Don't worry. You are not alone. That's why Harvey Norman exists.

It's all theoretical for me anyway - I have no money for fancy-pants add on bits and pieces and streaming whatnots and chrome-thingy-bobs - I just want a bigger tv as my little tv looks silly in the lounge room So eventually I'll just get a bog standard simple tv - nothing smart about me or my TV

Btw - thanks for keeping your sentences short - it helps me understand

I think the one thing everyone agreed on in this thread was bigger is always best.

Once upon a time a TV was an analogue device in the corner of a room, tuning into a few channels that everyone watched, like a radio. Early computers eventually developed the capability to display information on these, and the monitor was born.

However, TVs didn't develop very fast. It took at least 20 years to be in colour, and another 30 to be widescreen. Things changed slowly.

But in the early 90s MPEG 1 was developed, and TV signals went from analogue signals to computer data. Things were now on Internet time, with significant developments coming every 2 years at most.

It also meant that as it was just computer data, it could be delivered in a variety of ways, stored, copied, and generally mucked about with.

The TV industry tried to adapt to this with replacing the analogue transmitted signals with digital (and governments sold off the 'free' bandwidth for billions). However that was only really a stopgap.

We are now in the situation where a TV is actually a computer monitor, and broadcast signals are just legacy kruft, full of advertising, and suitable for grannies. As people have scattered to other sources of that video computer data, the audiences have collapsed and TV execs (never the smartest) have reacted by dumping even more ads in/on/and around the programmes - driving even more away.

Soon nothing of consequence will be broadcast, and most stuff people want to watch will come via other avenues (particularly the internet). People are still trying to recreate the old 'broadcast' model there, but it doesn't fit and eventually you'll be buying individual programmes from wherever in the world they are made. This will all probably play out over the next ten years, 7, 9, 10 and the Beeb will probably not really exist inside the decade.

As such, dumb 'TVs' are pretty much like dumb mobile phones - a TV that can't pull data from wherever and present it smoothly to you is going away rapidly. One way or the other it will have to be connected to work - a computer first.

Which is not to say that's where it will stop. TVs have been getting bigger and bigger as people look for higher 'cinema' quality at home. However, it's on Internet time now and that looks to miniaturise. Eventually it will collapse down to screens in front of the eyes, delivering pixels of information to your rods and cones and allowing you to look anywhere in your own little world - or rather big world, since it'll be 360 degrees.

In other words SoB your going to have to nouse up a little bit, just to keep up as Free to Air TV is now more or less dead in the water, probably only 10 years left in it... if that.

Best learn how to connect your TV to the net asap.... practice on the free to air catch up TV channels on freeview...SBS on Demand and ABC I view are good starting places.

Good point Ozzie. Foxtel dying a death too. Connection to the internet is a must

The alternative is hours and hours of shopping TV followed by a couple of hours of low and slowly worsening quality network produced TV, as it goes through it's death throes... A bit like a shop that's dying with less and lowering quality stock each month you see it.

Top Gears probable move over to NetFlix is just a sign of whats coming.

BTW SoB a Good mobile phone connected to your TV is basically all you'll need..... You'll probably end up using something else, but todays Mobile phones can handle everything you need... Especially if they're UHD* like the LG G3.

*Ultra High Definition.... they all will be in 3 years.

If people have a dumb TV and an Android phone or tablet, I tend to say "get a chromecast".

For $30-$50 you get a simple little dongle that gives you the decent catchup TVs, plus Netflix, etc. and the freebies from Google in the shape of movie rentals, music, etc. that are worth as much as you paid. For dipping toes in water, it makes sense.

Otherwise look to the blu-ray players with apps built in, which feels like something you know.

You can also practice watching the free to air TV stuff on your phone or Tablet.... assuming you have an android phone or tablet that is. Then it's just a case of connecting a similar device...

So grab your phone SoB go to the ABC or SBS website.... look for Iview/SBS on demand and start watching. It's easy from that point on. Just for a practice.

Actually just tried it myself and I view seems to be down at present ? on Android at anyrate.

The catch is a connection between the device and the dumb tv. Chromecast might have to be deployed here.

When It comes to the LG G3 Phone you just need one of these...




In other words SoB it's a lot easier than you think. Exactly the same as connecting a DVD player or Video recorder.... except your viewing content directly from the Internet. Heres an example of what your missing... Twas our first show on Netflix, you'd possibly love it... and you can watch it back to back with no ads and it just rolls over from episode to episode. Exclusive to Netflix and a great show, I was personally very surprised they could produce something so good. Wife and I watched both series over two nights. She's hooked on Netflix and asks me why isnt foxtel as easy to use !!! She's watched all 3 series of Orange is the new black in about two weeks.

Heres that example SoB.... Internet only TV !!

Cables ............. yuk ........... So last decade

I must say, casting Stan via the Chromecast is a mile better than casting directly from the Samsung phone directly to the TV. Perfect picture quality on the 65". In fact too good. No sound lag either.

And all the above suggestions rely on 1) a decent broadband speed to allow for streaming without buffering and 2) a decent data allowance.

Without one or the other and preferably both, you're pretty stuffed.

We have an excellent data allowance as it is unlimited. Unfortunately we have a rubbish speed due to multiple factors, and with the NBN not planned to be available until around 2017 in our area, we are stuck with pretty much what we've got, but will be investigating these guys WSDL once we have decided what we are doing with this house.

Yeah, though I am pretty pleased with the speed of my TPG connection. Not having an issue at all watching Stan. Maybe I'm right near the exchange.