Do you know anything about smart TV's?

Sunny

Sunny

SF VIP
Location
Maryland
I'm thinking of replacing my ancient TV (16 years old), and am completely flabbergasted by the technology and variety of choices. Does anybody know, what is the difference between a "smart tv" and a "non-smart" one? Or whatever you call the other kind? What characteristics are important to look for in a new TV?

All I'm really interested in is a large screen, sharp images, and clear, easily understood sound. I don't need the TV to be another computer.

Any suggestions?
 

You can actually even use some Smart TV's, like our LG TV, as internet browsers.. Also, our LG TV has voice recognition, which allows you to quickly search for a video on YouTube. Make sure to get one that has a pointer in the remote as opposed to only using the up/down/right/left option. Our LG has this. Also, some Smart TV's lack even the ability to enter the channel number - make sure there is a numerical key pad on the remote.
 

My Smart TV is12 years old now, and still in fab condition like new....Where my husband was the techi one in the house, on this occasion I was the one who literally spent days looking at tv's and reviews before buying this one I have, which is a Panasonic Viera Plasma Smart TV and my husband was mightily impressed.. as it turns out it was a great choice having now lasted all this time... and still going great
 
They're really easy to use, the best thing is you're not tied to a certain day or time to watch a show and the selection is mind-boggling huge libraries of content are mostly free but the big boys are getting into the act and are figuring out how to monetize everything now. Still, it's a great bargain my entertainment package with the satellite was well over a hundred per month, now it's twenty-five with a better selection.
 
Sunny said:
I'm thinking of replacing my ancient TV (16 years old), and am completely flabbergasted by the technology and variety of choices. Does anybody know, what is the difference between a "smart tv" and a "non-smart" one? Or whatever you call the other kind? What characteristics are important to look for in a new TV?

All I'm really interested in is a large screen, sharp images, and clear, easily understood sound. I don't need the TV to be another computer.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
We just got high speed fibre optics internet 6 months ago and now have access to just about anything and everything. We are now spoiled silly. Itā€™s definitely impressive.
 
We have an 11-year-old Plasma tv and when it dies are thinking about getting a Samsung "Frame" tv; when the TV is off, it'll show a digital pic (which you can choose by uploading from a thumb drive or your smart phone) so you don't have that old black screen when it's off. Here's a pic:

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Isn't that beautiful? And the tv picture is supposed to be beautiful too. We wouldn't hang ours on the wall; it also comes with "feet" so you can set it on a table or whatever.

I wouldn't be afraid of a smart tv, @Sunny. Huzz was telling his niece how he was thinking about calling our cable company and seeing if we even could at all have the cable run out to our detached shop. She chuckled and said, "You don't even need to do that, Uncle. Just buy a smart TV and it'll connect to your WiFi and get plenty of channels." So she took us to the store and he got an inexpensive brand smart TV and now he can watch all kinds of stuff out there.

I do admit, though, that she set it up and got him started on it; maybe you can find a youngun if you need any help? (Niece-in-law is 46 but that's a youngun to us. :ROFLMAO: )
 
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@Sunny, you can use a smart TV without plugging it into the internet (or wifi) ā€” in which case, you could play DVDs on it. (We buy them from Amazon.com.) I'm assuming that when a smart TV is plugged into the Internet, you can still play DVDs on it.

But some folks really enjoy the Internet-enabling of their smart TVs. Like what @officerripley said above.
 
I bought one last month, it is an Android TV, it came with so
much stuff on it, I fear it will take me ages to figure it all out.

It is very good, and the HD is very clear.

I bought it from Amazon, at a very reasonable price Ā£228,
for a 43" HD Smart TV.

Mike.
 
Devi said:
But some folks really enjoy the Internet-enabling of their smart TVs. Like what @officerripley said above.
Click to expand...
Yes, from what I hear, and of course it probably varies from brand to brand, but the smart tvs are becoming easier to use. I know when we first got our smart phone (and still have to sometimes, lol), I just googled any questions I had about using it; so far, I've been able to get every question answered.
 
Our Smart TVs have 1,000 preset channels, though not all
are available unless you pay for them, like, Sky or Virgin, or
Talk Talk, or EE, around 300 are available for free TV and
maybe 20 to 50 for Radio Stations, but the Apps that come
with the TV Set, are something else, they each contain lots
of Films and TV programmes, also box-sets, so there must
be thousands more places to visit there.

Mike.
 
Mike said:
Our Smart TVs have 1,000 preset channels, though not all
are available unless you pay for them, like, Sky or Virgin, or
Talk Talk, or EE, around 300 are available for free TV and
maybe 20 to 50 for Radio Stations, but the Apps that come
with the TV Set, are something else, they each contain lots
of Films and TV programmes, also box-sets, so there must
be thousands more places to visit there.

Mike.
Click to expand...
All correct..I have 1000 channels.. plus all the Apps.....Youtube.. netflix... ..tons more..., and I've had them for many years.. it's not new..
 
Devi said:
@Sunny, you can use a smart TV without plugging it into the internet (or wifi) ā€” in which case, you could play DVDs on it. (We buy them from Amazon.com.) I'm assuming that when a smart TV is plugged into the Internet, you can still play DVDs on it.

But some folks really enjoy the Internet-enabling of their smart TVs. Like what @officerripley said above.
Click to expand...
Amazon Fire Stick
 
Sunny said:
I'm thinking of replacing my ancient TV (16 years old), and am completely flabbergasted by the technology and variety of choices. Does anybody know, what is the difference between a "smart tv" and a "non-smart" one? Or whatever you call the other kind? What characteristics are important to look for in a new TV?

All I'm really interested in is a large screen, sharp images, and clear, easily understood sound. I don't need the TV to be another computer.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
You must have Wi Fi in your home to connect to the internet and smart tv...Amazon Fire Stick has that..
 
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I would prefer a stand alone streaming device and tv. One down side to a smart tv is if a channel you use becomes no longer supported on that model tv, then you either need to get a new tv or a separate streaming device. I have a friend who has 3 smart tv's and he's had that happen 4 times so far. His newest one is just over a year old and he lost one channel already. I've had that happen twice, but on the same tv. My tv is still fine, but it is 7 years old, so I opt for a stand alone streamer, which is less expensive.
 
Flarbalard said:
I would prefer a stand alone streaming device and tv. One down side to a smart tv is if a channel you use becomes no longer supported on that model tv, then you either need to get a new tv or a separate streaming device. I have a friend who has 3 smart tv's and he's had that happen 4 times so far. His newest one is just over a year old and he lost one channel already. I've had that happen twice, but on the same tv. My tv is still fine, but it is 7 years old, so I opt for a stand alone streamer, which is less expensive.
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Not on my TV...
 
Our grandchildren come and watch 3D movies on our older large flat screen TV. They think it is so cool! We have the glasses etc.

The Samsung TV is getting old and will likely not last too much longer.
In looking at replacements you can't get 3D anymore! Unless, you want to pay a ton of money. A ton.
Our decision was to put a small TV in that room since we don't watch it much and save the life of our big one for 3D viewing only.
I guess all the new features took the place of 3D. Who would have thought that would be one of the things that didn't make the list.

We watched a documentary with the girls on the Hubble telescope in 3D. It was fantastic.
We had sort of forgotten about it until it got new life through those girls. A movie, 'Legends', I think, is their favorite. Animated and about owls. They love it!
 
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