Panasonic Viera TXL42E5B

sooty&sweep

Hi
We're planning to buy a new SMART TV and we're considering the above Panasonic. It's £469.95 including 5 year warranty from Richer sounds. However to be honest I'm totally bamboozled by the vast amount of choices so just wondering if anyone else has got this TV and what you think of it ?

Or would you recommend something else ?

We're also planning to set up a multi room wireless music streaming system and we'd want to be able to link the TV into that system.

Thanks

Jen

thescouselander

If you specifically want the smart features I would advise against Panasonic - I have one (a G30) and the Smart features aren't that good - Panasonic do not update whats on there either. You might be better looking at a Sony, Samsung or LG.

Also, looking specifically as what you want to do I've found the DLNA setup on my Panny seems to be a bit temperamental.

googler

If you're setting up a system for streaming music, what would the function of the TV be....?

sooty&sweep

Thanks for your speedy replies.

We intend to get a NAS which I believe can also store films and photos so we'd use it for that.

Any recommendations for a specific TV ?

Thanks

Coveredinbees!!!!

I got the 32 inch version and I'm more than happy with it, picture quality is really good, I'm thinking of getting a 42 inch to replace my plasma.

yangptangkipperbang

If you want a good quality Television buy a Panasonic. If you want a 42" mobile phone buy something else.............................

-TangleFoot-

sooty&sweep wrote: »

Or would you recommend something else ?

thescouselander wrote: »

I would advise against Panasonic - I have one (a G30) and the Smart features aren't that good - Panasonic do not update whats on there either.

Ditto - just get the highest-quality display you can afford and worry about the features later. A Raspberry Pi kit can be had for less than fifty quid and hidden behind any TV with a HDMI input it could potentially leave most 'smart' systems in the shade.

thescouselander

-TangleFoot- wrote: »

Ditto - just get the highest-quality display you can afford and worry about the features later. A Raspberry Pi kit can be had for less than fifty quid and hidden behind any TV with a HDMI input it could potentially leave most 'smart' systems in the shade.

I agree - there's no doubt Panasonic make decent screens. A separate media box is probably the way to go to get the smart features.

sooty&sweep

Thankyou we had been wondering whether to buy a Smart TV or a TV and a something else that gives us the Smart functions, I'd wondered about a blu ray player.
I'd heard of a raspberry pi but I didn't realise that we could use one to provide Smart functions on a TV.
Do you know how easy it is to set up ?
Thanks
Jen

-TangleFoot-

sooty&sweep wrote: »

Do you know how easy it is to set up ?

• Getting Started With The Raspberry Pi Is Not As Easy As Pie
• CAS Raspberry Pi Educational Manual
• Raspberry Pi - XBMC

thescouselander

The Raspberry PI might not be the most user friendly setup - there's all sorts of other boxes that will do the same job but are more developed. Just have a look round on the internet. Something like a Boxee Box or a Roku might be worth a look or maybe even an Apple TV if you can cope with being sucked into the Apple ecosystem.