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In Defense of Dumb TVs

frame.work

231–240 of 391 posts

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#231
FWIW, I recently bought a 50" Acer monitor [0] I use for all my viewing needs. There is a Google Chromecast and a Mac Mini hooked up to it; previously I also had an Amazon Fire stick (not needed any more since Google allowed casting from Amazon apps) and a Raspberry Py (I was never really able to find a good use for it, so I removed it). I don't watch live TV, so I don't need a tuner.

[0] https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-EB490QKbmiiipx-Monitor-Black-P...

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#232

At least for the time being it's still possible to keep TVs off the internet and bypass this garbage. I've got a 2020 Sony and have never seen an ad on it. I'm expecting these days are numbered though; some combination of ethernet-over-HDMI, Amazon Sidewalk, built-in 5G antennas, or just straight up refusing to work without a network connection feels like it's just a couple years away.

I cannot seem to find it now, but I read couple years back something about TV manufacturers considering embedding a cell and sim card SoC into these smart TV's for exactly this reason.

That would be 5G iot stuff. Sort of like wifi you don't own.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#234
As an avid TV show consumer, people regularly asks me why am I still using my 10 years old 32" Panasonic. Well, not only it still works as day one, so why would I get rid of a perfectly working piece of tech, also I'm not sure a bigger screen will improve my consumer experience. Having a nVidia Shield and Plex setup, what would be the point of having a smart TV since I've already got everything a smart TV do and even better. 4K UHD ? Legally or not, there is so limited content available in more than 1080p at that moment that it wouldn't makes sense to upgrade now. Also with new TV it seems that you have to take care of framerate profiles, HDR and whatnot. I just want to watch The Office for the 200th time, I don't care about that and I don't want to.

I remember when I bought my TV, the salesmen were trying to make me buy a 3D TV since it was the hype at that time. But I was certain that 3D was no for me, that it wasn't going to last and a 3D TV will cost me more than a 2D. So I just looked at images on the screens in the shops and finaly I said : "this one", without knowing anything about it except that I felt satisfied with how the images were rendered. It appeared that not only it wasn't a 3D TV but also it wasn't, by far, the cheapest one. The 3D ones they were trying to sell me were actually cheaper than the one I picked. I don't know if the salesman got a better % on the sell, but me I was and still am very satisfied with my choice !

Smart TV is not a trend like 3D was, it will definitely stay so unfortunately I don't see how better it can be in the future since people want cheap TV, and even if some manufacturers offers dumb TV, they will cost more than the smart ones so it will never a huge success.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#235

I definitely second the Sceptre recommendation. Yeah, there are probably higher-quality displays out there, but my TV's been more than good enough for me, and the price point is pretty hard to beat. In terms of bang for the buck, a Sceptre TV and a box/stick of one's choosing is about as close to ideal as I've seen these days. Hopefully they realize that the lack of smarts in their TVs is indeed a differentiator in a…

If you're in the market for speakers, trying to find ones without "bluetooth" or "Alexa" support is just as difficult. I ended up buying speakers built for computers because they were simple and dumb and just played sound.

well, there's plenty of passive speakers which you can hook up to any amplifier from the last 50 years.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#236
post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah that would probably work for smaller needs but haven’t seen monitors at 65” and higher range

I'm sure i sound like a luddite but why does anyone need a 65" screen.

Do people need a 15" computer monitor?

If instead of a chair-desk-monitor you're sitting at a couch 5 times further from the screen, the equivalent screen size is 5 times larger, so 75" for the equivalent of what a 15" monitor gives you at your desk.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Connect it, update the firmware, disconnect it. It’s useful to a separate SSID for smart-TV like devices. You can randomly update the passwords (to execute the disconnect it step) without annoying everyone else in the house.

>Connect it, update the firmware, disconnect it. If your original intent of having it air-gapped in the first place was for privacy and security then doing what you said would be like saying: remove condom, have intercourse, put back condom :D

My main reason is to neuter ad delivery.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#238
post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The best option that I know of today (in terms of resulting usabilty and long term reliability) is using a dumb computer monitor and roll the rest yourself with a Raspi. While this option is certainly not available to all, it is the only thing that will really fit your needs. I completely gave up on finding anything decent in that market.

The best for who? This is a ridiculous take, nobody wants to roll their own TV UX except HN users looking for a weekend project. What usability / long-term reliability perk does your own software running on a RPI have over an Apple TV plugged into a dumb TV / monitor?

This comment is a part of why TV sucks so hard - ridiculous users.

Everyone's idea of 'simple' is rather asinine, unimaginative.

The latest Pis come practically preinstalled with everything, just have to load Kodi.

But someone who has found 'their' solution i.e. some crap by Apple e.g. assumes this is how everything should be... And we all get stuck with crappy 'smart' TVs (or don't own one - I have survived 10+ years without a TV - absolutely nothing about TVs today makes me want one. So much hot garbage)

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A remote designed by someone who thought about it for ten seconds (why do modern TVs have dozens of buttons no one ever uses?). I'd prefer the remote as an app on my phone. My desk is covered with remotes. Remotes are so 1980s :-/

Physical remote > any app. By far. Die apps, die. I want dedicated remotes for lights, stereo, curtains, garage door, and TV. Apps won’t be around – forget 20 years, 5 years if you’re lucky. A company can disappear along with its stupid fucking app. About the only advantage an app has is a keyboard.

Hi systemvoltage!

We heard you like remotes, so how about a remote with dedicated, non-reprogrammable buttons to open apps you never use that don't even exist anymore?

Sincerely, Roku

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#240
post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair tvs are a very low margin product and without the ads it would be profitless for anyone but apple (or another manufacturer that sold as a premium to avoid ads). I don't know how big the market for that is, personally I'm happy with a dumb tv connected to a video game console that has all my streaming services.

To be fair, TVs are a decades old market that have paid off great for many companies and they didn’t have ads until recently.

TVs used to much more expensive, and they only became cheap when TV manufacturers realized there’s a ton of money to be made by selling your personal information. A manufacturer that doesn’t do this would not be competitively priced I’m afraid.

“Why TVs Have Become So Inexpensive“ => https://youtu.be/NWwawTnT7LM

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