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What is the best dumb TV?

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Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#71

Post by basch »

kazinator wrote: post #59
_alex_ wrote: post #9

I got a “smart” tv and just don’t let it on the network. Problem solved.

There are other virtues of a dumb TV. Simplicity is probably the best reason for wanting one. If you're getting a dumb TV because it stays off your network, but then get ipTV dongles and boxes for it, then you effectively have a smart TV on the network. I have one and like it a lot. The remote control is beautifully simple. There is no complicated menu structure; it took all of five minutes to go through all the scre…

The relationship between the smarts and tv are sometimes underrated. It's one less connection to act up. When adjusting picture settings there aren't two independent layers of settings that don't interact with each other.

I was in the dumb tv camp, but I think having all my settings in one menu has converted me a bit.

If you're plugging in a roku or fire anyway just get a roku or fire tv and avoid the extra complexity of the interface handshake.

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#72

Post by t0astbread »

acwan93 wrote: post #63
tshaddox wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I let mine on the network so it will get updates, but I just don't use any of the smart features. I understand that some TVs (Samsung?) apparently track your activity and show you unsolicited ads, but as far as my LG TV doesn't track me and all the apps and smart features don't do anything unless I choose to open them.

Genuine question: what kind of updates would a dumb TV possibly need?

Any digital TV could have a software bug that bricks it.

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#73

Post by davidhyde »

My advice is to stop seeing a “smart tv” as a feature and see it as an expensive piece of equipment subsidised by extra advertising revenue. Don’t get upset about this, just understand it for what it is. Now, what can you do about it? Easy, don’t connect it to the internet. They will tell you that it needs updates but come on, what is a security vulnerability going to to to something that’s only output is a screen and audio? So there is your answer. Don’t use the smart features, plug in something you trust like a raspberry pi and use the expensive part of the product (the screen itself) without incurring the cost (the advertising they were using to subsidise the screen)

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#74

Post by basch »

wmf wrote: post #32
Spivak wrote: post #3

I agree with the sentiment but you’re only hurting yourself by choosing a worse TV at a given price point compared to just never connecting your TV to the internet. If you want a competitive display market where the best options are still dumb then look at getting a projector. The price and quality are comparable and I really like being able to “put away” the TV by just rolling up the screen.

So the Sceptre 65" is $500. Where are you seeing a higher-quality 65" for $500 or less?

Any TCL or Hisense on sale is going to be better than Sceptre. Sceptres quality control is also horrendous, there was a time when one in three panels was shipping to me cracked. They make great ultra cheap monitors, but for the extra hundred or so bucks get a TCL.

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#75

Post by aphextron »

davidhyde wrote: post #73

My advice is to stop seeing a “smart tv” as a feature and see it as an expensive piece of equipment subsidised by extra advertising revenue. Don’t get upset about this, just understand it for what it is. Now, what can you do about it? Easy, don’t connect it to the internet. They will tell you that it needs updates but come on, what is a security vulnerability going to to to something that’s only output is a screen an…

What's really concerning is that "smart" TV's are no longer an upgrade, but the standard. You practically cannot find a new dumb 4k TV. When I went to purchase one recently, Best Buy at least had no other option.

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#77

Post by solarkraft »

clairity wrote: post #18
deeblering4 wrote: post #16

I’ve had good luck with sceptre brand TVs. They are no frills and cheap. Plug in a $30 roku and hook it up to some decent speakers and you are good to go. I’ve had two of them going on 8 years strong now. Loads of connectivity to. From vga to dvi to component/composite, 1/8” audio in/out, spdif, hdmi, etc, etc. On the other hand the power supply in my (former) LG plasma tv died after 1.5 years. I DIY replaced that wi…

thanks for responding based on the article rather than the title. the 2 recommendations from the article: * Sceptre 65" 4K UHD LED TV * Sceptre 50" 4K UHD Ultra Slim LED TV

Currently $379.99 (usually $429.99) and $239.99 (usually $299.99 at Walmart.

Impressive! Electronics are quite a bit cheaper in the USA than in Germany. If quality is similar the panel won't be that great (but not terrible), the UI that is there will be very unimpressive and three's no proof on the web the model actually exists. I hope it's better.

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#78

Post by bostonvaulter2 »

jMyles wrote: post #46
_alex_ wrote: post #9

I got a “smart” tv and just don’t let it on the network. Problem solved.

> Problem solved. I suspect that the 5g era will bring with it many more devices connecting unbeknownst to their owners, and that "smart" appliances will be first on the list. As that approaches, we need solutions that address this as well.

What about 5g makes it cheaper than 3g or 4g for this use case?

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#79

Post by pineyboi »

brundolf wrote: post #68
Nextgrid wrote: post #29

I've heard of Ironcast.TV whose entire selling point is the lack of "smart" features, though I haven't ordered one and I'm not sure if they even shipped any, but on paper it looks nice and reasonably priced: https://displayy.studio/ironcast.tv/

Looks cool, but no price in sight. Doesn't bode well.

Looks like $599

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#80

Post by bostonvaulter2 »

Waterluvian wrote: post #38
deadmutex wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You can buy a large smart TV just for the panel (which is the majority of its price anyway) and replace its motherboard with a dumb converter board. This seems way harder than the alternative: just not connecting it to the internet.

Some smart TVs perpetually act like internet deprived teenagers and are really irritating to operate. I have one where a bunch of non internet features won’t work without internet.

Which brand is that so we can avoid it?
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