Which model samsung? I found the 5300 series to be painfully slow, but the 6300 series and above is very faster, faster than roku or any other set top box, and far more nicely integrated.

A lot are, the higher end brands give a beautiful experience. Samsung, LG, Sony etc.

The Samsung Smart TV interface is far nicer than any set top box I've used....including chromecast, roku and xbox.

Investigate it yourself before dismissing them all as the same thing.

So what if it's not true in 10 years? It will still work just fine as a video monitor, and at that point with smart tv's being ubiquitous they will probably be far, far cheaper to replace. It's certainly not an argument against investing in one.

It's pretty dumb to reject it and buy a set top box which doesn't do the job nearly as well for the same price.

It's not an extra $200, and people obviously use it if they are buying a set top box in place.

It's really not comparable to 3D at all, which has clearly died out sometime ago.

Smart TV's are more analogs to smart phones, it's an evolution not a fad.

The thing you don't seem to get is a video monitor with software still works just fine as a video monitor. Having extra software optionally accessible doesn't impact that in any way, it only supplements it for those who realize it's "smart" to take advantage of it.

All tvs will be smart tvs because it's not extra equipment like an optical drive....just software.

Smart TV is not a fad, but an evolution. In a few years it will be hard to buy a TV which isn't a smart TV.

I see that, it just seems like a waste of money.

My samsung 55" f6300 has an amazing smart interface. Supports every codec, streams via DLNA perfectly, or HBO, Netflix or whatever. All very easy to access and control.

It gets updates so if it doesn't support something new, it will. At the end of the day, the smart aspect is only software. If it does become obsolete in lets say 4 or 5 years, then I can still use it as a "dumb TV" and buy one of those devices.

But to purposefully but a dumb tv and one of these devices (most of which don't even support DLNA) for near the same cost, seems foolish.

Smart TV's are not limited in what they support. Besides they get updates frequently so if something new comes out that it doesn't support, it will.

I don't see MKV going out of format anytime soon. Look how long AVI stayed dominant.

My Samsung is amazing. I don't use it but it can give me email and dacebook updates in a non intrusive manner. I can access my downloaded content via DLNA from my NAS, or Netflix or HBO go or whatever, or from one integrated screen without an external device.

This was $800 for a 55", with stunning quality.

Spending an extra $100 on one of these devices and getting a lesser quality TV would have been foolish.

Lol, thanks. I'll fix that now.

Not sure what the point of these devices are...turning tvs into smart tv's might make sense but eventually...everyone will just have a smart tv.

Why put so much money into these devices? Even roku is being relegated to an app on many smart tvs

Even if you never watch the BBC or any TV, you have to pay it. As long as you can receive BBC it is assumed you watch it.

You don't really have a choice to pay it and need to resort to fraud to get around it. It is a tax in everything bu the name.

In principle, requiring a fee to be paid for property you own and operate in your own home is ridiculous.

You're arguing semantics. When the companies name is a phrase or slogan, it had to be changed.

Do you have a source for KFC voluntarily renaming to PFK?

I remember a story about a guy who got fined each day until he put an apostrophe in his name. Ridiculous.

And you didn't address the rest of my post.

That's incorrect.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/23/business/global/quebecs-rules-on-signs-not-in-french-lead-to-lawsuit.html

I lived in Quebec for a year. Québécois are assholes.

They petitioned the rest of English speaking Canada to be bilingual, meaning all signage is in both languages, but they don't reciprocate.

Go into any store and there is no english signage. Whats more they are anal enough to sue stores because an apostrophe is in the wrong place, and force KFC to rename themselves to PFK (french for kentucky fried chicken). Even the french don't do that.

I think it says it all when people give you dirty looks if you speak english, and that they get insulted by the term peppers. Québécois drink a lot of pepsi stereotypically, and are offended by this being pointed out.

I was glad to get out.