Smart televisions?

EricTheWeary

I have nearly replaced our CRT tv on many occasions. The picture is still good but bits of the casing are dropping off and the remote is about 80% sellotape now.

I have my eye on a new 42" Panasonic LED HD,etc. This comes in smart ( ie some internet access and such stuff) and non smart versions. The price difference is £50 so maybe just go for the smart one. But, I do feel the smart aspect will date soon or just be a novelty or an annoyance and I might be better off with the non smart one.
So, anybody got a smart tv and do they use the facilities much?

Ta

EDIT: Discussion title changed as I do appear to have been asking about clever transvestites. I'm sure an interesting subject in itself but when I come home from Tesco on saturday MrsTheWeary might not be too happy if I bring back a ladyboy with A levels rather than 42"s of glowing happiness ( although...wait, don't go there...).

SimonC

I've got a Panasonic as well and use the "Smart"bits often, usually for direct access to iPlayer and Eurosport Player.

Well worth the extra few quid I would say. I've never used the 3D facility though.

EricTheWeary

SimonC said:

I've got a Panasonic as well and use the "Smart"bits often, usually for direct access to iPlayer and Eurosport Player.

Well worth the extra few quid I would say. I've never used the 3D facility though.

looking at a smart but non 3D one  - even my kids aren't bothered about having a 3D facility.

At the moment we have cable tv so stuff like the iplayer is on there anyway but once we have Freeview HD (through the new tv) the idea is to cancel cable - although with no Sky Arts or FX that pretty much leaves me with Only Connect, Masterchef and Bake Off  to watch.

Phil_aka_Pip

this one's quite "smart"

http://www.weirdworm.com/img/people/10-most-realistic-transvestites/rupaul.jpg

GIJoe

I have a smart tv - most over a certain size don't come without some smart features!

I use it most to watch lovefilm/netflix.  I have tried to watch 4OD, but it's full of adverts and always crashes!

Lovefilm/netflix do sometimes crash the tv if the internet goes down for a minute!

I plugged in a USB harddrive to record programs - it's ok, not as good as the hard disk recorder, and it tends to tie up the telly - you cannot really do anything else while recording, but for recording a film or hd channel it's fine.

EricTheWeary

GIJoe said:

I have a smart tv - most over a certain size don't come without some smart features!

I use it most to watch lovefilm/netflix.  I have tried to watch 4OD, but it's full of adverts and always crashes!

Lovefilm/netflix do sometimes crash the tv if the internet goes down for a minute!

I plugged in a USB harddrive to record programs - it's ok, not as good as the hard disk recorder, and it tends to tie up the telly - you cannot really do anything else while recording, but for recording a film or hd channel it's fine.

Once we get rid of cable tv I will have to start looking at hard disk recording or something. I'm vaguely hopeful that once I call to cancel with Virgin they will offer me an unbeatable deal to stay - we already have discounted cable tv ( we get an XL package for the price of the minimum package which gives me many, many extra channels that I never, ever watch).

Our broadband jitters at peak times but we often have problems with the Virgin on demand ( including iplayer services) at those times as well. Virgin are supposed to be upgrading our broadband but not until about December.

Phil_aka_Pip

@EricTheWeary sorry mate it's an old joke, perhaps I shouldn't have revived it

EricTheWeary

Phil_aka_Pip said:

@EricTheWeary sorry mate it's an old joke, perhaps I shouldn't have revived it

Hey, I've given you a LOL for it!

CloudNine

Maybe get the non smart TV, and get one of these Chromecast dongle things. Someone bought me one a while back and have to say it is great, simple to use, and they are very cheap: 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Google-Chromecast-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B00I4WQ618

And obviously it can be replaced when new gadgets become available.

fretmeister

I use the smart bits on mine all the time. Netflix, web access etc.

We do use 3D as well - mainly for kids films, but also for the excellent Attenbro' docs.

Close up termite nests in 3D is scarier than any horror film!

ESBlonde

Get the smart enabled but non HD. Also get a cheap USB keyboard if you intend to do much like Ewe toob etc. because typing on the remote like an old txt phone gets real tedious very quickly.

iplayer and such is a useful facility for an up front one off payment of £50.

EricTheWeary

CloudNine said:

Maybe get the non smart TV, and get one of these Chromecast dongle things. Someone bought me one a while back and have to say it is great, simple to use, and they are very cheap: 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Google-Chromecast-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B00I4WQ618

And obviously it can be replaced when new gadgets become available.

Ohh, I might get one of those for the telly in the bedroom, be good to stream youporn BBC iPlayer off the tablet.

guitargeek62

Mine's basically a Netflix & PS3 box, so having the smart features makes it much easier.

goldtop

I went down a similar route and bought a dumb TV. Why? Just bear in mind what it is you are actually letting into your home.

You cannot trust the manufacturers to be honest about what they do with your data: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25042563

And remember that your TV with its built-in camera is now on the Net, with all of teh exciting possibilities that can provide: http://www.slashgear.com/samsung-smart-tv-a-spy-in-the-living-room-as-webcam-hack-revealed-02292655/

Cont'd: Sleepwalking into 1984...

bobblehat

I've got a Samsung Smart TV and I find it really useful to have iplayer, netflix ,lovefilm etc all in one place with one controller.

I watch quite a lot of films / tv series direct from memory sticks which it also does seamlessly.Also have the spotify app on there which is also useful.

Just make sure you check out what apps are available as not all Smart TV's are equal.

HAL9000

Got a Samsung Smart TV here, and use the smart bits quite a lot. I've also heard (but don't really know the reasoning) that it's better to get LCD rather than LED for medium-sized teles.

thumpingrug

Have a Smart 42" LG with 3d.  I find the Smart features are good but typing via the remote is a pain.  As I have apple TV and Xbox I tend to default to those for the internet enabled features.  I do occasionally use the 3d but its a novelty really.

Rocker

Flat screen TVs have very poor sound.  Budget for a soundbar or connect it to your home stereo system.  The built in speakers 'work' but so does the supplied guitar lead in your new Fender case.  And who uses that lead.....

EricTheWeary

Rocker;225651" said:

Flat screen TVs have very poor sound.  Budget for a soundbar or connect it to your home stereo system.  The built in speakers 'work' but so does the supplied guitar lead in your new Fender case.  And who uses that lead.....

MrsTheWeary is not keen on the soundbar thing. I think we would see how we got on without it first, although I fancy the idea for music programmes and films.

thumpingrug

Rocker said:

Flat screen TVs have very poor sound.  Budget for a soundbar or connect it to your home stereo system.  The built in speakers 'work' but so does the supplied guitar lead in your new Fender case.  And who uses that lead.....

It makes a reasonable emergency spare.  

thumpingrug

EricTheWeary said:

Rocker;225651" said:

Flat screen TVs have very poor sound.  Budget for a soundbar or connect it to your home stereo system.  The built in speakers 'work' but so does the supplied guitar lead in your new Fender case.  And who uses that lead.....

MrsTheWeary is not keen on the soundbar thing. I think we would see how we got on without it first, although I fancy the idea for music programmes and films.

The thing with sound bars is the cheep ones are just as shit as the speakers in the TV, you need to spend some money to get a decent sound ( it was ever thus).  I was ruined when in a HiFi shop last summer and had a demo of a sonos sound bar.  It was immense but I had to sit down when he told me it was £1200, though that included several satellite wireless surround speakers.   It might have come down a bit since, but the credit card has been under lock and key.

The basic sonos play bar on amazon is currently £600