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In Defense of Dumb TVs

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Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#11

Post by xwdv »

capableweb wrote: post #8
xwdv wrote: post #5

Did “Dumb” TVs really need defending? Seems like if anything we should be convinced instead why Smart TVs are a good idea.

Maybe not in the HN bubble, but certainly outside. Many people don't give a fuck if it's smart or dumb, they buy what the salesman in the store manage to sell them. "Smart" sounds... Smart, so easy sell.

Then this article is simply preaching to a choir here. Perhaps it should be posted somewhere where more common people frequent so that their minds may be blown a bit, if they actually manage to read the article that is.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#12

Post by panta82 »

I bought a Sony smart TV about a year ago. I don't get ads per say, but there is a prominent area in the main menu where Sony wants to shill their services and that can't be turned off. Also, TV has to be restarted every week or two (it's android).

On the other hand, I love that I can easily cast screen from my laptop or photos from phone using built in chromecast.

Smart TVs are a mixed bag.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#14

Post by rubyfan »

I recently bought a new TV and did a little searching for dumb TVs before buying. It’s really hard to find a dumb TV. I learned that you can in fact buy a commercial TV that is dumb which seems like a good option.

I ended up going with a smart enabled Samsung TV and have not enabled the TV to access wifi. It wants me to agree to terms and conditions whenever I pull up the main menu. I’ve learned to ignore it but it has asked at least once without good reason to access wifi.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#15

Post by pridkett »

I’m really pleased the author called out the Apple TV as a device that lets you avoid ads. We tried to go cheap on another of our TVs and get an Amazon Fire Stick and in addition to it being not as smooth (combo of UX and speed) at the Apple TV, it had a good amount of ads all over the place.

There’s lots of griping about the cost of an Apple TV 4k, but I’ll pay that extra $100 to avoid ads and not be tracked so extensively.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#16

Post by spoonjim »

xwdv wrote: post #5

Did “Dumb” TVs really need defending? Seems like if anything we should be convinced instead why Smart TVs are a good idea.

If they were not user hostile it could be nice. For example if the device itself ran the streaming software, you could turn on your TV from that streaming service’s phone app.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#18

Post by smitty1e »

Will we eventually arrive at a product spectrum, where customers can have the desired level of network integration for cel phone, camera, car, television, software, etc?

We use the same word for governance as we do for data: the state.

Having a hardcopy DVD, a dump player, and a dumb TV allows you to partake of the state you own without the State (or its BigTech owners) hassling you.

Much to be said for that.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#19

Post by the_only_law »

Last time this topic came up, I asked about the idea of a company producing dumb TV. I know a number of “normal” people who don’t particularly care for internet connectivity in anything so I was curious why no one was doing it, at least not with the sizes and resolutions you see on top of the line TVs.

Apparently the margins on commodity hardware like TVs are too small. Someone did bring up and interesting idea of running a batch released product based on something like a Kickstarter though.

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