[tvmaster]

Seeing that the future is all about LAN and networks, I have been delaying my LCD purchase in the hopes of finding a set that is network friendly.


Sony and Samsung have something called DNLA, that appears to be software driven, and is, from what I can find here, inconsistent in its implementation.


Does anyone have any advice on LCD sets (46" and up) which make networking (aka taking a CAT5 or CAT6 cable into the set), simple?


I am hoping to be able to pick up the remote, find my network server, and play video / audio files (Xvid - DIVX - mp3 - WMV, etc).


Does such a set exist as of yet? The Samsungs seem to be the closest fit, but there isn't a single store I've been to who are willing to set up a demo.


thanks

 

[MrBobb]

My superficial feeling about LAN on display is... they put it there so they can SELL u contents from Blockbuster, Netflick, Amazon blah-blah, and not so much for u to access your own media, EASILY.

 

[ndoggac]

i agree....the tv's have very limited codec support as well. you might be better off going with a lower end samsung (et al) that doesn't support all the network stuff, and spending the money on a HTPC or a networked media player like the popcornhour, etc.

 

[Vermifuge]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tvmaster /forum/post/16824496


Seeing that the future is all about LAN and networks, I have been delaying my LCD purchase in the hopes of finding a set that is network friendly.


Sony and Samsung have something called DNLA, that appears to be software driven, and is, from what I can find here, inconsistent in its implementation.


Does anyone have any advice on LCD sets (46" and up) which make networking (aka taking a CAT5 or CAT6 cable into the set), simple?


I am hoping to be able to pick up the remote, find my network server, and play video / audio files (Xvid - DIVX - mp3 - WMV, etc).


Does such a set exist as of yet? The Samsungs seem to be the closest fit, but there isn't a single store I've been to who are willing to set up a demo.


thanks

So may options. In my setup I have A Samsung B8000 connected to both a PS3 and an Apple TV. I use iTunes to manage all my movies but one could easily use the PS3 to manage media.


Content playback on any of the media network TVs is slow, clunky and not well implemented. There are lots of options like the WD TV or the popcorn hour.

 

[mcfrumpy]

I think in a generation or two the DLNA feature will work much better then it does now.


I picked up a Samsung B650 series and have been using the DLNA feature from day one. It's hit or miss on what files types will play or even if the audio codec the files use is supported. Some files types you can use the skip feature (which fast forwards or rewinds 10 seconds) others you can only pause/play and if you stop the video there's not starting where you left off... back to the begining.


I'm pretty good at converting any video file so I've been able to get the majority of the files that didn't play at first to work. It is a lot of work so if you don't know much about converting video files, then don't buy these TV's for the DNLA feature.

 

[tvmaster]

i'm pretty good at file conversion - what codecs and formats do you find work most reliably? Does your server just show up on the screen when plugged into the Samsung's LAN?

 

[tvmaster]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ndoggac /forum/post/16825102


i agree....the tv's have very limited codec support as well. you might be better off going with a lower end samsung (et al) that doesn't support all the network stuff, and spending the money on a HTPC or a networked media player like the popcornhour, etc.

I'm running something called SageTV on an HTPC at the moment. How would you connect an HTPC to the newer LCD's - thru LAN, component, RGB or DVI-d/HDMI conversion?

 

[MrBobb]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tvmaster /forum/post/16826522


I'm running something called SageTV on an HTPC at the moment. How would you connect an HTPC to the newer LCD's - thru LAN, component, RGB or DVI-d/HDMI conversion?

Whatever your video-out board is capable of.


The desirability order is: HDMI/VDI - component - VGA - svideo - composite (RCA).

 

[mcfrumpy]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tvmaster /forum/post/16826506


i'm pretty good at file conversion - what codecs and formats do you find work most reliably? Does your server just show up on the screen when plugged into the Samsung's LAN?

The TV comes with Samsung PC Share Manger software to install on your PC. Once it was on it the software recognized the TV.


AVI files seem to work the best. The main thing I've been "getting" is HD .mkv files. The TV doesn't like DTS so I've had to convert the audio to AC3. But everyone one of the files I've converted the audio to AC3 has worked flawless on my TV..