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Ask Wirecutter: Can you recommend a not-smart TV for me?

nytimes.com

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Re: Ask Wirecutter: Can you recommend a not-smart TV for me?

#41

Post by was_a_dev »

Macha wrote: post #30
was_a_dev wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hasn't some models (thinking Samsung) been shown to connect to any WiFi network they can? edit: Appears to be an urban legend, with not much substance to back it up!

No, this appears to be a HN urban legend. It's always asked in these threads and the closest thing that anyone has been able to provide is one person asking one time on the samsung forums why there tv was connected to the neighbour's wifi (openly in the TV's own menu). So either there's a giant conspiracy which literally nobody else in the world has noticed or attempted to reproduce, or her kids/neighbour/whoever jus…

Fair enough - I think it is most likely something I read via HN

Re: Ask Wirecutter: Can you recommend a not-smart TV for me?

#42

Post by adamwk »

fideloper wrote: post #13

From a (cynical?) content and affiliate point of view, I like the style of taking user questions (bonus points if H.B. is a real person) and answering it - rather than just a bland list of products by "expensive but good, less expensive but less good" that wirecutter is. This lets the authors also recommend extra tangential items ("get a projector!"). On another note, my trust in these types of things have gone down…

Yeah I think Wirecutter and I sucked it up and signed up for a consumer reports subscription. Anecdotally I thought there was a period (maybe 2017?) where Wirecutter was becoming less trustworthy (maybe it was when I was looking for a mattress) but I feel like the quality has returned since then. I think I especially appreciate them for their more detailed sections below the summaries. Such as unlisted products and how they tested.

Other than Wirecutter and consumer reports I feel all I have is sleuthing Reddit communities and even then it’s hard to tell if the users aren’t undercover salespeople

Re: Ask Wirecutter: Can you recommend a not-smart TV for me?

#43

Post by merlincorey »

micromacrofoot wrote: post #16
slackfan wrote: post #6

Article does not give a single not-smart-tv option. The journalism quality is outstanding .

The point is that you can't buy a decent quality TV that doesn't come with smart features, all you can do is keep it disconnected from the internet.

But that's not true since you CAN buy a Spectre brand non-smart TV (which the only qualm listed in this thread is audio quality, not picture importantly) and you can buy commercial TV's meant for Hospitals and Office displays, etc.

One option is cheaper (Spectre) and one option is more expensive (commercial), but you can, in fact, obtain a non-smart TV today and they listed 0 options for them.

Re: Ask Wirecutter: Can you recommend a not-smart TV for me?

#44

Post by AlexAltea »

KerrAvon wrote: post #20
was_a_dev wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hasn't some models (thinking Samsung) been shown to connect to any WiFi network they can? edit: Appears to be an urban legend, with not much substance to back it up!

But that would require an accessible WiFi network. I'm sure someday it'll be impossible because they'll embed 5G chips and do it over cell without involving your consent, but that day isn't here yet.

This already happens with Nespresso coffee machines (they have an SIM that connects to the Internet, whether you want it or not). That day is already yesterday.

Re: Ask Wirecutter: Can you recommend a not-smart TV for me?

#45

Post by A4ET8a8uTh0 »

humps wrote: post #21

All smart TVs are dumb if you perform one simple action. When the terms and conditions screen pops up during the TV setup process simply select "No." Congratulations, you have a dumb TV. This is what I do and so far it has worked.

You are assuming that:

1. It will be honored 2. It will not be changed to default during update

Re: Ask Wirecutter: Can you recommend a not-smart TV for me?

#46

Post by daveidol »

koolba wrote: post #12
ab_testing wrote: post #5

The Spectre brand sold by Walmart has quite a few 4K dumb TV’s . I bought one a few years ago and connected my Apple TV and works fine.

The TVs are okay for picture but the audio is terrible. An inexpensive soundbar or speaker system goes a long way on those TVs.

Honestly I don’t want my TV speakers to even attempt to be good. It’s just added cost for a feature I will immediately disable anyway because my external speakers are always going to be better.

Re: Ask Wirecutter: Can you recommend a not-smart TV for me?

#48

Post by ultrarunner »

endisneigh wrote: post #15

idk why people are against Smart TVs. It's not like the vendors put a 5G modem on it and pay for the ads to be served to you themselves with their own internet. buy your tv, don't connect to wifi. connect to your device of choice, done. trying to avoid smart tvs is so silly, as you basically exclude nearly all of the good ones.

I use them for information displays. Our "smart" TVs boot slowly, show dialogs, and then complain that they can't sense the remote near enough to them, requiring a reboot. All in all it's an incredibly frustrating experience for something that should require zero interaction.

Re: Ask Wirecutter: Can you recommend a not-smart TV for me?

#50

Post by endisneigh »

ultrarunner wrote: post #48
endisneigh wrote: post #15

idk why people are against Smart TVs. It's not like the vendors put a 5G modem on it and pay for the ads to be served to you themselves with their own internet. buy your tv, don't connect to wifi. connect to your device of choice, done. trying to avoid smart tvs is so silly, as you basically exclude nearly all of the good ones.

I use them for information displays. Our "smart" TVs boot slowly, show dialogs, and then complain that they can't sense the remote near enough to them, requiring a reboot. All in all it's an incredibly frustrating experience for something that should require zero interaction.

how often are you rebooting TVs for your information displays that this matters? and there are smart tvs with dumb remotes.
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