Spec me a TV - haven't had one for 8 years

[CryptKeeper]

I haven't had a proper TV for 8 years now. Just use my computer/laptop. But I have decided I want to get one now. Budget £500-600.

I'm really only fussed about streaming, youtube and playing movies I download. I don't really know how they work anymore, I'm ashamed to say. So I have a few questions.

1) Lets say I want to watch something on youtube on the TV, how do I type in what I'm looking for? Do remote controls have keyboards now?

2) If I have a movie (.avi/.mp4) on my PC, can my TV access the file somehow wirelessly?

3) I don't live in the UK, but I have a VPN subscription. Do VPNs work with TVs so I can watch iplayer etc? If so, is it at the software level in the TV or do I need a new router specifically for the TV that the VPN is connected at the router level?

4) Finally, what would be a good TV to buy around the £500-600 level. I heard 4k displays are awesome, but don't know if my budget stretches that far?

 

[Grimley]

1) Lets say I want to watch something on youtube on the TV, how do I type in what I'm looking for? Do remote controls have keyboards now?

Dad's Panasonic telly (4k Model) has a rudimentary voice remote (as in you press a button, speak into it & it will activate various functions on the telly, with a bit of tweaking you can use it for searching the web via its built in browser) Some tellies have bluetooth, so there may be a possibility of using a bluetooth keyboard.

2) If I have a movie (.avi/.mp4) on my PC, can my TV access the file somehow wirelessly?

if you setup your PC as a media server, yes. the telly instructions will tell you what software they recommend. Plex should do the job in most cases.

3) I don't live in the UK, but I have a VPN subscription. Do VPNs work with TVs so I can watch iplayer etc? If so, is it at the software level in the TV or do I need a new router specifically for the TV that the VPN is connected at the router level?

I don't think so (could be wrong though). Best bet is to use your PC & use that via HDMI.

4) Finally, what would be a good TV to buy around the £500-600 level. I heard 4k displays are awesome, but don't know if my budget stretches that far?

40" 4k tellies over here (Basic Panasonic model) I've seen for £475. It will be hard to recommend a specific model telly though, models vary from country to country.