Linux-Friendly, Internet-Enabled HDTVs?

mrchaotica writes "I'm in the market for a new HDTV (in the $1200-or-slightly-more range, as I won the extended-service-plan lottery and have a Sears store credit). Several of the TVs I've looked at have various 'Internet TV' features (here are Samsung's and Panasonic's). Some manufacturers appear to be rolling their own, while others are partnering with Yahoo (maybe in an attempt to create a 'standard?'). Moreover, these TVs also tend to run Linux under the hood (although their GPL compliance, such as in Panasonic's case, may leave something to be desired). Finally, it's easy to imagine these TVs being able to support video streaming services (YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, etc.) without a set-top box, but I don't know the extent to which that support actually exists. Here are my questions: 1) Is this 'Internet TV' thing going to be a big deal going forward, or just a gimmick? 2) Which manufacturers are most [open standard|Linux|hacker]-friendly? 3) Which TV models have the best support (or best potential and community backing) for this sort of thing?"

Comments

spine

[digitalsushi]

(in the $1200-or-slightly-more range, as I won the extended-service-plan lottery and have a Sears store credit

Why does everyone write in this weenie, preemptive retort blocking way around here? Same thing as "I know this is going to burn my karma" clauses. Grow a spine. Just say what you think. You have 1200 bucks. Cool. I don't have an issue with you buying a TV with it. You don't have to ask it like you'd ask your boss for a day off. "Boss, I would like to take a day off in four months, as my girlfriend booked a long weekend at a get away resort and have an obligation to go with her". Just say "I'm taking this day off", or "I have about 1200 bucks for a tv". Everything else is just showing you're intimidated by possible responses by people that don't even matter.

Re:I have a LED-backed Samsung UN40B6000

[mrchaotica]

I recently had to return 3 Sony LCDs...

I neglected to mention this when I submitted the article, but I'm boycotting Sony (due to proprietary formats, DRM, and rootkits) so I wouldn't have bought a TV from them anyway.

It might be a bit more expensive now to get an LED backed display like the one I ended up getting the UN40B6000 model and I've had 0 problems with it so far. I should mention I'm picky as hell about colors and uneven lighting and I think it was worth the extra few bucks.

I've been seriously considering that model too, but I've heard that since it's "edge-lit" (the LEDs are around the edge rather than evenly-distributed across the area of the screen) that it doesn't light as evenly as truly back-lit LED displays, and also cannot selectively darken parts of the screen. You don't find that to be a problem?

Also, there's the 6-series (which is the one you have) and then there's the 7-series, which is supposed to have more of these Internet-related features I'm asking about. What capabilities does your 6-series have?

Another bonus is that it runs far cooler than the other LCDs I have seen and given equal components (read capacitors) should last a lot longer.

Ah, that's something I hadn't considered; thanks! I'm not the type of guy to spend lots of money on TVs and expect not to replace this one for at least a decade or so, so longevity and durability is an important consideration for me.