Samsung has a great picture quality, but their software and "smart TV" functions are absolute shit. They run slow, crash, and require hard reboots by removing the power from the wall. Whatever you choose, include a FireTV or AppleTV with your purchase for those functions. Leave that type of technology to the folks that do it best, not to Samsung and their shitty developers. I was so pissed off with my Samsung 65" LED that I considered returning it. Luckily FireTV made it tolerable.
I'd steer clear of Samsung because of this reason -- poor, slow, buggy software, but good picture quality. I'm sure there are better manufactuers out there now. Samsung used to be the best, but they have fallen.
Are there any smart TVs, of any size, that do the following: Discover shared LAN directories and just play files on them? No "add it to a library" or other BS hoops to jump through, just discover shared folders and play their files; does such an animal exist?
With that being the case, I don't personally believe that the premium of a smart TV over a "dumb" tv is worth it. Especially if you have a xbone or ps4 that operates as your media center at the same time.
Chromecast is the better choice IMO.This is a very good point about smart TV's. Manufacturers don't have a huge incentive to keep up with application support on older TV's. It's a way to drive you to a new one.
With that being the case, I don't personally believe that the premium of a smart TV over a "dumb" tv is worth it. Especially if you have a xbone or ps4 that operates as your media center at the same time.
I'll let others make recommendations, but because you mentioned that you'd like a Smart TV, be aware that some manufacturers discontinue some of the manufacturer specific Smart features over time. I bought an awesome Samsung 54" plasma a year and a half ago and within about 12 months they pulled one of their apps. And I just started seeing pop-up reminders last week that effective July 1 they are discontinuing their Samsung TV & Movies app. I don't really use it that much, but point this out because you can buy a Smart TV and then find out over time that some of the manufacturer specific apps no longer are available. I do have access to Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, etc., which is nice. That hasn't changed.
Samsung has a great picture quality, but their software and "smart TV" functions are absolute shit. They run slow, crash, and require hard reboots by removing the power from the wall. Whatever you choose, include a FireTV or AppleTV with your purchase for those functions. Leave that type of technology to the folks that do it best, not to Samsung and their shitty developers. I was so pissed off with my Samsung 65" LED that I considered returning it. Luckily FireTV made it tolerable.
I'd steer clear of Samsung because of this reason -- poor, slow, buggy software, but good picture quality. I'm sure there are better manufactuers out there now. Samsung used to be the best, but they have fallen.
Almost got one last year but they ran out so fast lol.Walmart has some bitchin deals on TVs. I ended up with a 60" Vizio LED 1080p. I love it.
Interesting... I used to use my XBox 360 for LAN streaming, though it included a shitload a idiotic hoops to jump through. After Microsoft completely changed the UI, the network settings broke and I couldn't get them to work again. I bought an Apple TV 2, jailbroke it and have been using that. For my next TV, I'd like to have really simple, bare bones LAN streaming, and I'd be willing to install third party firmware...My PS3 does that. Doubt any TV would do it, but I'm not sure.