Smart TV - would you?
 

I'm buying a new TV very soon. Never had anything fancy or techy before but stayed with friends recently who have a smart TV and really liked what it had to offer. Question to you wise BE peops. Would you buy one or are they a waste of money? Do you need to have a certain amount of internet to cover it's usage and what about download speeds etc? As you can see, I'm about as techy as a tree so any help would be very muchly appreciated.

They're quite expensive but I've seen one recently for about $700.

Thanks.

Dot

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

I bought one recently, a relatively top end one, and am happy with the purchase. To be honest though the vast majority of the "Smart" features can be obtained through a separate box such as a Roku, WD TV, Apple TV, XBox, PS3 etc. I mainly bought the smart one because it was a nice TV, not for the smart features.

As for internet, only if you use it for internet services, just like with everything else. It isn't going to go off and stream stuff on its own, only when you ask it to.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Hehehe...that last little bit made me smile. What, you mean it doesn't think for itself?! But it's a smart TV ;)

I had a look at those tv conversion kit jobs but you end up spending what would have been a smart TV budget anyway, don't you? Gawd, it was so simple when I was growing up, you simply rented a TV from Rediffusion (B&W to start with and then a COLOUR one if you were lucky - my family BOUGHT a colour TV and we were so excited). Nowadays I walk around tech stores looking like I've just landed from another planet with eyes wide and chin on the floor. I must be a geek squad's dream 'look, there's another sucker we can prize loads of cash from' ;)

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Buy a normal TV and then plug an android box into it for $70. You end up with the same thing.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Thank you, that's handy to know. Have you done that? Is it as complicated to set up as it sounds or just plug and go? I hate being so detechtified!

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Actually....to add to this post....I forgot to ask....will I be able to obtain Netflix UK? I know all about expat shield stuff but would that mean I'd have to run my TV with a laptop or would that android box thingy work with it? Yes, I'm struggling with this :o

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

In a couple of years all TV's will be smart tv's. Don't faff around, just get one and enjoy using it. 3D is another story, not yet certain whether it will be around in the long term.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

See, that's my arguement (with myself)! It's just because they're quite new, they're very expensive. I actually saw one at Best Buy for $19,999! What on earth would that TV do that's worth that kind of money?!

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

I run a "boxee box" through mine I have never tried faffing about with proxies for the British tv , uk Netflix etc .
The box does what I need it to do but my next telly will still be a smart TV

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

We have a smart 3D tv , the 3D is pretty good but we dont really use the other smart functions. I have to say though that we bought it together with a 3D dvd player which is also smart and together the two items are smarter than we are. They switch themselves off when you dont want them to and have a habit of changing inputs by themselves. Perhaps we are getting old :-)

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Oh, shame :)

I don't want anything too tech, it scares me, but I just fancied splashing out, for once, on something fun. But there's splashing out and there's SPLASHING OUT! Hmmmm......

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

I have a Samsung Smart TV and we use it for BBC Iplayer & ITV Catch up. It also has a camera and we use it for Skype which is great as the camera gets all of us on sat on the couch rather than just a close up mug shot of one person :)

I use a smart DNS service at $4 a month for the UK catch up channels.

I don't use netflix but the TV has that on it also.

I have other ways to watch TV (Apple TV, Raspberry Pi) but the good thing about the Smart TV is that my OH loves the ease of use rather than another couple of controllers etc.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

My Smart TV has Netflix installed and connecting to it is easy.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Now that sounds like the sort of thing I'm after! Erm.....cheeky question....can PM me you like....but how much did the TV cost? I'm guessing $1,000+?

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

You will only be able to source Netflix UK if you are able to bypass the requirement to be based in the UK - i.e., you will need to have something that hides where you are (Unblock-US, etc.)

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Yes, my friend had Netflix connected but a little birdie told me UK Netflix has a bigger and better selection. I didn't know of most of the shows on Netflix Canada but I suppose in time I would....

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

As Animal said what I like most about the Smart TV is the fact that it has one remote and no set top box.

My house over the years has collected Xboxes, Playstations, Nintendos, DVD Players, Blu-Ray plays plus the Cable box which now comes with a seperate hard-drive. It was just nice getting a bit of tech that didn't take up more room.

FWIW I now have all gaming consoles in the basement with a non-Smart TV, I have one smart TV in the bedroom and every other TV in the house now has a 'smart' Blu-ray player.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

The TV was around $900.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

i swapped over to US netflix because it has a huge selection of films and programmes not available on Canadian Netflix.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Bought one, its great, going to buy another, disconnect cable and stream over the internet. Right now I use a PC with a VPN for UK and US netflix. If you subscribe to a DNS service, you can change the DNS in the TV or router and this does the same thing, problem is you need to change the DNS to a UK or US one manually, the VPN through the PC is easier.

Bought the TV on sale at Futureshop and got a smokin deal, same as they now charge for a dumb (unsmart) TV. Forget the box, smart is the way to go, less wires, added a decent soundbar, can stream music & video off the PC over wireless connection.

Personally, would not buy high end TVs, cost a lot now and are half the price in 6 months. I buy the cheapest with the features I want. Had Sony, failed in 3 years, now have Samsung and it is great.

Going to put smart TVs in all the rooms we have TV.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

I no longer need to use a full VPN as the Smart DNS service I use works with UK Catchup channels but makes Netflix think I am US based (if necessary the netflix location can be changed to any country by visiting one website)

I don't use netflix though as anything on there I can stream online for free - whether that be movies or TV shows etc.

I'd actually get rid of Satellite similar to Aviator but am currently in contract so have just lowered the package to the minimum.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Don't bother with 3D - it's a gimmick. The next big thing for TV's will be 4K.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Time machine.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

The 3D hi-definition porn is interactive. Unfortunately it's a little shocking.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

D'you know, I don't think I'd have had the cojones to post that if my wife was a member on here.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

That really made me chuckle!

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

I always pay too much for a crap tv as I buy a new one every four years just before the World Cup. :(

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Pity you weren't Scottish - we don't really need new tellys before the World Cups :blink:

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

I just came back from Costco and they had a 50" Samsung Smart TV for $735

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Plus tax.

I bought a smaller Samsung Smart TV (latest 32" model) which is what I wanted because it's for a small room, here in France, from an online suppler, for 300 euros (ca $490) including all tax and delivery to the door.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Aye. $830 including tax (in ON that is)

Amazon.co.uk has a 50" Samsung Smart TV for £755 - over $1100.

Dunno if it is the same model as in Costco but gives the OP an idea.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Believe me , he won't have those "cojones" for much longer :p

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

I thought OLED's are going to be the next big thing?

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Futureshop have a 40" for $679.99 (sale)

Bestbuy have a Samsung 46" for $899 (on sale)

The Source have a 32" Samsung for $499 (sale)

:)

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

IMX, so-called "smart TVs" are a complete and utter waste of money, well at least that specific feature is.

Generally speaking the software ties you down to some sort of approved list of content providers, makes more sense to get a media PC and plug it into the TV. Also saves you having to learn how to use two different things, assuming you know how to use a PC.

Also you don't have to worry about endless firmware updates to the TV and so on. And of course you can plug your PC into another TV - say your TV breaks down and you buy a new one, you have to start all over again. I know PCs break down too but generally easier and cheaper to fix.

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

You went just for me?! Thanks so much ;)

We only have a small sitting room, 50" is way too big but at least it means that anything smaller would be worth a look at!

Thanks for the info! :thumbsup:

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Excellent! Thanks for that info! Will be looking there anyway....the Source were really helpful last time we bought anything from there and threw in a few freebies too.

Thanks Siouxie! :D

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

Oh eck, now my brain feels like it may implode :eek:

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

unfortunately I have to agree with my darling husband on something here.
Cheap TVS are a false economy if you are a film buff or really watch TV (rather than just use it for background colour)

He's been saying for ages that our old TV had something going wrong with the picture. I don't have his eye for detailand couldn't see the problem.
when we replaced the set wth the current nicy and shiny new model , the picture difference is significant.

Our TV may have cost a couple of K (and as Ben said we brought it for the picture quailty* not the features , they are a side effect almost) but the picture quality is amazing compared to a cheap set.


* and the porn apparently

Re: Smart TV - would you?
 

I got everything you said except for thr first paragraph, where you lost me! But thanks for the other info, which I did compute....:)