To buy a smart TV...or not to buy a smart TV

Not exactly a computer question....but the way TVs are nowadays...it really is.

We were all set to get an 40" LG....but since it was not a smart TV...we would have to get a roku or similar to stream.
The LG does have a much better picture.

So...maybe the Smart TV would be better
I knew there ar security concerns...and I'm not sure how dangerous they are.

Then my husband found this
5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Buy a Smart TV in 2016
And, even before I read it...I'm thinking....well if Samsung makes great TVS....are they also making great apps and such.
Wouldn't I be better off buying the Amazon Fire TV Stick for $39.99

So....what do you guys think???
And, FWIW....were not getting into UHD.....just HDTV 1080p.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe


I had an older Roku and I got rid of it for the Firestick. I really like it. You can get apps for it, but if you want that I would look into the Firebox which I believe comes with or maybe you have to buy, controller.

I am not a fan of smart TV's myself, but I imagine shortly they will be the only option.

Edit: Heads up on the Firestick though. You do not have any option to hardwire it. You are stuck with Wi-Fi for it to work. With the Firebox I am pretty sure you can also hard wire it.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

I have the Samsung Smart 40" 4k, i love it as do the wife and child, party in another room or simply disconnect your internet from the wall. 600 bucks for amazing features.

I say dont get stuck in the weeds, heck x box your phone etc...all do you wrong if youre not paying attention, but its mostly advertising anyway.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

We just use the xbox in our room for everything a Smart tv really offers. But I did get an UHD for the Living romm and we love it.

I would buy a dumb TV and then simply find, beg, borrow an old Laptop that no one is using and use that to stream for the TV. You could also use an old tablet as well.

If you do buy a smart TV then cover the camera with a velcro dot.

P

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

My vote is to get the better picture quality and then a Amazon Fire stick.
A smart TV, to me, is like buying a TV with a built in DVD player. If the DVD player breaks or goes obsolete then your stuck with a useless function. You can always update your streaming device in the future if it's a plug in dongle, but I doubt the TV manufacturer will support or update your TV after a few years.

No TV is ever really "smart" lol! Especially not one that can spy on you.

DontTreadOnMe

I have a TV in my bedroom..never use it..but, it is a smart TV. and I read that it can watch you while it is off. So, I looked up how to disable the feature..

How To Geek

It is my understanding that they all have the option to disable..so, if you know how to do that..no worries on whether you get a smart TV or not..

Thanks,
blend57

I think the new question is should you buy a 4k res tv?

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

I have a smart TV (Vizio 3D) & a Sony Media Player(SMP-N200) and have found that at least with my setup, the features, compatibility, and speed of the dedicated media player outperform those that are in the TV. There are some video formats that the TV won't/can't play that the media player handles without a problem. I have also noticed that accessing files on my home network is faster using the media player and I never experience stutters when playing files (sometimes notices pauses using TV to play same file). However, I do occasionally use the Smart TV Youtube APP because Sony dropped support for it, and it works just fine.
If the price is right, I would probably go ahead and get the Smart TV and only add on a dedicated media player if I absolutely needed it. Hi-Speed Internet and a good router is probably the most important part of the puzzle...

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

I have a smart tv but also a fire stick attached (or Amazon won't run), and a nice indoor antenna. I don't have cable. I have more than enough channels and movies to watch between Prime and Netflix. Do it !

I got ultra smart lazy TV Haha. My Xbox one and kinect, my neihbors probably think I'm crazy always yelling "Xbox, volume up, Xbox watch comedy central"

4k smart . Only way to go.

1. The Security Risks Are Real

Not if you know internet security

2. Great Idea, Terrible Execution

I kind of like having the ability to watch shows first run . Had cable now for over 20 years.

3. Smart TVs Lack Smart Interfaces

I dont even know where they pulled that one from

4. TV Apps Are Crude & Unreliable

And show screens of firmware updates ? Those are always helpful . Prevent issues.

5. The Extra Features Aren’t Worth It

May not be for everyone, nut they are for me.


Looks as if this entire article is aimed at folks that are not technical . Scary for them.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

I'd go with the better picture, and skip the smart tv, myself. Not worth the cost, or the security risk, as far as I am concerned. I can disconnect a gaming console that allows me to watch streaming shows on the television. I decide if and when it connects. A smart tv though, you 'd have no way to do that. Way too risky.

Also here's what smart tv's remind me of and also became a nuisance on the internet and soon obsolete real fast.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

I wouldn't worry about smart vs standard at all - as, as others have pointed out, you can pick up a Chrome, Fire, or Roku stick - or an Android KODI box - for $20-30 bucks (ish) - or you can repurpose an old laptop or PC into a HTPC ( home theater PC ) and slap your streaming apps and programs onto it.

I'd more focus on the TV itself and look for the best quality and screen size in your price range. For a quality picture pay attention to things like whether the television offers 1080p or 1080i ( 1080p has about twice as many pixels ), whether or not the set has HDR and as you shop, check to see how well the image handles viewing from various angles. Some cheap TV's only have a decent picture if you're dead center in front of them... and that's not good.

Also given that it's already mid September, I'd consider holding off until the Holidays if you can. Black Friday always sees fairly good entry level televisions being sold as loss leaders and at a large discount.

If you look around and are patient you can probably get an awesome deal. My TV is a Polaroid 42" UHDTV that I found on sale and, after haggling I ended up paying $214.00 total for it AND a 5 year replacement plan / warranty.

If you are going to upgrade get the 4k the picture is heaps better as it upscales the picture depending on what you watch......as far as the smart tv goes its just convenience having an internet connection if you want it without say using the stick you talk of or simply plugging your laptop into it....

The security concerns i think are invalid, while you are not using the net on the tv you can disable it.....if you are worried about the security of people knowing what you are watching perhaps you should lay of the porn ...

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

smart tvs can be great ive had a samsung for 5 years now, superb... Just dont get a vizio, i bought a 42 inch smart vizio tv for my bedroom, less than 2 1/2 years later now its a paperweight until i fix. 1 yr watranty bullocks, they dont give a crap once they have your money. Known issues too says the web, and and repair people ive talked too. Tota defective bs

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

I'm not a fan of smart TVs because they're buggy and slow. You may as well hook up your laptop/desktop to a non smart TV and have a much better experience.

I'd stay away from the smart TV if you can and just hook a PC, Roku or something similar up to it. Many of the smart TV's are powered by an ARM processor which is fairly limited in it's scope of abilities. Then there's the privacy factor to consider and from what I've read regarding some of these "features" on these smart TV's it's beyond easy to use the tech for nefarious purposes. Stick to the cheaper "dumb" TV unless you have to have the convenience of the smart TV technology or lack the space for a PC, Roku, etc.

For what it's worth here's my setup. I ditched cable and dish a few years back and haven't looked back. I have 2 long range HDTV antennas hooked into an ATI Theater 750 HDTV tuner card which resides inside my PC powered by an 8 core AMD FX CPU connected via HDMI to an LG 50" non-smart TV. I use the DVR capabilities to record TV in Windows 7 Media Center which is very good and free to boot. I also subscribe to Netflix. My total "media entertainment" costs are less than $50 a month including internet. For the cost you really can't beat it plus you don't have the need for a smart TV.