Why do I need a smart tv?

Humphrey10

I don't really understand your problem OP. I haven't seen any TVs that charge extra for smart features - either you buy the TV with the smart features or you don't buy the TV, there isn't a version with and another version without.
I can't imagine that the price of adding smart features is very much at all compared to the price of the screen. Given that TVs need little computers in them anyway to do fancy screen things then adding the smart features might even be free?

usignuolo wrote: »

I really do not want anything that involves a good deal of fancy set up and screen navigation to use. Is that likely to be the case? I generally avoid anything by Panasonic because although the technical quality may very good, operating the thing requires a doctors in rocket science, just to read the user guide (been there got the t shirt).

My Panasonic plasma was practically plug and play. There is a long manual I could read if I wanted something to send me to sleep, but I've only glanced at a few pages of it to make sure I'd attached the stand correctly. No fancy set up or complicated screen navigation required.

almillar

usinguolo - you've got it. Your TiVo is a smart box already really. You can get lots of other smart boxes, or have some features built into your TV. Go and find the screen with the best picture. Everything else can be added. The picture, you're stuck with.
Bounderby - your post would be much more useful if you included the make and model of your TV, and also, lets see how many updates you're getting in a few years, when your manufacturer wants you to buy a new TV instead...

Cycrow

just focus on what you want from a TV and not on what you dont want.

for me, TV's come with alot of stuff i dont need, like speakers, smart, multiple connections, tv tuner, etc.

instead of getting a TV without all that, i look for a TV that has a decent screen and ignore what ever else it happens to have on it.

no point saving money to get an inferior tv just to avoid getting something you might not use