May 19, 2011
Connect Your TV To The Internet | Dealhack
Revised May 19, 2011. Copyright
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The time has come – no matter how many channels your cable or satellite
provider offers, the Internet has more. You have to have Internet on
your TV. How do you go about it?
Define Your Requirements
The first question: do you want an
“Internet-browsable” or
“Internet-connectable” experience? There is a difference here.
The “Internet-browsable” experience is actually surfing the Net on your
TV using a browser and, usually, a keyboard. “Internet-connectable”
products, on the other hand, will provide you with access to select
internet-based
services - but not the "whole Internet". Typically, they will display a
variety of icons onto your
HDTV screen. These icons represent movie-streaming services, music
services, social networking services and so on.
While an immediate reaction may be “yes, I want the whole Internet on
my TV,” in reality the “connectable” experience in most cases is just
fine. You don’t get the same variety but it’s generally cheaper and
easier to set up and use.
The next question: do you want wired
or wireless connection? The wired
is cheaper and faster, the wireless is more flexible. Ultimately, it
comes down to your home setup: if you have an Ethernet (RJ-45) outlet
near your TV, go with wired. Otherwise, look for a wireless solution,
it’s cheaper than trying to re-cable your home.
Do you want to have access to the
video or music collection on your
PC/Mac or a network server on your home network? You generally
have to
read the specifications to find out what each device is capable of in
this respect. One thing to watch for is the Digital Living Network
Alliance (DLNA) certification. Most of the major computer and
electronics companies are members of DLNA and a certified product has a
good chance of interoperating with other DLNA products using Universal
Plug-and-Play protocol. Note that Apple is not a DLNA member and they
use a different protocol.
Setting up an Internet-Browsable Experience
 You can use an actual computer
with an AV or HDMI output, a wireless
keyboard/mouse and your TV as a monitor. The cost typically starts at
$400. To get better experience, consider Windows Media Center - an
application that allows users to view and record live television, as
well as organize and play music and videos. It is now standard in most
editions of Windows 7. Combine it with a specialized media server, such
as HP MediaSmart EX495 Home Server
(around $630), equip it with a DVI/HDMI video card ($40-50), and you
get a home media network with TV display.
Google TV is a well-publicized
attempt to bring the Internet to
TV without using computers. You can buy a new TV with Google TV built
in (around $400 premium over models without one). It’s cheaper
to buy
an external Google TV-enabled device,
such as Sony NSZGT1 Wi-Fi Blu-ray
Disk Player with Google TV (list price $399.99).
 Our favorite approach,
however, is D-Link’s Boxee Wireless
HD player. It retails for $199 and
provides a robust Web access and a well-designed QWERTY remote. It will
also help you to identify all the files on your hard drive or home
network and then build a media library.
Creating an Internet-Connectable Experience
If you are looking to buy a new TV,
keep it simple – buy one that has
Internet connectivity. All the major TV manufacturers now offer
“Internet TVs” and you have many good choices.
But what if your plans
do not include a new TV? Turns out you still have plenty of options.
If you (or your kids) have a gaming
platform such as PS3 or Wii, they
already offer you limited Internet capabilities such as Netflix access.
The new Tivo Premiere also
gives you access to Netflix, YouTube,
Pandora, and more.
Another possibility is getting a Blu-ray
player or a home theater
system with internet connectivity. For example, the Samsung
BD-C5500
Blu-ray Player ($110-$130) offers Internet@TV, with downloadable
widgets and apps. It is also wireless LAN ready in case you need to use
Wi-Fi. The Samsung WIS09ABGN LinkStick Wireless USB Adaptor costs
$50-$60. So for about $170-$180 you get yourself a new Blu-ray player
plus internet connectivity to your TV.
 Lastly, there are specialized
Internet TV players such as Apple TV,
NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Live, Roku, Western Digital WD TV Live Plus
HD Media Player, and more. Roku XD
is our favorite - for $80 you get
1080p HD video, wired and enhanced-range Wi-Fi connectivity, plus
instant replay. For another $20, the Roku XD/S offers a USB port for
playing stored photos, music, and videos (requires free software
update).
If providing convenient access to your home media is
important,
consider Iomega ScreenPlay Director
HD Multimedia Player. The 1TB version runs about $160, the 2TB
version is $220. (wireless adapter is extra). You pay more, but you get
a convenient HD home media server with Internet access.
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