Cord Cutting

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In connecton with my impending cord cutting, I want to get a smart TV - one that can handle all the major streaming services. Can anyone recommend a good one?

I had heard nice things about Samsung in this regard, but then I heard that they force advertisements onto your channel menu and also have a remote that can record anything you say, with the user agreement giving them the ability to retain all of it.
 
In connecton with my impending cord cutting, I want to get a smart TV - one that can handle all the major streaming services. Can anyone recommend a good one?

I had heard nice things about Samsung in this regard, but then I heard that they force advertisements onto your channel menu and also have a remote that can record anything you say, with the user agreement giving them the ability to retain all of it.

I've found using apps on the smart TVs to be the worst thing you can do. They don't update as often as on a device (apple TV, amazon fire, xbox, PS). You're better off getting the best possible TV you can get (or desire) from a visual/tech standpoint, and then purchase the accessory for $100 or less (unless you go with a gaming system) and use your apps off of that.
 
I've found using apps on the smart TVs to be the worst thing you can do. They don't update as often as on a device (apple TV, amazon fire, xbox, PS). You're better off getting the best possible TV you can get (or desire) from a visual/tech standpoint, and then purchase the accessory for $100 or less (unless you go with a gaming system) and use your apps off of that.
I agree with Adam. I bought a Sony TV for the bedroom a few years ago that had GoogleTV built in. Remember GoogleTV? They discontinued it after 4 years in 2014. The TV still works fine, but it has zero smart TV capability left.
 
In connecton with my impending cord cutting, I want to get a smart TV - one that can handle all the major streaming services. Can anyone recommend a good one?

I had heard nice things about Samsung in this regard, but then I heard that they force advertisements onto your channel menu and also have a remote that can record anything you say, with the user agreement giving them the ability to retain all of it.
Also agreed with adam adam and mgarbowski mgarbowski . Just get a TV you really like and want and just add Firestick/chromecast/whatever to it. I have a smart TV I got on Black Friday from Bestbuy a few years back and haven't looked at the menu or used any apps since originally plugging it in. Cool idea, but not really functional. Just curious, do you have a firestick or PS4/Xbox to use for apps, or are you just a TV and cable box guy at the moment?
 
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Also agreed with adam adam and mgarbowski mgarbowski . Just get a TV you really like and want and just add Firestick/chromecast/whatever to it. I have a smart TV I got on Black Friday from Bestbuy a few years back and haven't looked at the menu or used any apps since originally plugging it in. Cool idea, but not really functional. Just curious, do you have a firestick or PS4/Xbox to use for apps, or are you just a TV and cable box guy at the moment?

Cablebox guy. Getting ready to cut the cord. I only have a couple of 2nd generation Apple TVs, so they can do some basic stuff but not the newer services (e.g. YouTubeTV).
 
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Cablebox guy. Getting ready to cut the cord. I only have a couple of 2nd generation Apple TVs, so they can do some basic stuff but not the newer services (e.g. YouTubeTV).
Do you have Prime? Or do you find yourself using YouTube and Google-based devices and apps more often than not?
 
Right now we watch on Prime and Netflix via Apple TV and then do the normal stuff on cable.

YouTube TV seems to cover the stuff we would miss on cable, with the exception of Nick Jr. so, I think the plan is Prime, Netflix, YouTube TV and maybe Hulu.

I bought a simple Roku stick to try.
 
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Got a Roku Streaming Stick - wanted a simple device I could use to test things out.

Plugged it in last night and signed up for YouTube TV. Going well so far.

I expected to like the channel selection and certainly the cost. What I had failed to expect was how much more I would like the Roku's performance and interface compared to what you get from a cable box. That was short sighted of me, as cable boxes are among both the worst and most expensive consumer products on the planet.I think the performance of the box might even be as big an improvement for me as anything else.

My cable company charges me $56/month for the 3 piece of shit boxes I am forced to use. That's more per month than YouTube TV. It's more per month than the entire purchase price of the Roku stick now attached to the back of my TV and conveniently out of sight.

True story. In 1999 - at the height of the Internet bubble - I worked on the IPO of a set top box software company. They were going to be the Microsoft of the set top box, or some such thing. They had a friendlier, simpler interface and the capability to do interesting, innovative things that were not only revolutionary at the time, but today's cable boxes still don't match it. It was a great product, but none of the cable companies were interested, and they ultimately were bought by one of them who more or less shut the project down.
 
Got a Roku Streaming Stick - wanted a simple device I could use to test things out.

Plugged it in last night and signed up for YouTube TV. Going well so far.

I expected to like the channel selection and certainly the cost. What I had failed to expect was how much more I would like the Roku's performance and interface compared to what you get from a cable box. That was short sighted of me, as cable boxes are among both the worst and most expensive consumer products on the planet.I think the performance of the box might even be as big an improvement for me as anything else.

My cable company charges me $56/month for the 3 piece of shit boxes I am forced to use. That's more per month than YouTube TV. It's more per month than the entire purchase price of the Roku stick now attached to the back of my TV and conveniently out of sight.

True story. In 1999 - at the height of the Internet bubble - I worked on the IPO of a set top box software company. They were going to be the Microsoft of the set top box, or some such thing. They had a friendlier, simpler interface and the capability to do interesting, innovative things that were not only revolutionary at the time, but today's cable boxes still don't match it. It was a great product, but none of the cable companies were interested, and they ultimately were bought by one of them who more or less shut the project down.
Haven't cut the cord, but have been happy with our Roku for netflix, prime video, free youtube, and pbs kids.
 
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Got a Roku Streaming Stick - wanted a simple device I could use to test things out.

Plugged it in last night and signed up for YouTube TV. Going well so far.

I expected to like the channel selection and certainly the cost. What I had failed to expect was how much more I would like the Roku's performance and interface compared to what you get from a cable box. That was short sighted of me, as cable boxes are among both the worst and most expensive consumer products on the planet.I think the performance of the box might even be as big an improvement for me as anything else.

My cable company charges me $56/month for the 3 piece of shit boxes I am forced to use. That's more per month than YouTube TV. It's more per month than the entire purchase price of the Roku stick now attached to the back of my TV and conveniently out of sight.

True story. In 1999 - at the height of the Internet bubble - I worked on the IPO of a set top box software company. They were going to be the Microsoft of the set top box, or some such thing. They had a friendlier, simpler interface and the capability to do interesting, innovative things that were not only revolutionary at the time, but today's cable boxes still don't match it. It was a great product, but none of the cable companies were interested, and they ultimately were bought by one of them who more or less shut the project down.

Do yourself a favor and look online for the best free Roku channels. There's a ton of cool ones. I just downloaded Pluto the other day. Pretty cool app with good content. Tubi is another good free one too. YouTube TV coupled with a ton of free stuff and I don't miss cable at all.

ETA: It's not about missing it either. It's actually much better than cable. It's more like I was missing out.

ETA 2.0: Bad idea to have a cord cutting thread to discuss content and hardware?
 
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Do yourself a favor and look online for the best free Roku channels. There's a ton of cool ones. I just downloaded Pluto the other day. Pretty cool app with good content. Tubi is another good free one too. YouTube TV coupled with a ton of free stuff and I don't miss cable at all.

ETA: It's not about missing it either. It's actually much better than cable. It's more like I was missing out.

ETA 2.0: Bad idea to have a cord cutting thread to discuss content and hardware?

I will definitely check that out.

And I agree we should do a cord cutting thread. I am going to report my original post to see about moving the discussion.
 
Are there any good options (aside from SportsGold - that doesn't count at all) for watching PL without cable? I'm a former cord-cutter who reattached but is now thinking of re-cutting, but figuring out my sports options is the one thing that's making me hesitate.

Well, that and my wife is an HGTV addict.
 
my issue with cord cutting is i hate looking for a stream to watch my favorite soccer matches and other live sports. And even when i find a stream i hate the delay and getting messages from other people who are watching live and ruin the game like 20 seconds before i see what happened.
 
Are there any good options (aside from SportsGold - that doesn't count at all) for watching PL without cable? I'm a former cord-cutter who reattached but is now thinking of re-cutting, but figuring out my sports options is the one thing that's making me hesitate.

Well, that and my wife is an HGTV addict.
NBC Sports Network is on YouTube TV and some others. It's not every game, but its many of them.
 
This is interesting. I'm moving toward the end of April and I definitely need to cut down on my TV costs. I've been cord connected with the sports and premium channel packages for so long I'm pretty ignorant on the modern tech. I do currently have a smart TV which I use for netflix. Is their a cost effective way to get sports (really only soccer matters I go to a bar to watch the Bills during football season) and is there a way to get network or premium channel shows in a timely matter ? (as opposed to waiting a year for them to get to Netflix) sorry If these are stupid questions bit of a luddite here
 
I was one of the few people who signed up for the directvnow subscription ($35 for GoBig instead of 60). Then also I have signed up for Fubo tv (original one $9/m), NBCS gold ($49/y), Fox match pass ($139/y).
It resulted $59 a month for me to pay. The experience has been "not bad at all" since I don't need any DVR functions.
To me, "watching sports live" and "being able to watch major soccer leagues around the world" are the most important.
No tax, DVR rental fee, other bull shit fees at all.
I'm pretty sure you end up paying more if you subscribe all the sports channels I have through cable companies.
 
You don't get the full package.

Sigh. I hold out hope that maybe Amazon will eventually absorb the US PL rights into Prime and we'll finally have a full streaming package of every game.

Of course, that would also be a major step to their total dominance of our world... so...

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