Opinions on Smart TVs

MonkeyMad

Smart TV = waste of time. I have a cheap nettop linked to the TV at HD resolution and can do far more internet/media type stuff than these tvs can dream of.

Spank

Jammyb wrote: »

Yeh but what's REW/FF and jumping back and forth like?

Buffer much? Doesn't when wired. It's like watching locally attached media. Smooooth

Nope never have any problems, well not with the streaming but when you FF or reverse it doesn't change you the picture so you can go back or forwards to much and not realise it, but that's an issue with the TV.

Dave_C_2

We bought a smart LED Samsung TV as we paid the same as not smart. Most HD (not HD ready) LED 40/32 inch TVs are smart by default.

Smart is a waste of time at the minute (no web browser) but at least it's future proofed. Oh and Samsung Allshare software is the pits.

The best bit is HDMI input from the PC. Does everything the smart TV does and so much more - a 40 inch laptop screen

Dave

John_Gray

My at-least-20-y-o Sony TV is getting buzzy-sound problems so I will be getting a new TV in the near future. Yes, you can still get non-Smart, non-3D TVs, and I'll probably be getting this one.

Your TV size and feature requirements may vary!

john1

MonkeyMad wrote: »

Smart TV = waste of time. I have a cheap nettop linked to the TV at HD resolution and can do far more internet/media type stuff than these tvs can dream of.

Nelski
As Mad Monky says this is possibly the best way to go, not having to use the TVs inbuilt apps. If you can get a TV with HDMI + MHL compatible this should enable you to connect some android smart phones directly to the TV. (see https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Mobile_High-definition_Link )


Although my TV is not smart (far from it) I am able to enjoy downloaded films, BBC iplayer (full Internet version not restricted as some manufactures are) etc


I have a MHL link adapter (£20) used with my HTC tablet and can view what ever on the tablets screen. Some of the latest MHL compatibly TVs enable you to control the smartphone playback through the TVs remote control, unlike me having to tap the screen for pause play etc.

Peter999_2

Jammyb wrote: »

I don't think you can actually buy a TV (unless it's smaller than 32") that DOESN'T have smart capabilities.

By that I mean. An Ethernet connection.

Not sure why you think that.

There is a Sony Bravia here that has no ethernet connection :

http://www.comet.co.uk/p/LED-TVs/buy-SONY-KDL42EX410BU-LED-TV/790788

My uncle bought one when it was only £399 and its an impressive picture, he has no internet at his house so a "smart" enabled one would be a waste of money.

olly300

I have a Sony 22 inch smart tv in my bedroom and use it regularly to watch iplayer and Youtube. I also watched lovefilm when I just came out of hospital and was bed bound.

Some of the larger Sony Bravia's don't have Wifi which means you have to spend an extra £50-60 to get a dongle to Wifi enable it. Otherwise you have to use a long ethernet cable to connect it to your router.

Instead of getting a smart tv you can get a West Digital TV box which you can attach to your LCD/LED/plasma TV to do the same thing. Alternatively if you have a laptop, PC or tablet you can connect that to the TV.

cashless-cow

Can anybody advise me please. I have bought toshiba 46tl963b which has smart tv, salesman told me I needed to buy a toshiba dongle from them as well. Can I not use my Belkin dongle? Salesman told me not and warned of buying from Internet in case I got wrong one! Is this just sales talk, or do I need a 'toshiba' dongle?
Appreciate any advice

boxst

You cannot use any dongle as the Television will not have the right drivers.

You CAN use something like this: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/netgear-wnce2001-universal-wi-fi-internet-adapter-11296523-pdt.html that turns any ethernet port into a wireless device.

Fifer

For me, if you think you'll use streaming and catch-up facilities (iPlayer, BlinkBox, Lovefilm, etc) then it'll be a worthwhile investment and if not, then I'd suggest that given the state of the art of Smart TVs, probably not.

That said, our TV (40" Samsung D series from JL) was cheaper than most quality alternatives with fewer Smart features so I don't feel that we paid any extra for it.

(I also have a nettop hooked up via HDMI and it can do more, but for ease of use and total integration, the Smart TV catch-up and streaming apps are better at what they do, for less of an outlay).