Confused by Smart TVs

[boyse7en]

Need a new TV for the bedroom as the existing Toshiba has decided to create its own colour palette - fed up of looking at blue or green people all the time.

My initial criteria:
Budget around £300
32"
Missus wants iPlayer access.

Went to Currys and saw a couple of likely looking candidates, and this is where I get confused.

They had a Panasonic TX-L32EM6B for £249, which they say has "limited" iPlayer via the red button or
for a bit more money, the Panasonic TX-L32E6B, which is a smart TV, for £349. But it seems the Smart TV still only has access to iPlayer, not ITV Player, 4OD or Demand 5, so what is the point of the "Smart" features?

I am highly unlikely to use Netflix/Lovefilm or any other pay-for services, so is a smart TV a waste of money?

What is the point of a smart TV?

[Steffan]

Depends what you want really. A smart TV could save you money later on. Technology is improving constantly. More proof to obsolescence.

[briang9]

non smart TV and a decent spec SF PC or Laptop plugged into it with wireless keyboard/mouse, world is your lobster!!

[Rick Cutler]

If you have an iphone or a ipad then get a standard non smart tv and get an Apple TV box from amazon £89 usually which allows airplay from phone and ipad.

If not the panasonic TV's are brilliant.

[-Pete-]

We bought a Samsung 32" TV from John Lewis recently, it has everything you want and cost £320 with their standard 5 year warranty. We use iPlayer, 4OD, ITV Player, YouTube etc. Wifi is built in, or use ethernet. Even the remote's good

[boyse7en]

Haven't got a laptop, nor an iPad/iPhone. Don't think that is what I'm after. Just want to be able to watch iPlayer, and old Grand Designs episodes. Faffing about with Laptops and cables seems like overkill for a bedroom TV.

That Samsung is looking quite a good bet. Do you know what model you got?

[HarryW]

Second buying from John Lewis for the inclusive 5 year guarantee, I suspect you'll want a 1080p one, http://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-ue32f5500-led-hd-...

[-Pete-]

boyse7en said:

Haven't got a laptop, nor an iPad/iPhone. Don't think that is what I'm after. Just want to be able to watch iPlayer, and old Grand Designs episodes. Faffing about with Laptops and cables seems like overkill for a bedroom TV.

That Samsung is looking quite a good bet. Do you know what model you got?

We bought a UE40BX5000 (I think) a few years ago, needed an external WiFi dongle, but we've been very happy with it. So we bought a UE32F4500 and a 4510 (same model but in white) a few months ago, one for the children and one for the kitchen. Here's a link: http://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-ue32f4500-led-hd-...

[boyse7en]

HarryW said:

Second buying from John Lewis for the inclusive 5 year guarantee, I suspect you'll want a 1080p one, http://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-ue32f5500-led-hd-...

Do I need 1080p? Thought all the HD channels were only 720p?

[HarryW]

boyse7en said:

Do I need 1080p? Thought all the HD channels were only 720p?

Terrestrial HD is broadcast at 1080i, so a 720 would down scale it. A lot of streaming is 1080 too, such as Netflix. Some say 32"and below 720 is ok, however 32" is the change over point by most reckonings, for £30 more I'd get the 1080.....

[sawman]

I picked up a new dvd/blue ray player the other day for £50. apparently it will smarten up a dumb TV when connected to a router - either wifi or hardwired

we have a virgin media service so its not really needed though

[macp]

We just bought an LG smart tv for the bedroom so we could watch iplayer and youtube etc.I didnt realise that not all manufacturers support the same channels.On our LG their is no 4od or itvplayer app.

[briang9]

boyse7en said:

Haven't got a laptop, nor an iPad/iPhone. Don't think that is what I'm after. Just want to be able to watch iPlayer, and old Grand Designs episodes. Faffing about with Laptops and cables seems like overkill for a bedroom TV.

That Samsung is looking quite a good bet. Do you know what model you got?

think you missed my point, a non smart TV and a decent spec Laptop, SF PC off e-bay will cost less, set it up once and leave it, no faffing about, and its fairly future proof, we have this in our living room, its the dogs!!

[anonymous-user]

briang9 said:

non smart TV and a decent spec SF PC or Laptop plugged into it with wireless keyboard/mouse, world is your lobster!!

SF PC?

[Road2Ruin]

garyhun said:

SF PC?

I think he means sff pc. Small, form, factor pc, ie a little one.

[anonymous-user]

Road2Ruin said:

garyhun said:

SF PC?

I think he means sff pc. Small, form, factor pc, ie a little one.

Cheers!

[ocrx8]

Samsung have the best smart TV interface in terms of number of apps available.

Edited by ocrx8 on Thursday 2nd January 11:32

[TonyHetherington]

Samsung have exlusivity with ITV on demand and 4OD (and I think 5ondemand too?!). But as a result, LG only has iPlayer.

[V8covin]

ocrx8 said:

Samsungs have the best smart TV interface in terms of number of apps available.

Really ? Most of the reviews I've read say LG has the best interface

[boyse7en]

briang9 said:

think you missed my point, a non smart TV and a decent spec Laptop, SF PC off e-bay will cost less, set it up once and leave it, no faffing about, and its fairly future proof, we have this in our living room, its the dogs!!

Still seems like a lot of faffing about just for a couple of catch-up services. Do you keep the PC permanently switched on, or do you have to wait for it to boot up every time you want to watch something?

How do you control the PC/laptop? Don't think I fancy sitting in bed trying to balance a mouse and keyboard on the duvet.

Smart TV is £299. Non-smart tv is £199
And can you (realistically) get a SFF PC or laptop, plus the wireless dongle, keyboard, mouse and cables etc for less than £100?

I'm sure it is the most flexible and future-proof solution, but it still seems like a lot of faff! Prepared to be convinced otherwise mind..