# Any "smart TV's" which work with a USB PC keyboard connected? Smart TV's are not so smart! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 31, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-smart-tvs-which-work-with-a-usb-pc-keyboard-connected-smart-tvs-are-not-so-smart/764613 "2016-08-31T22:48:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-smart-tvs-which-work-with-a-usb-pc-keyboard-connected-smart-tvs-are-not-so-smart/764613/21 "2016-09-04T04:27:22Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > I mean that you may be sacrificing dumb features such as TV size in order to get a dumb TV. Better to get the TV that is the size and quality you want and just ignore whatever “smart” features it has rather than trying to find a dumb TV that doesn’t even have the basic TV features you want. Yes, the higher up the quality ladder you go, the more likely the TV is to be a smart TV.\* That’s the reason I got one–not because I particularly wanted a smart TV, but because nobody makes a dumb TV with the other features I wanted (in my case, the best possible picture quality.) I have a Bluetooth keyboard I can use with my Smart TV, and while it connects, it isn’t always useful. The reason is that, unfortunately, each individual app has to be designed to accept keyboard input; it’s not enough that the TV has a keyboard connected. If the people who programmed the Samsung Smart TV Netflix app didn’t program in keyboard support, you’re stuck spelling words with an arrow control and an OK button. \*Is there a name for this phenomenon in the world of commerce, where different characteristics like size, build quality, and features tend to increase together, so that you can’t get one without the others? I’m encountering it also as my mother considers getting a new car–she wants something the size of her Honda Civic, but with leather power adjustable seats and xenon headlights and all kinds of luxury features that don’t tend to be available in small cars. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-smart-tvs-which-work-with-a-usb-pc-keyboard-connected-smart-tvs-are-not-so-smart/764613/22 "2016-09-28T16:09:21Z")
Update: At least some manufacturers LISTEN TO THEIR CUSTOMERS! I found a couple of devices which will take a wireless USB keyboard or mouse! Samsung 4K UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player. (A REAL 4k player, not just “up-scaling”.) and… LG UH5500 4K UHD Smart LED TV. Maybe they have other models which will also do this? Download and read the instruction manual FIRST before buying - see if they have this feature. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-smart-tvs-which-work-with-a-usb-pc-keyboard-connected-smart-tvs-are-not-so-smart/764613/23 "2016-09-28T16:28:05Z")
We had recently gotten a Visio that has a small keyboard on the back of the remote. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-smart-tvs-which-work-with-a-usb-pc-keyboard-connected-smart-tvs-are-not-so-smart/764613/24 "2016-09-28T17:14:11Z")
> [@Rucksinator](#): > > I LOVE my smart TV. It’s a Hisense (I know, me either) 40" that was listed for $300 at Best Buy. The reason your smart TV is so great is because the software was written by Roku. I may be slightly biased since I work for Roku, but I’ve also seen a lot of “smart” TVs, and I’ve never seen one that is remotely comparable to Roku TVs in terms of software quality and ease of use. Generally TV manufacturers are great at building hardware and terrible at writing software. A lot of manufacturers are coming to realize this themselves and are putting Roku software in their TVs, including Hisense, TCL, Insignia, Sharp, LG, Hitachi and Haier. BTW, Hisense is not (yet) well known in the US, but it is the largest TV manufacturer in China and the third largest TV manufacturer in the world. –Mark [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-smart-tvs-which-work-with-a-usb-pc-keyboard-connected-smart-tvs-are-not-so-smart/764613.md?page=1)