New Smart TV

KTMLew01

KTMLew01

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Wendell, North Carolina
I have twestions. Roku? Android? HDR? 4K? WTF? I've seen some mention having a browser included. is that actually desirable? I'm a cheap skate so not interested in spending more than maybe $350. Looking for a 50" TV. I sit about 6 feet from TV so don't need a billboard. Don't play games, have Spectrum Cable, Netflix and Amazon. Last half dozen TV's were Vizio. Seemed fairly good.
 
KTMLew01 said:
I have twestions. Roku? Android? HDR? 4K? WTF? I've seen some mention having a browser included. is that actually desirable? I'm a cheap skate so not interested in spending more than maybe $350. Looking for a 50" TV. I sit about 6 feet from TV so don't need a billboard. Don't play games, have Spectrum Cable, Netflix and Amazon. Last half dozen TV's were Vizio. Seemed fairly good.
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Androids open architecture allows for far more options than the Roku. It would be, and is, the Firestick for me. There are endless streaming opportunities available through an Android based device.

I've got a couple Vizio televisions. No complaints about them. Recently I purchased Toshiba Fire TVs. Still happy with those purchases.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Androids open architecture allows for far more options than the Roku. It would be, and is, the Firestick for me. There are endless streaming opportunities available through an Android based device.

I've got a couple Vizio televisions. No complaints about them. Recently I purchased Toshiba Fire TVs. Still happy with those purchases.
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OK. I think you are saying, believe I've seen you mention this before, you don't generally buy a Smart TV. Use a regular TV with a Firestick device? But regular TV's are getting hard to find and not much cheaper.
 
KTMLew01 said:
OK. I think you are saying, believe I've seen you mention this before, you don't generally buy a Smart TV. Use a regular TV with a Firestick device? But regular TV's are getting hard to find and not much cheaper.
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A smart TV is fine. I'm simply saying that I prefer to use the Firestick even with the smart TV. They do sell smart TVs with the built in fire TV/firestick. Best of both worlds imo. TV's are very inexpensive these days
 
You might Check out the TCL brand on amazon. I bought a 55" 4k roku tv from them and absolutely love it.

Just put this into amazon search, and it comes up at $280.

TCL 50S425 50 inch 4K Smart LED Roku TV
 
Our main TV is a 42" Sony Smart TV. But it's as dumb as a stump because I've never connected it to the internet. I like it like that. The 42" is plenty big enough for us.
 
Smart flat screen TV!

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Johali said:
Our main TV is a 42" Sony Smart TV. But it's as dumb as a stump because I've never connected it to the internet. I like it like that. The 42" is plenty big enough for us.
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I got a 65” Sony 4K Android that only gets a steady diet of cable. I mostly watch news, sports, Walking Dead, Blacklist and Preacher.
55” Sony in the spare bedroom.
 
Reck said:
I think we used to own this very TV. Not bad but a few years later it started leaking some sort of liquid that ran down the speakers and ruined it.
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I thought about getting one like it but I wasn't sure l could do the cut-out right.

Well actually the wife veto'd the plan. She just didn't see the beauty.
 
Greg said:
I thought about getting one like it but I wasn't sure l could do the cut-out right.

Well actually the wife veto'd the plan. She just didn't see the beauty.
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lol we didn't make a hole in the wall for it. that seems like an extra step that's totally unnecessary.
 
So far I'm not happy. Don't like the Android interface at all. Can't find a way to use Amazon Video. Lots of suggestions about side loading and crap but nothing seems to work. The volume on the "help" voice is waaaay too loud and can't find a way to adjust it. The buttons on remote see unresponsive. Only thing good is the picture is like looking out the window & sound is by far the best of any modern flat screen i've had. I'm afraid this one ain't a keeper. I'll probably buy a Vizio non-Android in next couple weeks.
 
KTMLew01 said:
So far I'm not happy. Don't like the Android interface at all. Can't find a way to use Amazon Video. Lots of suggestions about side loading and crap but nothing seems to work. The volume on the "help" voice is waaaay too loud and can't find a way to adjust it. The buttons on remote see unresponsive. Only thing good is the picture is like looking out the window & sound is by far the best of any modern flat screen i've had. I'm afraid this one ain't a keeper. I'll probably buy a Vizio non-Android in next couple weeks.
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I'll not familiar with Phillips Android interface but with every Android device that I own, downloading apps is as simple as going to the Google PlayStore downloading/installing the desired app. That includes the Amazon Prime Video app. We use it on all our televisions and Android phones.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I'll not familiar with Phillips Android interface but with every Android device that I own, downloading apps is as simple as going to the Google PlayStore downloading/installing the desired app. That includes the Amazon Prime Video app. We use it on all our televisions and Android phones.
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Been trying for 5-6 hours. If you enter Amazon in search box it does nothing. Doesn't recognize the word.
 
KTMLew01 said:
So far I'm not happy. Don't like the Android interface at all. Can't find a way to use Amazon Video. Lots of suggestions about side loading and crap but nothing seems to work. The volume on the "help" voice is waaaay too loud and can't find a way to adjust it. The buttons on remote see unresponsive. Only thing good is the picture is like looking out the window & sound is by far the best of any modern flat screen i've had. I'm afraid this one ain't a keeper. I'll probably buy a Vizio non-Android in next couple weeks.
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I dont reccomend anything with a built in microphone on. Specially if it's hooked up to the net.

The echo for instance has already taken a big hit because Amazon listens into people's stuff to what they say is for "quality assurance."
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Take it back to Walmart. They've got a good return policy. Purchase an even better television when the deals start in November.
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That's the plan if it doesn't magically get better by then. Last night it randomly lost signal from the Spectrum DVR. Still didn't work this morning. This evening switched HDMI to different port and rebooted everything by turning off power strip. Finally came back up. No idea what happened. Get off work tomorrow at 4PM and have Wednesday off so will have more time to mess with it then. The picture is great. But format sucks IMO.
 
KTMLew01 said:
That's the plan if it doesn't magically get better by then. Last night it randomly lost signal from the Spectrum DVR. Still didn't work this morning. This evening switched HDMI to different port and rebooted everything by turning off power strip. Finally came back up. No idea what happened. Get off work tomorrow at 4PM and have Wednesday off so will have more time to mess with it then. The picture is great. But format sucks IMO.
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I'm really partial to Samsung Televisions. I do have many other brands but my big screens are all Samsung. Even though they are all smart TVs, I still have fire sticks installed on each.

You could look on Amazon for their televisions with the built in fire TV. I have four of those as well that I bought during the black Friday sales last year. They work really well. Amazon will have some good sales starting soon.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I'm really partial to Samsung Televisions. I do have many other brands but my big screens are all Samsung. Even though they are all smart TVs, I still have fire sticks installed on each.

You could look on Amazon for their televisions with the built in fire TV. I have four of those as well that I bought during the black Friday sales last year. They work really well. Amazon will have some good sales starting soon.
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I've considered buying a Firestick to get Amazon to work. Will decide this weekend.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
Yeah, I like Samsung too. Just about everything I have is a Samsung, except my laptop and my tablet.
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I have a 58” Samsung plasma, excellent picture, still going strong must be at least 10-12 yrs old now, paid 2 grand for it back in the day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last night tried to watch NetFlix. It said Ethernet Not Connected. Going into menu and looking at network it said ethernet is connected. Rebooted everything AGAIN, That's about 10 times in 5 days. Not happy.
 
Been tweaking the picture. The other TV was perfect right out of the box. This one seemed foggy and overlit. Finally turned backlight down and sharpness up. Definitely an improvement. But so far it's very easy to adjust and hasn't done anything weird.
 
Ordered a Fire Stick from Amazon & then cancelled it. Delvery date was after Christmas. Same unit available at Best Buy for same money. I'll go get it at my leisure.
 
KTMLew01 said:
Ordered a Fire Stick from Amazon & then cancelled it. Delvery date was after Christmas. Same unit available at Best Buy for same money. I'll go get it at my leisure.
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Wise decision IMO. We've got both Firestick's and Roku's in our house. You made the right choice.
 
I have to be honest I have never used a firestick and I do not know the purpose or what they do.
 
Greg said:
I have to be honest I have never used a firestick and I do not know the purpose or what they do.
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It plugs into an HDMI port on the back/side of your television. You then connect it up to your wireless internet. Like a smartphone, you download apps onto the Firestick. Apps like Netflix, YouTube TV, ESPN, etc.... Apps that allow for streaming of their service. The Firestick runs all the same apps that Android phones do. Basically it allows for the internet and it's services to be used on a television rather than just over the air or cable signals.

It also allows you to use your television as a computer if you wish. Download a web browser and connect a wireless keyboard and you're all set.

You can also use it to connect a Bluetooth device. Headset, sound bar, etc.....

I use a Firestick I'm my semi so that I can watch television away from home. I'm using it right now. As long as I've got an internet connection, I'm good to go.
 
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Late to the party, but I'll offer my two cents. I have a Firestick and multiple Roku streaming sticks. I prefer the interface of the Roku, but both are good. As far as TV's go, it's a crapshoot. I currently have 7, all different brands:

Sharp (smart/Roku)
Samsung (smart)
Hisense
LG
Toshiba (smart)
Insignia
TCL (smart/Roku)

I really don't think there's a "good" brand of TV anymore, especially since a lot of manufacturers use the same components. We had a really nice LG smart TV that only lasted a few years. The higher end brands are still generally better quality than the Coby/Emerson/TLC type of box store specials, but even some of those brands offer a few decent quality models with great reviews.

The Fire/Roku sticks make pretty much any TV "smart" and IMO they offer a MUCH better interface than the manufacturer's smart functionality software prebuilt into the TV. Unless, of course, you have a TV that already has Fire or Roku built in, then it's basically the same thing.
 
Well schit. Old reliable blew up. Samsung CRT I've had as a back-up quit this morning. Made it's usual thump when power button pushed but nothing after that. It's done. Even worse than that...it has to weigh at least 100 lbs. Back-breaker to move alone. So...I suppose the good thing is won't have to be careful getting it out.
 
KTMLew01 said:
Well schit. Old reliable blew up. Samsung CRT I've had as a back-up quit this morning. Made it's usual thump when power button pushed but nothing after that. It's done. Even worse than that...it has to weigh at least 100 lbs. Back-breaker to move alone. So...I suppose the good thing is won't have to be careful getting it out.
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I don't know how E-waste is handled where you live but in my area we have to take stuff like that to specific locations to be discarded. The bad thing is, you're charged by the pound. I don't remember the cost but when my Dad passed last year, I had to throw away a couple of those big tube type televisions along with some other random electronic devices. I had to pay more than $100. :mad:
 
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