Nexus 7 (2013) tablet + TV vs Smart TV for non-technical user

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Nexus 7 (2013) tablet + TV vs Smart TV for non-technical user

devison

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#130669 23-Sep-2013 19:40

Hi,

My Dad is in the market for a way to watch internet content on the TV. In particular he wants to watch lectures and documentaries that are available on-line.
He was advised by a shop to buy a Smart TV.

I'm suggesting he instead considers getting the new Nexus 7 (2013), a slimport-hdmi adapter and a non-Smart TV (with HDMI connector) to play that through. He has a non-digital CRT TV now.

Seems to me there are some advantages:
- the tablet is more likely to be upgraded (ie. new versions of Android) over time than what ever is built into Smart TV
- eventually he could replace tablet with something newer and use with same TV. (Whereas you can't replace what's in the Smart TV).
- tablet has an on-screen keyboard which would be easier than navigating Smart TV with remote
- tablet will have easy access to gmail so he can open up an email and click on link to play
- he can use tablet for other uses, while travelling etc

The tablet solution is only slightly more expensive since Smart TVs are still sold at a premium.

Wondered if anyone else had an opinion on this topic, particularly arguments for the Smart TV?

Do you think the tablet solution will 'just work' or will there likely be technical hurdles which would make this a bad option for a non-technical user?

Thanks!

Dan

NZtechfreak

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#901435 23-Sep-2013 19:54

I'd definitely go the tablet+TV option, much (MUCH) more versatile.

Connecting wired should make it fairly easy, even for the technically impaired, although then the tablet is tethered to the TV, which may be less suitable for the proposed use-case scenario (I use a bluetooth keyboard and mouse when my phones/tablets are connected to an external monitor, but that ramps up the complexity a fair bit for normals). Miracast is another option to meet the same need, but isn't quite as bulletproof as a wired connection.

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richms

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#901469 23-Sep-2013 20:40

HDMI playback from both phones and tablets I have tried is very sub-par compared to the TV's inbuilt player, overscan issues that are still unresolved in android, and many dropped/duplicated frames on its HDMI output put it at where PC's were many years ago quality wise for video.

Richard rich.ms

blackjack17

1705 posts

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#901475 23-Sep-2013 20:46

What about laptop with hdmi wireless keyboard and tv (hell even a raspberry pi would work).

These both add an extra level of functionality at a lower cost

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Dunnersfella

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#901477 23-Sep-2013 20:47

I agree with the theory, buy a TV based on the picture / connectivity / sound... not the 'smart' functionality.
While I can't offer any feedback on the Nexus 7, I can say that a MacMini plugged directly into my TV via HDMI, with a bluetooth keyboard is spot on, especially as I can easily change resolution of the source device... making it easy to read websites from a distance etc.
Sure the tablet is good for portability, but getting e-mail notifications mid-show may be annoying, and I'm not exactly sure if you can change the resolution output over HDMI or not?

NZtechfreak

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#901478 23-Sep-2013 20:48

richms: HDMI playback from both phones and tablets I have tried is very sub-par compared to the TV's inbuilt player, overscan issues that are still unresolved in android, and many dropped/duplicated frames on its HDMI output put it at where PC's were many years ago quality wise for video.

The Slimport connector runs at 60Hz the same as MHL 2.0, it helps a fair amount in my experience. Depends on lot on expectations I suppose and how much the versatility is appreciated.

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devison

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#901488 23-Sep-2013 21:03

Thanks everyone for replies so far!

Re, the wired connection: The main use-case here is watching long videos, eg. an hour long, so I think not being wireless is fine. Perhaps a wireless keyboard could be added later to control the tablet remotely...?

Re, a laptop: he already has a laptop but unfortunately is an older one and doesn't have HDMI out. A tablet would be a more useful addition than replacing the laptop I think.

Re, hdmi quality: I wonder how noticeable this would be with non-hi-def content from an internet source? eg. Is this something a non-expert would notice watching a typical on-line university lecture which likely isn't particularly high quality to start with? Also, is this quality issue likely to be constrained by hardware or software - eg. may this improve with futures versions of Android?

Thanks again,
Dan

blackjack17

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#901491 23-Sep-2013 21:07

If he already has a laptop then why not just use a vga and audio cable?

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devison

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#901500 23-Sep-2013 21:19

> If he already has a laptop then why not just use a vga and audio cable?

Hi - he did try that but was it very poor quality - fuzzy, etc. Perhaps that was because the TV is a 15 year old small CRT. He is happy to upgrade the TV to a digital LED/Plasma anyway...
Thanks

richms

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#901529 23-Sep-2013 22:08

Anything on a 15 year old small CRT will be blurry and hard to read. Try again once you have the new tv, but if the lappy only has VGA, make sure that the TV has it as well.

Richard rich.ms

JimmyH

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#901532 23-Sep-2013 22:16

devison: > If he already has a laptop then why not just use a vga and audio cable?

Hi - he did try that but was it very poor quality - fuzzy, etc. Perhaps that was because the TV is a 15 year old small CRT. He is happy to upgrade the TV to a digital LED/Plasma anyway...
Thanks

I think that defines the problem in a nutshell. It doesn't matter what you get - if it's connected to that TV it will look terrible.

Step 1 - upgrade the TV. Spend the money you would have spent on the Nexus if funds are short. Heck, I've seen off brand 32" LCD TVs for under $350 in sales. While they aren't top drawer, they will beat what he has by a country mile.

Step 2 - connect the Laptop.

Step 3 - there is no Step 3, unless Step 2 doesn't give you enough. If, and only if, it doesn't then look at other solutions like the Nexus.

Dunnersfella

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#901934 24-Sep-2013 14:32

If you follow JimmyH's advice, make sure you pick up a 1080p capable TV with the option to turn off overscan... not being able to pixel map 1:1 would be a headache and a half!

richms

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#901936 24-Sep-2013 14:39

Immaterial if the source cant not underscan like all the android players I have tried so far.

Richard rich.ms

trig42

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#901970 24-Sep-2013 15:52

Where are the videos he wants to watch located? YouTube or somewhere else?

Do they require Flash?

By far the easiest to get going is an AppleTV with an iPod Touch - can Airplay direct from YouTube (or anywhere else that is non-flash) or you can use the iPod as a remote keyboard for AppleTV. (Assuming he has WiFi of course).

If the videos are flash based, I would steer away from Tablets altogether, and go with a laptop (Or a Surface).

Dunnersfella

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#902722 25-Sep-2013 21:43

Apple TV allows you to connect a Bluetooth keyboard... so that may help. However, like all add-on boxes, it's still limited to a degree.

michaelmurfy

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#902734 25-Sep-2013 22:27

I've just recently had to do an upgrade on my parents kit and it works well for them,

They have a 46" Sony LCD (bought in about 2008) - it's full 1080p so left this as is, it has no smarts to it even though it has an ethernet port.

To bring them into the smart world I ended up getting them the Samsung BD-F6500 BluRay Player along with the Pioneer HTP072 5.1ch Home Theatre System - at first this was too complicated for them due to the fact they now had 4 remotes (Freeview Recorder, Bluray, Home Theatre and TV), I bought them a Logitech Harmony remote and taught them how to use it to control everything. The reason why I did it this way was because:

1) The Samsung BD-F6500 gives their TV the Samsung smart features which in my opinion is one of the best and easiest to use smart hubs, it also has TVNZ on demand and utilising UnblockUS you can get Netflix working on it too. It also has a USB port on the front and plays anything you throw at it, they have an external HDD attached and play music and movies off that.
2) It futureproofs them for when they get a 3D TV - both the receiver and the Bluray player has support for the 3D standard.
3) I can remotely control their laptop thanks to LogMeIn, so can update their remote with the new TV when this happens from somewhere else in NZ.
4) Dad can use his Smartphone to push content to the Bluray player via DLNA - it works well.
5) For $599 I am very impressed with the home theatre system and will be buying one myself, very good sound quality and goes loud without distorting despite the small speakers, has good bass too.

I believe in the "keep it simple" approach, this gives them the opportunity to upgrade at any time whilst allowing them to use a tablet for controlling or pushing content when the time comes.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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