlue — Tue, 10 May 2016 18:00:08 GMT

Smart TV will work with Tivo and a lot of the options will overlap. (My Tivo allows me to access Netflix and Amazon content directly through my Tivo and my Roku does the same.)

I haven't bought into the idea of a Smart TV. You can make any LCD or LED TV smart by plugging a Chromcast, Roku, Amazon TV Fire Stick, or Apple TV into it. Those devices range in price from $35 up to $199 and you can attach them to any TV in the house if you want to watch content from a different TV or even take it on vacation with you. You can also plug a laptop computer into any HD TV with an HDMI cable and do the same thing.

It's easier to upgrade a smaller peripheral device than an entire TV, too.

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

NickNack — Tue, 10 May 2016 18:04:44 GMT

Thanks @ChynnaBlue. You've convinced me to stick with my original plan and not go with a Smart TV.

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

chickenbutt — Tue, 10 May 2016 18:25:01 GMT

I agree. The Smart TV just has more stuff that you already have.

BTW, the processor on the Bolt is MUCH faster than the Premiere, so your experiences with Netflix, Amazon, etc, will be a lot more pleasant.

Before I replaced one of my Premieres with the Bolt, I ONLY used my Roku3 to go to Netflix or Amazon, because the processor in the Roku3 was so much faster and more efficient than the one in the Premiere. Now I can just go there directly from the Bolt and it's mega-fast.

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

NickNack — Tue, 10 May 2016 18:28:23 GMT

@chickenbutt I am really looking forward to getting the Bolt set up and using it!

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

chickenbutt — Tue, 10 May 2016 18:32:21 GMT

Oh I bet! I couldn't wait and planned mine out where I got it on the slowest day of recordings, so that I could get it all done and not miss anything.

You're going to love 'Skip' and maybe even 'Quick Mode'. I enjoy Quick Mode, especially on slow-moving shows like 'If Loving You is Wrong'. When everybody talks slow and everything moves so slowly you want to scream, you can get through the show in less than 30 minutes, instead of 42, and you can't even tell the difference. It's like some kind of magic, I swear.

the 'Skip' feature isn't on every show/channel, but I find that it's probably on 2/3 to 3/4 of the shows I record and it's amazing! You just hit the button and it goes through the commercial segments in a nano-second with perfect precision.

Plus, it doesn't hurt having a larger HD and four tuners!

Oh yeah, and no wireless adapter! A big yay for that. It has wireless built in.

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

hckynut — Tue, 10 May 2016 18:36:17 GMT

@Nicknack wrote:
You've convinced me to stick with my original plan and not go with a Smart TV.

a dumb tv can also be backlit with LED. those 3 cap letters refer only to the type of light source that illuminates the tv screen. $150 to deliver a 32" tv? the tv cost can't be much more than that for a 32" tv. i can buy a 39" delivered for a bit over $300.

hnj

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

NickNack — Tue, 10 May 2016 19:16:15 GMT

@hckynut I have to have it delivered because I can't lift my old TV. I'm going to get it from HHGregg and pay the $80 delivery fee. I just don't have a choice. The TV itself is something like $230 on sale. Also, I'm getting a 32" because that's what will fit in my armoire. Actually, I could get a little bit larger than that but not much. They seem to go from 32" to 40" where I've looked, and 40" is too large. I've only looked at places that deliver.

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

Trix — Tue, 10 May 2016 20:22:19 GMT

LED refers to the lighting used behind the screen (back lighting). It has nothing else to do with what your TV is technically capable of doing. Most new TVs made in the past three years will have LED backlighting. Many new model TVs have the wi-fi chip built in which makes that model a "Smart TV." You can actually save a lot of money by purchasing any TV with an HDMI port (a standard feature on all TVs made after 2000), and purchase separately a Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, or one of the other convert to wi-fi units on the market. The wi-fi converter units average around $100, and one of the Amazon Fire Sticks is unde $50. I trust the HHGregg salesman to help you with the Roku type unit selection if you want to buy one as an add-on.

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

chickenbutt — Tue, 10 May 2016 20:24:56 GMT

Actually, and while I do love my Rokus, her Tivo will do all those things also, so she's all set.

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 10 May 2016 21:54:59 GMT

I have a question...If you use Roku, tivo, etc to watch tv, I assume that you still need a cable provider, right? If not how do you get the signal?

Is there somewhere that I can read on how to set up these devices?

My Time Warner cable bill is $100, we do not subscribe to any extra sport channels, or movie channels. We do get the high definition channels and we have two boxes that we pay about $12.00 a month/each. I think we pay way to much, but I could be wrong. thanks.

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

hckynut — Tue, 10 May 2016 22:31:58 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
I have a question...If you use Roku, tivo, etc to watch tv, I assume that you still need a cable provider, right? If not how do you get the signal?

Is there somewhere that I can read on how to set up these devices?

My Time Warner cable bill is $100, we do not subscribe to any extra sport channels, or movie channels. We do get the high definition channels and we have two boxes that we pay about $12.00 a month/each. I think we pay way to much, but I could be wrong. thanks.

most, if not all, HDMI plugins work via your wi-fi network. if you have a router wi-fi network you do not need any cable company plugin. most of the content is "streamed" to your tv set via your wi-fi. you do not need a cable provider. you DO need to have a wi-fi network.

i don't use any of these devices so i can't say i am 100% right on this, but i do know i do not need any cable cimpany to be able to "stream" movies or tv shows using my Netflix or Amazon Prime.

hnj

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 10 May 2016 23:16:37 GMT

@hckynut..thanks. I understand what you are saying I just need to figure out how to do it. I'd love to cut down on the cable bill.

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

glb613 — Wed, 11 May 2016 00:10:18 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
I have a question...If you use Roku, tivo, etc to watch tv, I assume that you still need a cable provider, right? If not how do you get the signal?

Is there somewhere that I can read on how to set up these devices?

My Time Warner cable bill is $100, we do not subscribe to any extra sport channels, or movie channels. We do get the high definition channels and we have two boxes that we pay about $12.00 a month/each. I think we pay way to much, but I could be wrong. thanks.

You need high speed cable internet service to use either a smart TV, Apple TV, Roku, etc. and watch TV.

I'm one of the few, from what I read, who has a smart TV. Everything people are posting are the same old arguments they use to say about having an all-in-one or notebook computer. You can't update and if it fails, you have to buy new. They act like people keep TVs or computers for 20 years or longer.

Most new TV are smart TVs because that is what people want. They want to connect to Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV and not have to mess the an external device. I just got a message today to update my Sony smart TV and I did. They do have means to update and not become obsolete. Don't be swayed to not buy a smarrt TV because of what is posted here.

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

hckynut — Wed, 11 May 2016 00:19:42 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@hckynut..thanks. I understand what you are saying I just need to figure out how to do it. I'd love to cut down on the cable bill.

you are welcome. you might try the Roku website or the Fire Stick(not sure of name) website and see if the have info to help you.

hnj

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

hckynut — Wed, 11 May 2016 00:35:32 GMT

@glb613 wrote:

You need high speed cable internet service to use either a smart TV, Apple TV, Roku, etc. and watch TV.

I'm one of the few, from what I read, who has a smart TV. Everything people are posting are the same old arguments they use to say about having an all-in-one or notebook computer. You can't update and if it fails, you have to buy new. They act like people keep TVs or computers for 20 years or longer.

Most new TV are smart TVs because that is what people want. They want to connect to Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV and not have to mess the an external device. I just got a message today to update my Sony smart TV and I did. They do have means to update and not become obsolete. Don't be swayed to not buy a smarrt TV because of what is posted here.

i have a 4k smart TV with most the whistles, so I will leave that part alone.

Cable is not the only high speed internet available. Most cities have DSL only, which is available to customers without needing a TV contract, just being their Broadband ISP.

I have the fastest Broadband available to our home, 15mbps, and it streams 1080p and even 4k just fine, no buffering.

Cable is not necessary, only a Broadband network, to Stream any app, including Netflix.

hnj

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

jaxs mom — Wed, 11 May 2016 01:06:14 GMT

Are you sure you only have 15 mbps? Maybe you mean that's your upload and not your download speed. I'm in a teeny town but we do have broadband cable and I'm at 100 mbps and I'm not not even on the highest speed. I could go up to 200 mbps for another 10 dollars and even gigabit ethernet is available by my provider ( 1000 mbps).

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

hckynut — Wed, 11 May 2016 03:30:59 GMT

@jaxs mom wrote:
Are you sure you only have 15 mbps? Maybe you mean that's your upload and not your download speed. I'm in a teeny town but we do have broadband cable and I'm at 100 mbps and I'm not not even on the highest speed. I could go up to 200 mbps for another 10 dollars and even gigabit ethernet is available by my provider ( 1000 mbps).

We had 1.5mbps download speed for years. Then 5mbps download speed became available, had that for a few more years. Then my present 12mbps became available, but my download speed checks show closer to 15mbps.

For streaming 4k Netflix recommends a minimum of 25mbps. No buffering on any 4k content I have watched on our new TV set. Sure, would love to have higher download, but this is the only Broadband available in our area. Had "dial-up" for first few years we lived here, and going from unlimited download and upload cable speeds? Like going back to horse and buggy days.

Had satellite internet for a couple years back when it had ONLY faster download speed(which could not even be measured), like going to h**l for Internet latency/plng and download speeds.

Lucky you having 1g available, not as fortunate here.

hnj

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

chickenbutt — Wed, 11 May 2016 19:47:54 GMT

I was streaming with only 3mbps DSL for years, so it can be done, and I never had problems with it.

Now I have 24mbps and I don't notice ANY difference with streaming, using my same wireless network.

I'm getting ready to leave Uverse and change my internet to Charter. They have considerably faster, but I don't care about the speed at this point. The (up to) 24mbps is plenty fast enough to do anything I do. I just worry about stability and range. Hopefully, the stability and range will be better than Uverse has been.

I swear, I had better range and stability with my old 3mbps DSL than with the much faster Uverse. Plus, they make you rent their craptacular router/modem. Worse equipment ever!

Re: LED vs. Smart TV's

hckynut — Wed, 11 May 2016 23:34:19 GMT

@chickenbutt wrote:
I was streaming with only 3mbps DSL for years, so it can be done, and I never had problems with it. was it full 1080p material u were streaming? a lot of high def is only 720p/1080i.

Now I have 24mbps and I don't notice ANY difference with streaming, using my same wireless network. you might notice a difference depending on your answerto my question above.

I'm getting ready to leave Uverse and change my internet to Charter. They have considerably faster, but I don't care about the speed at this point. The (up to) 24mbps is plenty fast enough to do anything I do. I just worry about stability and range. Hopefully, the stability and range will be better than Uverse has been. range could depend on age of your router, also how many wi-fi devices are using the router. some newer AC routers use 2 band frequencies/2.4 and 5.0. most N routers use only the 2.4.

I swear, I had better range and stability with my old 3mbps DSL than with the much faster Uverse. read my above. i will never sign with a company where i can't buy my own wi-fi equipment.

@chickenbutt

hnj