Hello All,
I need to replace my tv. I need something big (I like to read subtitles). I no longer have cable. What I am wondering about is if there is a tv out there that will allow me direct access to my home wireless network?
If so, any recommendations?
Rob
Yes, many have wifi or network capabilities. From what I've seen though, they have very little browsing capabilities. Most just have specific apps (Hulu, Netflix, etc.)
Most modern TVs do have every type of input you'll ever need. I dropped cable years ago and just use digital over the air broadcasts and use a cheap desktop to stream video and play torrents. At first I just used the computer monitor input, but have since upgraded to an HDMI video card.
Don't have a specific recommendation, other than I love my 3 year old Sony Bravia. I blew up 2 Vizio plasmas, so I would avoid them, although Costco warrantied both of them.
there are quite a few with wifi
got this in our bedroom right now and very happy
What you are looking for is called a Smart TV and that seems to be just about all the newer models are making. So you will have many choices.
I find Sams & Costco are consistently the best price and have a very reasonable selection. They even have that new 80" monster. Is that big enough for you?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+55%26%2334%3B+Class+-+LED+-+1080p+-+120Hz+-+Smart+-+HDTV/4837507.p?id=1218540190995&skuId=4837507
I just picked up a new TV, making the jump of a couple of generations. Mine's not smart, but it's attached to an AppleTV. That little guy lives on the network and lets me watch Netflix, YouTube and Hulu. It'll also pull anything I want from my iTunes library. There are some other non-Apple boxes that are available such as the Roku that are pretty similar. The nice thing about having the brains external from the TV is that it will be easier to deal with future changes.
The big plus for me with the AppleTV is the fact that I have a Macbook. I can easily turn the TV into a monitor for the laptop over the wireless network, which means that pretty much anything I can do with the Mac I can display on-screen without futzing with cables. That let me watch the Bathurst 1000 live via the live stream on the big screen and pumping through the full audio, which made the whole upgrade worthwhile. Unfortunately, it's a Mac-only thing although there is an Intel version that's intended for PCs. It would probably be easier to have an HDMI cable handy for plugging in if required. Same effect.
I always recommend regular TVs with a HTPC instead of a Smart TV. A TV can be good for decades while computers can be hilariously obsolete after just a few years. So unless you're one of those people who upgrades your TV like it's a computer, you probably don't want an obsolete computer permanently stuck in your TV.
Oh, no! First "smart phones" and now "smart TV's." What's next??? 
I just got one of these $46 shipped Android 4.0 mini pc's and hooked it to my television through the HDMI port. I now have a 42" Android tablet that will do anything that I need.
Just hooked it up this morning so I haven't really played with it yet but had the netflix app installed and working in 3 minutes.
1988RedT2 wrote: Oh, no! First "smart phones" and now "smart TV's." What's next???
Smart toilets
OH WAIT
A roku, AppleTV, xbox360/PS3 can all do some form of streaming over WiFi, plus provide other capabilities (games, music, etc) Without buying a TV that locks you into a specific technology.
However, if you get a SmartTV, you can load MythTV or XBMC onto some of the Smart TV's which extends their capabilities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_TV
Check out the Middleware section for more information on add-on software to extend the capabilities.
I stream off my desktop to my PS3 using PS3 Media Server. On the fly transcoding rocks for all the oddball torrent downloads I watch.
Don't discount a PS3 for its ability to show media. Even if the DVD drive is dead it is still a fantastic HTPC in a slick wrapper. Jailbreak it and install a Super Nintendo emulator for hours of fun!
ditchdigger wrote: I just got one of these $46 shipped Android 4.0 mini pc's and hooked it to my television through the HDMI port. I now have a 42" Android tablet that will do anything that I need.
linky?
Crikey! they just keep getting cheaper.
http://www.amazon.com/OEM-SYSTEMS-COMPANY-MK802-Android/dp/B008H3B736/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351216677&sr=8-1&keywords=android+mini+pc
When they hit the market at 79$ I was all DAMN! and when I finally bought one at 46$ I thought it was the deal of the century. Now 42$ a week later.
Probably be 25 bucks for X-mas
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