“what is the difference between a "smart" tv and this one that has the "chromecast built in. If I have wifi that seems slow is this going to be an issue”
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With a Smart TV, you would use the remote to navigate through the different streaming services and select content from the TV. With Chromecast, you access content through a phone or tablet or laptop. I chose the Chromecast option because I was already using an external Chromecast on my old TV and I like that interface. The Smart TVs I have seen are super annoying to use, because you have to use the remote buttons to get to what you want. And if you want to search for something, you have to choose the letters from an array using the arrows on the remote. It's the worst. Also, I don't know if the Smart TV operating systems can be updated, and since this whole content streaming technology is changing so fast, a TV purchased now could potentially be really limited in a few years. The Chromecast app is continuously updated. For example, if a brand new streaming service comes out in a year, you'll be able to stream it from a laptop right away. If that service has an apps and allows it to work with Chromecast, you can stream it from a phone. With a Smart TV, if it's not on the system, I don't know how you would go about getting it on the TV. A Smart TV has the advantage of being a total package, no need for any other device. As long as you have WiFi, you can stream video to the TV. With a Chromecast, you need to not only have a device to set it up, but you need to use a smart phone or computer to select what you want to watch. For example, my phone doesn't have this capability and I use my laptop to stream to Chromecast. That means I have to bring my laptop home from work every day in order to watch TV. With regard to WiFi: Both options, the Smart TV and the Chromecast, use WiFi, so if it truly is slow, that would be limiting. However, the WiFi may seem slow on your computer or device and it may be because of the device, not the actual WiFi speed. When I stream on my laptop, it does sometimes seem slow, but the Chromecast doesn't ever seem to have that problem. Other people I know have the same observation- they think the WiFi is slow because they're having problems on a laptop or tablet, but there's no problem with the WiFi enabled TV. Since Chromecast typically works through the WiFi, and not through the device you're using, it will probably perform better than streaming to a device. I bet there is a minimum speed required for optimum performance with either a Smart TV or Chromecast, which may change in the future. I have a standard internet package from Fios and I have never had any problems with streaming video on Chromecast. My laptop is another issue. However, if you have many people using the same WiFi, I don't know if that could be an issue. If it is, your internet provider would probably be more than happy to switch you to a faster service. Since a Smart TV or Chromecast basically negates the need for cable TV, this would not be a bad trade-off.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.Traditional Smart TV's have applications built-in that you access through the remote. SmartCast products utilize Chromecast technology that instead has you access the application on your Android or iOS mobile device and "cast" or "fling" them to the display. The app acts as a remote control for this purpose. If your wifi connection seems slow then it could cause streaming services such as Netflix to buffer or play at a lower resolution.
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