SMART TV IS IT WORTH THE CHANGE ?

proxim2020 wrote:

austinjenna wrote:

Once that happens (and it DOES) your "smart" features will cease to work, leaving the TV a non smart TV that you paid a premium price for features no longer functioning..

Just because the manufacturer is not 'updating' the tv does not mean all the smart apps wont work, you have other problems then.

When Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, etc decide to change their connection or authentication standards, outdated versions of the app no longer function. The outdated app isn't able to connect using the new standard so it becomes nonfunctional. Sometimes even the TV's own internal browser is blocked from viewing content on websites because the browser doesn't meet the current standard. Sometimes the TV manufacturer or the service itself abandons the development of the app. When these things happen, and it happens often, the consumer is left out in the cold. Having a smart TV is really convenient, but you're really dependent on continued support from the manufacturer or the services themselves.

This would be true for any streaming devices used with the screen but not necessarily with the Smart TV, itself. Most mfgs of Smart TV's upgrade firmware occasionally.
A lot of the discussion above is centered around the software run on the TV, not the basic hardware interface. There are a variety of hardware configurations and a buyer should be aware of how the TV is configured (802.11ac, for example).

As I posted above, a range extender (wifi repeater) can cure a lot of ills with the Smart TV's signal sharing. There is no monthly fee with such a device and RV'ers, who mostly use antenna HDTV or campground cable, will still be able to receive broadcast signal with no monthly fees. FWIW, I haven't tried Roku, yet, because I know how addictive streaming can be. These device's main attribute, IMO, is convenience and for that, I'm not willing to pay monthly fees.

Good guide for Smart TV's: Tom's Hardware guide to Smart TV's