Re: smart tv

Nuttmeg · ‎03-09-2010

Most This are smart sets.

JGalt · ‎03-10-2010

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.

JGalt · ‎03-10-2010

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.

glb613 · ‎03-09-2010

@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.

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@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.

hckynut(john)