Why do people spend so much money on smart tvs - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 01:52:12 am
content: i really don't understand why people spend so much money on smart tvs when you can buy the same or similar tv for a lot less without the smart tv functions and save yourself a lot of money you could just get for around $30nzd a android tv box that comes with remote or for around $20 a mini hdmi pc stick that would be able to do a lot more then any smart tv could unless the smart tv is running androidor you could get a chrome cast device for like $10nzd and just use your phone or tablet with your tvsmart tv are just a big ripoff

author: imidis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 01:57:01 am
content: I believe most people just don't quite understand the limitations vs pricing. And of course, I haven't looked into how long it is before the companies stop updating the smart functions. You are right, but I think a vast majority of people don't know any better.

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 02:08:50 am
content: Quote from: imidis on January 14, 2017, 01:57:01 amyeah my friend just got a new smart tv for $1650nzd they where selling basically the same tv for $1000 just without the smart tv functions i tried to tell him that it was a ripoff spending $650 more when for like $30 he could get an android box that would be much better but he thought i was just being cheap but i told him it was better he just seemed to get really annoyed with me till like a week latter he came over to my house saw my tv setup with android tv box now he is really angry he wasted an extra $650

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 02:34:23 am
content: Some of us are in fact in the know and use them for a specific reason, the difference in price between the equivalent smart and non-smart TV when we purchased ours was fifty bucks but it had double the HDMI and USB inputs in addition to a host of other features including a better resolution screen.To each their own and a blanket statement that they are crap and a waste of money is just misconstrued and ill informed, do the research and compare the differences irrespective of the browser abilities, in addition depending on your location some retail outlets now carry very little in the way of choice between with or without so the only option left for consumers is to go with a smart TV.One single sample.http://www.lg.com/au/lgcompf4/compare/compare.lg?category=/au/tvs

author: imidis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 03:14:18 am
content: Keep in mind though, different countries vary. Some stuff here is way more expensive than it should be. Anyways. Staff at the chain stores here have no clue what they can or cannot do. Someone I know went and bought a tv to connect to and display their Iphone screen on, salesperson claimed tv could do it, but it could not, so said person also bought an apple tv box. Of course the didn't call before purchasing. But oh well.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 03:56:36 am
content: There are more hidden cost besides the visible.No so long ago (last April? or was it April the year before) youtube sunset older versions of youtube viewer(s). My set-top box had youtube viewer function until then. Smart TV probably have firmware update as well, but like my set-top box, eventually that stops. Probably a lot of smart TV with older youtube viewer also lost youtube viewing function. I don't watch youtube except on my laptop so loosing it on but set-top box is no big deal. But if I want to, I can get another set top box without throwing out the TV...TV's with XBOX2 built-in, what do you do with it now with XBOX3?The more functions added, the more the problem. I prefer clean simple solutions.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 04:17:44 am
content: Quote from: Rick Law on January 14, 2017, 03:56:36 am+1 for this.TV manufacturers want to move on to the next model - and they want you to move on too! The 'smart' parts of your TV are not going to be updated for more than a few years, if that. Do you really want to buy a new big-screen TV every few years? Probably not, so, like Rick says, you'll have to live with a TV that has a few broken features.What about security bugs? If your TV is connected to the net and there's a security bug in the app or the OS (typically some flavor of Linux), how long will the vendor supply security updates? If no fix is available, do you have to take your smart TV offline and turn it into a dumb TV?Muttley, you make a good point in the case where the smart and dumb units have different hardware features, but when I buy my next TV, I'll be looking for a big, dumb TV. If the other features I want are only available on a smart TV, I'll be checking to make sure that it will do what I want without being online and without the smart features getting in my face and annoying me!

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 05:15:42 am
content: Please don't get me wrong as I also had serious concerns in relation to privacy and the ability of a device such as this to remotely broadcast our browsing and viewing activities, In particular after discovering the LG Smart TV Spying On Owners blog linked below and after purchasing our TV in March 2014 took steps to ensure that we were not going to be another victim.That said I have always had concerns in relation to the firmware upgrades which have been readily available since the day of purchase and the user does have the option to disable updates, I did another one only last week and don't really know why as again nothing is different, in all honesty other than the first couple we did nothing has ever changed in regards to features, options or usability yet they are always in the order of 600 megabytes, I wonder if that is our history log going out without consent. We use this unit in only the most basic form and do not use any of the additional LG bullshit signup plugin subscriptions.Our bedroom TV.http://www.lg.com/au/tvs/lg-32LA6230LG Are Parasites.http://doctorbeet.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/lg-smart-tvs-logging-usb-filenames-and.html

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 05:18:33 am
content: Quote from: Rick Law on January 14, 2017, 03:56:36 amAlso, a lot of Cable and DBS boxes include YouTube (and even NetFlix/Hulu) functionality already, and those pretty much constantly receive software updates (and if you've got an outdated box they'll normally give you a new model for free). DirecTV is particularly good about this.Some Cable and FIOS boxes don't even require you to connect the box to your internet for the YouTube functionality! (Obviously satellite does, but still...)

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 05:41:32 am
content: Samsung even warns you that their smart TVs that have voice response capability are, in fact, evesdropping and reporting your every word to Samsung? someone else?"Please be aware that if your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information, that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party."Can you imagine? "Quiet! The TV's listening!"

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 05:44:22 am
content: Quote from: timb on January 14, 2017, 05:18:33 amNothing much worth watching on TV anymore. I cut the cord (so to speak) 3 or 4 years ago. So, I don't have a cable box. My set-top box is only for my NetFlix, plus some old DVD-ISO's.Even Netflix doesn't have much worth watching anymore.NetFlix library appears to have a very interesting relationship to the size of the universe. As the universe's expansion appears to be accelerating faster and faster, NetFlix library appears to be shrinking faster and faster. In a few more years, the entire NetFlix library could fit on a single 8 inch floppy. You know, just the latest Netflix Original animated GIF's streamed live to your TV for your evening entertainment...

author: SpaceCow
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 03:37:56 pm
content: Quote from: edpalmer42 on January 14, 2017, 05:41:32 amSounds like something straight out of Orwell.

author: PartialDischarge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 03:50:26 pm
content: Quote from: sony mavica on January 14, 2017, 01:52:12 amI really don't understand why people buy TVs ,frigging waste of time, I live happily without one, my 27" imac is more than enough

author: Scutarius
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 04:35:07 pm
content: Quote from: MasterTech on January 14, 2017, 03:50:26 pmSometimes It's a matter of convenience, I like Dave Jones phrase,the right tool for the job, personally I tune the news just for background noise, I mean background speech.What's your choice on Android boxes?

author: Neilm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 06:02:48 pm
content: Quote from: SpaceCow on January 14, 2017, 03:37:56 pmWhat do you mean sounds like? The "Television" listening to people and broadcasting propogander is one of the main parts of 1984

author: CraigHB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 06:34:20 pm
content: I'm definitely not making the TV makers happy with my buying a TV maybe once a decade. I prefer a TV that's mainly just a monitor with all my smart functions powered by a home theater box of some kind. Personally I would cut the cord myself and just use the TV for recorded content, but my wife it pretty much a TV hound and watches a lot of commercial shows. No way that would fly with her, but would be fine with me.

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 07:09:00 pm
content: In Europe most TV's come with SmartTV functionality. I don't see a big price difference between TV's with or without SmartTV module. Actually it is probably quite difficult to find a TV without it.Pricewise you can right now purchase a Hitachi 43" TV with UHD resolution and SmartTV functionality for 355 Euro. It doesn't get cheaper than that...Regarding separate Android boxes: most of them are cheap, including the Raspberry Pi used with OpenELEC and XBMC/KODI.*** But IMHO all of them suck. ***There, I said it. They suck as much or even more than the SmartTV modules in the TV's.Plus: Nothing comes close to having just one TV in front of you, one remote and even the wife is able to go to the movies folder of the network PnP server and pick a movie.With an external box, you have to:a) turn it onb) wait for it to bootc) change input on TVd) grab the other remotee) hope that everything is workingAnd most devices I have tested are slowwwww.I have an LG and a Samsung, both with SmartTV module. Much nicer to watch movies in PnP network.Browser, Youtube, etc.? Slow like hell and text input is a pain.But for that I use my tablet, smartphone or PC.Cheers,Vitor

author: vodka
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 07:27:57 pm
content: Quote from: edpalmer42 on January 14, 2017, 05:41:32 amDon't worry ,soon they will intall minicamera on TV and we won't be able to hide.

author: cheeseit
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 08:12:42 pm
content: Quote from: MasterTech on January 14, 2017, 03:50:26 pmWell.. For one, none ofmy27" screens are in front of the couch and I enjoy the 55" greatness.. And the hi-fi around it, which none of my 27" have.And congrats to you wire cutters, you're all special little snowflakes - go post about it on Facebook.I enjoy my cable, even though I rarely actually sit in front of the tv, and Netflix, YouTube and others on my LG SmartTV. All of which work fine and is fast to use. I did not buy it for its smart features or 4k but I do enjoy those features and the gorgeous screen. I also only have to use a total of one device to control it (remote, phone or tablet). I don't do pirate content anymore nor do I browse on the tv or anything else that would benefit from an Android box or SFF computer. It does not have microphone nor camera btw.

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 08:17:38 pm
content: Quotemakes you wonder what happened to all the 3D and curved television set's people have bought going back to 2012.now out of date. TVremote control designis still a problem.maybe we need hardware upgradeable TV'swith plug in pcb's. like PC desktop computers ? add or replace the parts you want.

author: PartialDischarge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 08:23:20 pm
content: Quote from: cheeseit on January 14, 2017, 08:12:42 pmI said I don't have a TV, but I said nothing about owning or not big screensIts about the content, not the size...QuoteOh, you post it, I don't have a farcebook account, even less time wasted and happier

author: slicendice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 08:35:11 pm
content: Quote from: Bicurico on January 14, 2017, 07:09:00 pm+1It's a matter of convenience.I'd rather have 1 screen that does it all, 1 remote (or even toss that one out of the window and use my mobile as remote, which I do currently), 1 power chord, 1 antenna chord (2 if using both cable and sat which isn't needed in my area), 1 CAT6 cable (prefer WiFi) and not much more than that on my wall/TV stand, than 1 screen, 1 cable top box, (1 sat top box), 1 android top box, HUGE amount of cable mess and power adapters...etc, etc...NICE AND CLEAN setup is much better! And almost same price too.

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 08:38:37 pm
content: QuoteMaybe the question is: why don't the big brands just make screen > 42" with just a HDMI hub (basically a monitor)? Their is software is all utter sh!t. Its slow, hardly updated, adds nothing (beside frustration). There are already a ton of setup boxes, who uses the built-in feature anyway? Mine is just a glorified monitor. I added my VuDuo 2 (satellite) and AppleTV.Another annoying thing is, there are hardly any worthy apps: Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, etc.. are often not available. Yeah a fireplace app, duh !A screen should last at least 5 years.Hoping someone has the balls to start a crowd-funding project: LG OLED screen and HDMI hub. Where can i buy one?

author: slicendice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 08:43:03 pm
content: Quote from: onesixright on January 14, 2017, 08:38:37 pmLove that one, though it's just a screen. Maybe we should start an open hardware/software project that builds around that screen? :-D

author: cheeseit
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 08:44:29 pm
content: Quote from: jonovid on January 14, 2017, 08:17:38 pmYou should totally pitch that idea to the wooden pc case 'save the world'-guys! Imagine a wooden tv with replaceable parts to save the world from e-waste.Quote from: MasterTech on January 14, 2017, 08:23:20 pmYeah it is an amazing waste of time and neither do I. It is crazy how much time, energy and money is wasted by people flashing their wonderful lives and many qualities.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 09:01:30 pm
content: Give me a HD LCD projector and a small single board PC over a SmartTV anyday.(something like the lattepanda or similar is good, chromcast is also ok for most things)

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 09:09:32 pm
content: Quote from: Bicurico on January 14, 2017, 07:09:00 pmWhen we got our 40" Sumsung we could redeem our receipt to get a free wireless MS mouse and keyboard and a week or so later it arrived in the mail. Connected to our LAN we can see it from other devices and the reverse. Can access .avi files on PC or NAS box and play them no problem. We got ours to clean up our entertainment center, ditched a VCR, STB and DVD player now with only a cheap surround sound left to keep the smart TV company plus a USB portable drive to record any TV programs on that we don't want to miss. All works pretty well with only 2 remotes, a keyboard and a mouse except for our POS internet connection that hopefully will be upgraded this year.Minor audio latency when it's played through the cheap surround sound being the only real PITA.At the time we got it IIRC the smart version was ~25% more but the additional functionality was worth it IMO.

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 09:30:59 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on January 14, 2017, 09:09:32 pmThat is one thing I've always liked about the AppleTV: You can use your iPhone/iPad as a remote/keyboard, which is very handy. (I have an older ATV model without Siri.)

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 09:45:19 pm
content: Quote from: timb on January 14, 2017, 09:30:59 pmGot one of those too now, the wife won it in a daily draw at our local supermarket a year or so back.At least it's tiny and in no way intrusive to our now tidy setup.Still we need faster internet..........The curse of living in a rural location.

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 10:03:06 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on January 14, 2017, 09:45:19 pmYeah, someone even makes a tiny little mount that lets you attach the ATV to the back of a TV. I made my own by attaching it directly to the TV with some of those heavy duty interlock Velcro strips. Works great! (If you use an older model with an IR remote, it still works so long as you mount the unit at the top of the TV and pointing up; it also helps if your wall is a light color, to bounce the IR.)I feel you on slow internet. I've got 1.5Mbit DSL here, which I'm lucky to have, as the neighbor across the street is officially too far from the CO to get (and he's less than 100ft away from us). They have to deal with satellite. Ugh...I really miss the internet I had at my old place... 50Mbit up/down, unlimited! I'm looking forward to moving back into a more populated area just for the internet.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 10:08:26 pm
content: Our LG in the bedroom has an option to add a web camera and probably spits out whatever it can see out over the internet without consent, I would expect to be paid should one of our special moments be broadcast and then later discovered on a porno site somewhere. The same web camera also permits hand gesture recognition so I thought about learning sign language as my vocabulary in this field is rather limited.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 10:17:20 pm
content: Quote from: timb on January 14, 2017, 10:03:06 pm1.7 Mb/s here but only in the middle of the night and hope that it's not when others don't have their Win xx auto loading updates. Generally we can get full speed for a couple of hours before 5am.Here it's called ADSL1, and comes via outdated Conklin DSLAM's in our local Telco box with 4km of copper to provide the data backhaul. When there's very light loadings unbuffered streaming to a PC is not a problem but the smart TV isn't happy with such a slow connection.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 10:19:26 pm
content: Quote from: Muttley Snickers on January 14, 2017, 10:08:26 pmThere's the 2 finger salute too Muttley.....who said your vocabulary was limited ?

author: slicendice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 11:33:41 pm
content: Jeez!?! 1.5Mbit ADSL??? I have 2 x 100Mbit Unlimited LTE with unlimited SMS and calls (actually 5000 SMS and 5000min) + 100Mbit VDSL2 and next month it will be replaced by 350Mbit ethernet(fiber optics). Already looking forward to up my LTE speeds to 300Mbit (might have to wait a bit still though)

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 11:35:50 pm
content: Quote from: slicendice on January 14, 2017, 11:33:41 pmGreen with envy.

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 11:43:00 pm
content: Quote from: slicendice on January 14, 2017, 11:33:41 pmMind sharing how much ($$$) that is every month?

author: slicendice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2017, 12:59:24 am
content: Costs me a total of 69.70€ and don't have to worry about any data limits.

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2017, 01:44:56 am
content: Quote from: slicendice on January 14, 2017, 11:33:41 pmI do have LTE on my phone, which I can tether to if I need something *right now* or the DSL goes down. I generally get around 50Mbit on it. Unfortunately there's a shared data cap of 10GB/mo... (Three phones on the plan, which costs $120/mo. Fuck Verizon.)

author: slicendice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2017, 09:45:14 am
content: From time to time I've been following Verizon pricing policy and am really happy I don't live in the US. :-)

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 15, 2017, 10:07:42 am
content: Did not read thread.OP: It's ignorance.My biggest gripe? When the fuck are these cheap ass panels going to float down to computer monitors? You know? Where you sit right there and the resolution actually matters. DECADES we've been waiting for panel pixel quantity to even come close to our fav old CRTs. And back then, I could actually read the fine print.For years I've been thinking I'm wasting my time with real-lifeTM; I should be selling herbal remedies to fools, hippies and all the other proponents of magic. Same thing./rant (probably)

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2017, 02:04:35 pm
content: Just like Bicurico, I was a bit surprised by this question; you can't buy name-brand TVs here without smart TV functionality. Same with 3D: nobody wants it but every TV has it now.As for why someone might do it in a country where "dumb" TVs are still available: Maybe they want the better picture quality of a higher-end TV, and that's gonna come with smart TV whether you want it or not.

author: slicendice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2017, 04:30:47 pm
content: Woot??? Sony Z9D 4K HDR WITH ANDROID TV does NOT have PVR nor CI+. One would think that a TV with all other possible features a TV could possibly have and the price range starting from $5499.99 (65") to $59999.99 (100") would have those 2 features crammed in too. How hard can it be?

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2017, 03:27:28 pm
content: I hate the concept of smart TVs, whatever stuff they have such as Youtube, Netflix etc is embedded, what if those services change? You now have outdated functions that don't work anymore. Rather the TV only be a screen. For those functions I can use a computer.And yeah I hate the fact that we see all these 4k TVs and yet barely see 4k monitors for computers, where pixel density matters more.

author: slicendice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2017, 03:43:48 pm
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on January 16, 2017, 03:27:28 pmHahhah, today smart TVs are smart enough so you can update them, including the software. If the service stops working on the TV it most likely stop working on your computer too.For a 100" 4k is important and 8k would be even better. That combined with proper picture processing engine, and your cat sized pixels are gone for broadcasts that are only 576i or even 1080p.There are a lot of 4k computer displays today, and now when there is support for 8k in some top range graphics cards, we will start to see more and more 8k displays. The lack of 4k and 8k displays for computers has everything to do with the fact that there did not exist devices to drive those displays.

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2017, 04:49:19 pm
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on January 16, 2017, 03:27:28 pmMy Sony smart TV is based on android, so I can update all the apps by visiting the Play Store. With my previous TV, I had used a separate box. Now I use Kodi on the TV and it does everything better than that box did it - it even plays 4k video, HEVC codecs, etc. The selection of apps is fantastic and not in any way limited to Sony.If the day comes when I can no longer update the apps, I can always buy a cheap current set top box and plug it in, and use the TV as a display only. Some people seem to forget (or omit) that this is possible, and imply that the TV is useless junk at that point, which is ridiculous.

author: Kevman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2017, 05:40:27 pm
content: Its hard to find TVs that aren't smart, and I don't really see the point to limiting your choices to non-smart anyway. And we all know from how cheap Raspberry Pis are that it doesn't add that much cost to the TV.I have a smart TV because that's the only way the OLEDs come. When the software on it gets obsolete I'll pull the ethernet cable out of it. Problem solved.One thing I've noticed is that Youtube apps on TVs seem to limit themselves in terms of resolution. You can check by turning on "Stats for Nerds" on any Youtube app. My 1080p OLED won't play Youtube videos at a resolution higher than 720p30. Same with a Friend's samsung 4K, but a coworker's brand new 4K OLED will do 1080p60 but not 4k.I know my TV's SoC will do 1080p because the Amazon Video app will do it.So I do most of my Youtube via PC. The whole Smart TV thing is marginal. I have zero complaints about the Amazon app, though- its pretty much perfect.

author: slicendice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2017, 05:43:24 pm
content: That Youtube does not play 4k is just a software thing. If the TV is capable of decoding 4k video, then there will come an update soon for that particular TV (maybe).

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2017, 05:48:19 pm
content: I got a smart TV from LG for my wife a couple of years ago. The idea was that she could watch browser based TV streams but she is still using her laptop for that. Also the lack of updates is problematic. IMHO the TV as a platform is dead. All you need is a big monitor and let a computer or setop box do the smart part.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2017, 05:48:53 pm
content: Quote from: slicendice on January 15, 2017, 12:59:24 am

author: slicendice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2017, 06:09:49 pm
content: Quote from: JPortici on January 16, 2017, 05:48:53 pmCosts me nothing, and don't have to worry about TVs at all. My wife "own" our TVs and uses them, she also is the one worrying about upgrades when a bigger or smarter screen is needed. I only use computers for everything. Don't have time for Soap Opera like The Bold and The Beautiful, or stalk people on FaceBook.I only have time to stalk people here, as there's a slight chance I might learn something in the process.No seriously, Smart TVs are great, for some it's very useful for others it's total crap. If I ever decide to glue my ass on the sofa for a longer period of time (getting lazy), I will def. buy a smart TV. For now I will stick to my computers.

author: XynxNet
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2017, 07:46:57 pm
content: Here in germany smart-tv is basically bundled with dual tripple tuners aka the abillity to watch and record tv at the same time.That's a clever and annoying strategy because it pretty much kills dumb tv sets for media center oriented people.If you switch entirely to ip tv, it's ok though.