32"/40" - smart or dumb ?

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jnimmo

1096 posts

Uber Geek

#1456405 24-Dec-2015 09:45

I'd recommend dumb, don't use any smart features on our TV as they stop updating firmware etc after a while.
I'm really impressed with Apple TV 4, when TVNZ bring out their app for it will have pretty much the best options for content in my opinion.

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littleheaven

2120 posts

Uber Geek

#1456407 24-Dec-2015 09:53

jnimmo: I'd recommend dumb, don't use any smart features on our TV as they stop updating firmware etc after a while.
I'm really impressed with Apple TV 4, when TVNZ bring out their app for it will have pretty much the best options for content in my opinion.

Yes - just saw yesterday that BBC now have iPlayer for ATV4. All I need now is UK's Channel 4, Fanpass, and TVNZ on Demand and I can do away with my other streaming devices. Actually I can already airplay Channel 4 and Fanpass, I just prefer to have a native app :).

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

jnimmo

1096 posts

Uber Geek

#1456408 24-Dec-2015 09:56

Yeah and the Australian apps SBS etc work beautifully (I guess low latency and lots of bandwidth to Australia) too!

Yabanize

2350 posts

Uber Geek

#1456411 24-Dec-2015 10:04

+1 for dumb tv with chromecast.

Great for youtube, simply find videos on your phone, press the button and it plays on your TV. Really cheap too.

Also works with a variety of other services such as netflix, lightbox, neon, bbc iPlayer

There are a few ways to play local content from a nas, the best is a plex server

Davout

111 posts

Master Geek

#1456581 24-Dec-2015 16:01

esawers: I LOVE our Samsung H6400 smart features, if they still sold them I would buy that (and the remote is more than awesome).
We only use the included remote to control the TV, Netflix, TV on demand, music streaming and soundbar

I bought mine on boxing day, still very happy with Smart features haven't used my Fire TV in ages.

Remote works for Sky too! Even with location set to the states!

OP, don't get the 32, buy bigger! Always bigger! You won't regret it!

rb99

3401 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1456590 24-Dec-2015 16:13

Davout:
esawers: I LOVE our Samsung H6400 smart features, if they still sold them I would buy that (and the remote is more than awesome).
We only use the included remote to control the TV, Netflix, TV on demand, music streaming and soundbar

I bought mine on boxing day, still very happy with Smart features haven't used my Fire TV in ages.

Remote works for Sky too! Even with location set to the states!

OP, don't get the 32, buy bigger! Always bigger! You won't regret it!

If you use both you could have Netflix US and UK (or whatever) available together if you fancy that sort of thing.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

DaveB

1139 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1456801 24-Dec-2015 21:26

We moved every TV over to "smart" over a two and a half year period (Samsung OS).

The reason? Simplicity of understanding and a consistent experience from the main lounge, to the family room plus the three bedrooms. More importantly, everyone in my family (including the youngster and the missus) know exactly what they are doing and can watch TV from NZ, the UK, media server (Plex), stream photos from their phones etc etc.

No additional boxes or wires and importantly, no constant questions about how to operate them - leaving me free to get on with my work and pay for the damn things!

richms

27982 posts

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#1456815 24-Dec-2015 22:24

I have on both my LG and samsung found the quality of video playback on the inbuilt smart to be better than an external box for many things.

Look for the other differences, the smart may have 120 or 240Hz on it, it may support more HDMI modes, have more inputs etc as well. IME the non smart bottom end TVs from any brand are no better than brandless stuff from JB or the warehouse, and are quite a bit more. If you are comparing a junk dumb tv against a nice smart tv then it's not really a fair comparison.

Richard rich.ms

GregV

928 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1460607 3-Jan-2016 14:17

Jumping in here with a related question: As most dumb 32s are also only 720p, is this an issue on the smaller screen? Got a family member upgrading from an old CRT (possibly 25"). Content comes from a MySky box (no HD ticket, so only HD 1,2,3). No FreeviewHD coverage where she lives, so TV will be a monitor only. If there is the physical room I have recommended going to a 40".

dafman

3916 posts

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Trusted

#1460620 3-Jan-2016 14:53

+1 for dumb with Chromecast. We never use our smart features at all.

Plus, very old Chinese proverb. No man ever went to his grave wishing he had bought a smaller TV.

Go for a 48" (-;

richms

27982 posts

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#1460629 3-Jan-2016 15:35

GregV: Jumping in here with a related question: As most dumb 32s are also only 720p, is this an issue on the smaller screen? Got a family member upgrading from an old CRT (possibly 25"). Content comes from a MySky box (no HD ticket, so only HD 1,2,3). No FreeviewHD coverage where she lives, so TV will be a monitor only. If there is the physical room I have recommended going to a 40".

Like with going 4k or not on a medium or large TV, if 1080 is important on a small screen depends on viewing distances.

If they are slumming it on a CRT still then anything will be an upgrade IMO, those things had giant pixels on the screen.

Just remember to change the mysky output aspect to 4:3 so that you dont have letterboxing or cropping on the now correct shaped screen for the broadcast. Too many people change TV and dont set that so everythign looks messed up.

Richard rich.ms

tangerz

613 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1460636 3-Jan-2016 16:10

richms: Like with going 4k or not on a medium or large TV, if 1080 is important on a small screen depends on viewing distances.

If they are slumming it on a CRT still then anything will be an upgrade IMO, those things had giant pixels on the screen.

Just remember to change the mysky output aspect to 4:3 so that you dont have letterboxing or cropping on the now correct shaped screen for the broadcast. Too many people change TV and dont set that so everythign looks messed up.

Ummm... don't you mean 16:9 ;)

richms

27982 posts

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#1460650 3-Jan-2016 16:41

tangerz:
richms: Like with going 4k or not on a medium or large TV, if 1080 is important on a small screen depends on viewing distances.

If they are slumming it on a CRT still then anything will be an upgrade IMO, those things had giant pixels on the screen.

Just remember to change the mysky output aspect to 4:3 so that you dont have letterboxing or cropping on the now correct shaped screen for the broadcast. Too many people change TV and dont set that so everythign looks messed up.

Ummm... don't you mean 16:9 ;)

Oops, meant from 4:# Why do I always typo when it matters.

Richard rich.ms

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