Opsimath
Senior Member
Which is better, or do they do the same thing?
Streaming sticks vs internet ready TV
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A smart TV is just a TV with a computer that allows apps to be installed.
A streaming stick (assuming you mean that goes into a USB or HDMI port) is just a computer that has an app installed.
I hate dongles but I hate that I can’t update my LG smart TV with the latest features TV because they decided that it’s too old so I should buy a new one. I used to have a Roku but prefer it all on the single remote with the single OS on the TV.
Like with everything these days, all choices suck more or less equally. My advice whatever you do is to buy a TV without a camera in it. Other than that once you get to be comfortable with an option that company will go out of business or they will discontinue that service or do something to make you have to buy more stuff.
And I’m the guy who loves tech!
A streaming stick (assuming you mean that goes into a USB or HDMI port) is just a computer that has an app installed.
I hate dongles but I hate that I can’t update my LG smart TV with the latest features TV because they decided that it’s too old so I should buy a new one. I used to have a Roku but prefer it all on the single remote with the single OS on the TV.
Like with everything these days, all choices suck more or less equally. My advice whatever you do is to buy a TV without a camera in it. Other than that once you get to be comfortable with an option that company will go out of business or they will discontinue that service or do something to make you have to buy more stuff.
And I’m the guy who loves tech!
Opsimath
Senior Member
TV's have cameras now?!
Opsimath
Senior Member
Thank you for the info.
We have an internet TV but it hasn't stayed reliably connected and has to be re-updated, or something, way too often before it will reconnect to the 'net. I think it's about 6 or 7 years old. We finally got tired of updating and haven't bothered in a couple of years, so was wondering if a streaming device would make things easier.
Or we can stick with the channels we get with the antenna which is probably the easiest.
We have an internet TV but it hasn't stayed reliably connected and has to be re-updated, or something, way too often before it will reconnect to the 'net. I think it's about 6 or 7 years old. We finally got tired of updating and haven't bothered in a couple of years, so was wondering if a streaming device would make things easier.
Or we can stick with the channels we get with the antenna which is probably the easiest.
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Hey, Cynthia... Buy a Roku Ultra 4K box (about $100), and you connect it to your TV with HDMI. The Roku box and it's remote are terrific. And the Roku remote will control your TV and volume as well.
Exactly what I did when my Samsung series 6 'smart' TV could not be updated ... love my ROKU
When it comes to smart TVs, I have two of them. One is just a wonder of technology and works almost seamlessly. The other is a non responsive crashing piece of crap. I'm glad I had the good one first, because if I had bought the second one first I would have a whole different opinion of them, that's for sure.
davidbeinct
Member
I’ve found that it’s hard to find any one device that’ll do everything you want. Our current smart tv is an LG that comes close. I think all these devices are like phones they eventually reach the point where you can’t update them.
My personal opinion is that you should get 10 years of factory updates for a device that you buy... Is LG messing with that? I've been very happy with my LG TVs over the years, but the Roku remote has supplanted my use of the crappy TV remote entirely (I don't use the smart features at all).
davidbeinct
Member
We bought our LG very early in the pandemic so we’ll see. I’m skeptical about getting ten years out of it.
Our non-smart first generation flat screen quit in April of 2020. I told my wife there’s no way I’m going through lockdown without a tv. I measured what would fit, searched what was available in that size at our local Best Buy, sorted by price, paid just under $600, drove to Best Buy, texted them I was there and opened the minivan back from my seat. My wife was working on her dissertation and was very surprised when I showed up at home with a new tv.
That long story is my way of saying that they have almost become consumables at this point. My audiophile friends argue about screen technology and I’m like all of these are so much better than what we grew up with and adjusting for inflation they are way cheaper too.
fronobulax
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My LG TV is so old it was sold as "cable ready". So today it is somewhere between a dumb TV and boat anchor. There was no way I ever found to "update" it which was too bad when I would use it to play back video from a USB device sometimes the file formats had evolved so that they were unrecognizable.
So all of its smarts come from the cable company's set top box. That is a tolerable situation until we cut the cord.
The set top box has some apps and services but we wanted access to a couple it didn't have. We bought a Roku stick because that was easier than running an HDMI cable from a computer when we wanted certain content. The unexpected benefit was that we could cast to the Roku and so HDMI cables and USB drives are things of the past.
If we chose to cut the cable now I am pretty sure we could get by with the dumb TV and the Roku stick.
Since we have the stick a smart TV would duplicate functionality.
The current setup can require three remotes but that is because only one remote can switch between the set top box and the Roku. We can wire things so that only one remote is needed to watch cable or to watch Roku but it is a different remote for each service.
My experience - personal and anecdotally - is that you can do the same things with a stick or a smart TV. The choice is thus driven by cost, convenience and the expected lifetime of the device.
I should note that high resolutions and the screen technology are not driving factors for me but if they are for you then your choices might already be made - can you even buy a dumb 8K TV today?
So all of its smarts come from the cable company's set top box. That is a tolerable situation until we cut the cord.
The set top box has some apps and services but we wanted access to a couple it didn't have. We bought a Roku stick because that was easier than running an HDMI cable from a computer when we wanted certain content. The unexpected benefit was that we could cast to the Roku and so HDMI cables and USB drives are things of the past.
If we chose to cut the cable now I am pretty sure we could get by with the dumb TV and the Roku stick.
Since we have the stick a smart TV would duplicate functionality.
The current setup can require three remotes but that is because only one remote can switch between the set top box and the Roku. We can wire things so that only one remote is needed to watch cable or to watch Roku but it is a different remote for each service.
My experience - personal and anecdotally - is that you can do the same things with a stick or a smart TV. The choice is thus driven by cost, convenience and the expected lifetime of the device.
I should note that high resolutions and the screen technology are not driving factors for me but if they are for you then your choices might already be made - can you even buy a dumb 8K TV today?
adorshki
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It's how Big Brother knows what you're doing. And Alexa's a big gossip.
spoox
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Amazon Deal: Fire TV Streaming Devices (4K & HD) and Alexa Voice Remote Pro
Discover deals on Amazon
www.amazon.com
when it was on sale. And if you whisper the thing you want after pushing the voice button, creepy "Alexa" whispers back!
Otherwise, where I'm located, I can pick up both L.A. and San Diego broadcast stations with my roof antenna.
Guildedagain
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And if you have a later-model Samsung TV, once it is connected to the interwebs, you get a bunch more content with their Samsung TV Plus. I'm spending way too much time watching all of the Top Gear shows, Surf Now TV, and MotorTrend Fast TV:
www.samsung.com
All Channels | Samsung TV Plus | Samsung US
Discover the full list of channels available with Samsung TV Plus, featuring over 190 channels and growing in news, entertainment, movies & more.
www.samsung.com