Home audio & video forum: Poll: Do you own a smart TV?

TVs, especially big ones are MUCH more expensive than PCs. A good TV should last for years, maybe more than a decade. Just like a PC, I would think that the "smart" in "smart TV" will change radically every six months. Would you really want to, say, replace an $4,000 85" TV every 2 years because you couldn't add enough RAM or a faster processor, or an entire "smart module"? Can a smart TV do anything that a "dumb" TV + HTPC or media player can't do a lot better? I'd much rather upgrade an HTPC or replace a media player every few years.

No smart TV here. Just a dumb 50" Pioneer KURO , a Sony Blu-ray player, and a Home Theater PC which seem to cover all the bases for us nicely.

The "smartest" TV is the one that will let you watch your favorite shows and pre-recorded films/programs with clear reception, and without shelling out a lot of money. For most people, that would mean keeping the TV you already have! My TV is very "smart". It's an older CRT-based model, which is connected to a DTV tuner box and DVD/VHS player. It still works fine, and the picture and sound are good, so keeping it is the "smart" thing to do!

I have 3 dumb flat screens here, one on my pc that works great and one in the living room hooked up to a dvr for dad and one in the kitchen and ya know what? Not one of the has ever given me trouble. I hear all the time about these new smart t.v.'s breaking down right out of warranty or this and that function doesn't work. I just don't think the technology is perfected yet so I'm just going to keep what I have and when it eventually breaks,I'll spend another $180.00 on my 32' , 1080i flat screen...Digger

The slickest solution that I know of to make a TV "smart" is an Android stick (Mini PC). Basically an Android 4.1 system without screen or speakers but with an HDMI output. Specs: dual-core 1.6 CPU (quad-core GPU, supports 1080P HD playback) with 1G Ram and 8G onboard, a slot for MiniSD, Wifi, standard USB (connect an hub, there connect Wifi keyboard and mouse, USB stick or USB drive) and a micro USB for power.

With this beauty you can turn your 46" into a tablet (minus the touch screen), watching movies from USB (stick or HDD), or streaming is painless (using something like the MX Player). As you can use your Google account, you have access to all stuff like on an Android phone (e.g. RSS feeds). Just plus a monster screen.

I own a Rikomagic MK802 III with a Logitec Wireless Combo MK240, the costs were about 70 USD in Shanghai, in Amazon a comparable set sells for around 100 USD.

Works great for me, the solution is very cost-effective, does neither emit noise nor light (has no fans), it does only need minimum space, and it is extremely versatile.

As others have said, why spend a lot more for a so-called Smart TV when you can run an HDMI cable from a PC to the TV and have something better. If I had one of those that recognizes gestures, I know what gesture I'd be making to it!