TV plus PC or smart TV

Baalmaiden

My daughter uses her PC just for surfing and email but her connection is not fast enough to stream programmes. Her TV and PC are old models. She is thinking of getting an internet ready TV - is this a good idea? Any experiences?

cookie365

If her internet connection is too slow to stream TV programmes to the PC, then it's too slow to stream the same TV programmes to a TV.

If she gets her internet sorted then smart TVs are much much better than PCs for watching catch up services like iplayer.

david39

Our YouView box beats our upmarket smart Samsung TV hands down for catch-up services.

ITV player stutters on the app on the TV and doesn't run properly on our Nexus 10 tablet but the YouView box breezes through it. It has all the main channel catch ups and pause livetv.

If you can connect a box to your TV - scart cable or HDMI cable will do - and sort out your internet speed, it should be fine.

Currently, you can get a YV box from TalkTalk or BT for free if you sign up with them and you'll get a fast router too or ask your current provider for a better router.

Kite2010

Or go out and buy a new router as you might be sent a 'bargain' basement special (it's valued at £50, but you can't actually buy it for that price anywhere).

Baalmaiden

I don't know what her internet speeds are like but thanks for the input

Cycrow

cookie365 wrote: »

If she gets her internet sorted then smart TVs are much much better than PCs for watching catch up services like iplayer.

i would disagree with that.
easier to setup maybe and start to use, but not better.

my media centre running MythTV is far better than any smart TV i have tried, and is considerably better than Tivo.

[Deleted User]

Regular TV + one of these... http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/audio/digital-media-players/digital-media-players/roku-lt-media-streamer-18386105-pdt.html?gclid=CJzfs_vCsbkCFSTKtAodPhcARw&srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~~~Exact&mc!!!!!gg_goog_7904&s_kwcid=AL!3391!3!30416934324!!!g!60595223155!&ef_id=UfGDWQAAAI4qhEho:20130904102240:s

Wouldn't that be enough?

cookie365

Cycrow wrote: »

i would disagree with that.
easier to setup maybe and start to use, but not better.

my media centre running MythTV is far better than any smart TV i have tried, and is considerably better than Tivo.

I meant, it's a far better experience to watch catch up TV on a TV screen, from the right distance, sitting on your sofa, than it is to watch it on a computer screen from a few cm away sitting on an office chair.

Cycrow

cookie365 wrote: »

I meant, it's a far better experience to watch catch up TV on a TV screen, from the right distance, sitting on your sofa, than it is to watch it on a computer screen from a few cm away sitting on an office chair.

but thats irrelevant if the PC is connected to the TV.

my media centre pc is connected to the TV and i can watch it form the sofa. It even works with my Harmony for controlling it, as well as being able to remotly control it from my laptop as well

almillar

Don't forget that the definition of a smart TV is completely up in the air (can only really be tied down to 'can connect to some internet stuff) and may not even include iPlayer. What they do include could also be complete rubbish, and far worse than a PC would be.
Using a remote control for the TV instead of a keyboard and mouse/touchpad though is of course far better, and you don't have to run anti-virus on a TV!