Smart TV: Do i need one?

Four years back, i burned a hole in my pocket buying a 32″ LCD (at that time, top of the line TV). Imagine my dismay when the prices of LCD eroded faster than the most barren hill slopes at Garhwal. I was not spared from the pain when LEDs became the new kings of TV 2 years later and then came the 3D LEDs. My aspirations and my pocket were not keeping pace with the TVs. Just when you had come to the conclusion that 3D LEDs were your next buy, comes the Smart TV. Smart TVs challenge the notion of the TV as an “idiot box” with its capabilities

1. Quick search and access to all features on a dashboard
2. Built in web browser
3. Downloadable games and apps
4. Media sharing with devices on the same network
5. Social Networking (Facebook, Twitter)
6. Interactive Communication (Skype with video calling)
7. Photo Sharing (Flickr, Picassa)
8. Updated News, information and weather
9. Audio and Video streaming from YouTube, Internet Radio
10. Controllable by smartphones using downloadable apps
11. Wi-Fi enabled
12. A full OS: Usually Android, iOS or WP7

The question is: Do we need one? (for the price it comes at, unless its the “Brag” value we pay for).

A smartphone is by far the easiest way to access social networks
An iPod (internet connected media player) can be used for video and audio files.
A PS3 or XBox 360 can play better games than any smart TV can ever imagine.
Blu-Ray players with smart TV functionality can make a PC into a smart TV.
The iPad with its touch experience is a far better internet machine than any other.

The reasons in favour of the smart TV include the Brag Value and the ability to converge the smartphone, iPod, Gaming, Blu-Ray, 3D experience into a single device. But then the smart TV suffers from lack of mobility. So, does a smart TV make a great purchase unless a user doesnot care about throwing in ~2lakhs just for the brag value?

To be continued