Quote:
Originally Posted by ithos
Has anybody purchased one of these Roku competitors?
Samsung (Tizen OS)
LG (webOS)
Vizio (SmartCast)
These smart TV platforms compete by integrating streaming directly into the TV OS without needing an external device.
I have a Roku TV. It is better then using an external box.
|
I prefer the separate streaming device.
- On a very old Samsung the SmartTV function was very slow
- On a six year old Vizio the SmartTV function is usable but not as flexible or responsive as my firestick
- I don't know if you can add apps to the SmartTV or if you are stuck with the collection of apps it came with
- I was able to upgrade to voice capabilities by purchasing a new $50 firestick rather than a new $1,000 TV
- I have taken my firestick on the road to bring my streaming environment to the hotel or Airbnb where I happen to be staying
The TV manufactures have to design for size, for style, for a great picture, for a great sound, and for a competitive price. To have a SmartTV they also need to design for that environment while not affecting the other features. The Roku or Firestick teams only have to design for the streaming environment, they let the TV manufacturers worry about the rest. In my very limited experience, the Firestick presentation is better than that provided by the TV manufacturers.
Note: I haven't used Roku yet but it seems quite popular with those who chose it.