internet ready TV advice.

[Danno 1,228]

Wonder if any VJ'ers might offer advice on what I would need to look for in buying a TV, most likely a 32'.

I don't have cable but thought I might stream via netflicks or websites.

From what I gather you can get an internet ready TV or buy a tv and some type of streaming box to pick up the web.

Blue-ray type fidelity is not as important as just being able to have access to streaming movies, news and the available TV series that I am told are readily available.

I use a mac, anyone have experience with iTV?

Any internet sites I should check with for a decent price?

Any thoughts to help the technologically impaired (me) would be helpful.

Edited June 27, 2011 by Danno

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

***** Not a Politics topic, moving to Off Topic *****

[Danno 1,228]

***** Not a Politics topic, moving to Off Topic *****

Wow that didn't take long.

[Krikit 1,165]

I'm interested in this, also. But I'm interested in using the TV for wireless access like you see in hotels.

[damulag 26]

To find an internet ready tv on a site like Best Buy sort by ethernet port or lan port and you can see the tv's with the ability to get some streaming sites. You need to read each tv to see what it is able to receive ie netflixs, pandora etc. You can also connect your laptop to a tv via hdmi if it has one or buy a dvi to hdmi converter and use your laptop/desktop to stream.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Sony.

[DaveE111 10]

Sony.

I bought a Samsung 46" for the bedroom with internet capability. I use it through the wireless router in my home. Actually we use the internet capability more than I would have imagined. Makes it easy to update firmware in the TV and Blu Ray player. Lots of movie choices through NetFlix, Hulu, Pandora etc. Also Youtube, facebook and other social networking outlets.

Only real issue is that you need a healthy internet connection, or you will see the video stop and buffer frequently.

HTH

[Danno 1,228]

I bought a Samsung 46" for the bedroom with internet capability. I use it through the wireless router in my home. Actually we use the internet capability more than I would have imagined. Makes it easy to update firmware in the TV and Blu Ray player. Lots of movie choices through NetFlix, Hulu, Pandora etc. Also Youtube, facebook and other social networking outlets.

Only real issue is that you need a healthy internet connection, or you will see the video stop and buffer frequently.

HTH

When you say "Healthy internet connection" would DSL fall into that description?

Are there much differences between internet TV's.... do some have more capabilities than others?

[rsn 135]

When you say "Healthy internet connection" would DSL fall into that description?

Are there much differences between internet TV's.... do some have more capabilities than others?

DSL would definitely not be considered a "healthy internet connection". DSL maxes out at 6 mbps, and even then, good luck consistently seeing anything close to that. You'll want cable or fibre.

As far as internet capable TVs, you may be much happier looking for a specific device to attach to your TV that exists soley (or mostly) for streaming content over the internet. LG makes some nice blu ray players that give you access to Netflix, Youtube, Vudu, and several other services (less than $200). If you want a more complete solution, you can't beat Boxee box. It costs $199 and you and your wallet will be much happier than going the DIY route. Devices like Boxee box and other XBMC -derived devices allow you access to, essentially, all media on the web via a convenient interface and effective remote. Most, such as Boxee, give you the ability to play your own content (downloaded or otherwise).

Some set-top boxes:

Boxee Box,

WD TV Live HD

Popcorn Hour

XBox 360

Roku

etc...

Edited June 27, 2011 by rsn

[rsn 135]

Also, streaming video with wireless is generally not a good idea. Some make the argument that wireless-N is sufficient, but the problem is the fact that wireless connections are unstable in general. You will generally notice less problems with a wired connection to your router/home network.

[Marilyn. 340]

we just hook up our laptop to the TV using HDMI cable and we have a wireless connection with no option for it to be wired.. but we don't have a lot of problems streaming...

[rsn 135]

we just hook up our laptop to the TV using HDMI cable and we have a wireless connection with no option for it to be wired.. but we don't have a lot of problems streaming...

Sure, not everyone has issues. It's dependent upon other interference that may exist in your area, how far you are from the wireless access point, how many other devices are utilizing wireless in your house at the same time, etc. When people do have problems, the average person usually finds it frustrating to troubleshoot. If a wired connection is possible, that's always the way to go. Not everyone has that option though.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I have two 46" Samsung LN46B650's hooked up the net thru dsl routers. This model was top of the line when we bought it, and there are LED's out now with similar capabilities, but it has been a great buy for us. We also are surprised at how much we use streaming. Some days that's all I use. With apps for Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, Facebook, and more, it's like having a large iPad on the wall.

There' not much interference and we don't have buffering problems. We also use a Samsung Blue Ray on an older flat screen to give it internet access. That is also a credible option to consider, as rsn suggested.

One thing you definitely want to do is get the best quality for the price. Flat screens are built for obsolescence, as it is. Avoid TVs built with cheap components that are not meant to last more than a couple of years and to fail even sooner.

Our internet TV experience has been a good one. I recommend it.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Sony 50" Bravia here. Disappointingly, the built-in internet "widgets" are honestly pretty useless. Running the Apple TV, and it rocks for the simple things it does, namely NetFlix, YouTUbe, and AirPlay streaming the photo, video content from other Apple devices.

Would seriously look into a Roku Box as well, and possibly a 3D Blue Ray player, which also streams .

Sorry to say, but am sold on the expensive idea of professionally "calibraiting" the TV from Geek Squad. When a TV is set at the factory, it is loaded with blue color, so it will look bright and nice under the fluorescent lights at the Big Box store. When they calibrate it (for @ $200 bucks), it takes about 90 minutes, and the Geek Squad guy uses a laptop and tuner device and software that costs about $10K, and fine tunes the color in your TV like you can't. I resisted ever doing it, but now that I did, I realize the value in having a completely natural colored picture. No more day-glow green baseball fields or golf courses, for example.

A nice sound bar and woofer base plugs into the Sony Bravia, and it syncs and becomes one with the TV.

ps, get a premium high-speed internet connection. You will never go back to standard.

Happy viewing!

Edited June 28, 2011 by Boing!

[rsn 135]

Note about AppleTV: The price is right, but it has two big issues:

1. It isn't powerful enough to do anything above 720p
2. It only has support for a limited set of video file types