Smart tv and wifi

stevemcol

Just to offer my vote for youview. It's by far he best set top box or recorder I've owned. Very flexible and easy / quick to operate. I agree, it can be run via powerline adaptors no problem but I laid in a network cable between my router and youview box. I have the talktalk solution which is currently £30 for all calls, internet & tv services, incl line rental. When the contract is up I'll shop around.

martinthebandit

I also have youview and its OK, there are better options for the more technologically aware though.

Re power line adaptors, because the sockets near my WiFi router were on a different circuit to the sockets near my TV they didn't work well enough for on demand TV, I had to run a cable from the router to the TV in the end.

2010

monty100 wrote: »

Hi Inner Zone.

Yes they do want a new TV -

Hard to beat JLP and all their tvs have a 5 year warranty.

http://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-ue40f5500-led-hd-1080p-smart-tv-40-with-freeview-hd/p587837

Samsung Smart 40" £499

grumpycrab

monty100 wrote: »

Hi Inner Zone.

Yes they do want a new TV - they have an old flat screen CRT one (brilliant picture) which is a bit too small in their rather large lounge. Looking for minimum 40" and the whole i-player/recording thing is mainly to catch progs on BBC 4 that they miss due to early bedtimes!!

Inner Zone has a good point with the Now TV box (£10). Includes BBC 4 catchup. Just needs a wireless connection to the router, which I assume is wireless.

monty100

Thats the one they were looking at. Nice to see it has integrated wifi. Was also thinking of recommending that they take up the setup service package as well - might as well have an expert do it!:rotfl:

stevemcol

martinthebandit wrote: »

I also have youview and its OK, there are better options for the more technologically aware though.

Tell us more.

Gloomendoom

We have just bought a Samsung smart TV to replace our recently defunct CRT (from John Lewis.)

If your parents aren't technically savvy, I would recommend the set-up service. My wife and I are above average in the tech savvy department but we still had to ring the Samsung set-up helpline (excellent service BTW.)

Once set up, the smart features are really easy to use.

YorkshireBoy

monty100 wrote: »

Thats the one they were looking at.

I've just bought the 42" model (UE42F5500) from Richer Sounds for the same price, and got a 5-year guarantee too.

S0litaire

just to point out most "Smart TV's" allow you to stick in a USB stick or hard drive and if it's over a certain size it allows the TV to act like a PVR without the need for another box. otherwise it can play content from the stick

Check the descriptions and see if you can get an online version of the manual before you buy.

securityguy

S0litaire wrote: »

just to point out most "Smart TV's" allow you to stick in a USB stick or hard drive and if it's over a certain size it allows the TV to act like a PVR without the need for another box.

Except they rarely allow you to record one programme while watching another, as they only have one tuner. They might have a restricted capability to record a programme while watching something else in the same multiplex, but that's not easy to explain to non-geeks. And not all of them allow you to record with the TV otherwise quiescent, which may be a problem. Given how cheap real PVRs are, it doesn't seem a particularly profitable route to take.