What is the best dumb TV? • Hacker News Board

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#381

Post by stiray » Sat, Oct 03, 2020, 8:47 AM UTC

I have bought Samsung QLED Q90T due to one reason only and that was picture quality. I though that i will have it banned on router and that is it. What a mistake, they forced me with nag screens to connect it to internet and drive trough bunch "I dont allow my data to be...".

Anyway, wifi cant be completely disabled without calling their support and I bet they are using wifi direct. I have it blocked now on router (which is anyway configured that unknown macs cant connect) but I wonder what can a normal ordinary user do.

Also you cant enter into factory menu without remote control with number buttons that is NOT shipped with TV.

This is my last smart TV (and last product from Samsung, phones included). Monitors only.

[1] https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/tv/disable-wireless-amp-...

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#382

Post by henrikschroder » Sat, Oct 03, 2020, 8:48 AM UTC

GordonS wrote: post #377

garfieldnate wrote: post #330

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We're going off topic now, but why do all microwaves have knobs now? I hate them. I want a number pad like the microwaves had when I was growing up. I want to close the door, press the numbers that indicate the amount of time I want and hit "start". When you turn a knob, either you have no indication of the exact time, or there's a display that moves in increments that the computer thinks are good (usually 10s). I do…

My microwave has a knob and a digital display - so turning the knob updates the display. The knob also has "clicks", rather than turning smoothly. I like this interface - it's tactile and usable.

I had a microwave like that as well, and it was absolutely fantastic! One big wheel to set the time, and it was 100% deterministic, so you developed muscle memory for setting it at different times. Loved it, never been able to find one like it since.

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#383

Post by TeMPOraL » Sat, Oct 03, 2020, 8:49 AM UTC

cm2187 wrote: post #366

garfieldnate wrote: post #330

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We're going off topic now, but why do all microwaves have knobs now? I hate them. I want a number pad like the microwaves had when I was growing up. I want to close the door, press the numbers that indicate the amount of time I want and hit "start". When you turn a knob, either you have no indication of the exact time, or there's a display that moves in increments that the computer thinks are good (usually 10s). I do…

Easier to clean than a number pad. I think knobs are great, you can rotate fast with very little effort. I think it should be a standard feature of computer keyboards.

Not true. You can just wipe a blister number pad and you're done. They're designed that way. With knobs, better hope they're detachable.

Agreed that a knob should be a part of a computer keyboard - as a generic analog input device, not a mousewheel equivalent, though.

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#384

Post by noisy_boy » Sat, Oct 03, 2020, 8:52 AM UTC

I am hoping for the glorious day when I'll see TVs side-by-side advertised for their "smartness" vs "dumb-doesnt-steal-your-data-or-show-ads" respectively.

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#385

Post by em-bee » Sat, Oct 03, 2020, 8:54 AM UTC

crazygringo wrote: post #102

Some people are suggesting just don't connect your smart TV to the internet, others are suggesting it might still connect to open (unsecured) Wi-Fi networks. Is there any major brand of smart TV's that will attempt to connect to open networks, in order to download updates, ads, send back data, without your consent? I've never in my life had a Wi-Fi-enabled device that would connect to a network I didn't tell it to, a…

in sigapore, connecting to someone elses unsecured personal hotspot is illegal. it's like entering an unlocked home.

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#386

Post by fluffy87 » Sat, Oct 03, 2020, 8:55 AM UTC

reacharavindh wrote: post #365

I have a LG “Smart TV” but never connected it to Wifi or Ethernet. I have an old Mac Mini that is hooked up to the TV via HDMI, and a cheap wireless keyboard and mouse makes it the perfect TV for me. Netflix on Safari :-) Whatever else I can access on the browser is now on big TV.

If you have an Apple TV, then whatever you can access on any Apple device through the browser is on your tv.

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#387

Post by Hamuko » Sat, Oct 03, 2020, 8:56 AM UTC

mongol wrote: post #372

lloeki wrote: post #369

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In France the difference is that you pay a broadcast tax every year for owning a TV. Even if the tuner is unplugged. Even if the TV is covered with dust in a basement. Even if you rip the tuner apart and use it as a screen only (this specific case has been lawyered to death right up to the last court of Cassation). Because computers and smartphones, the law has since been extended to also include the case where you o…

Sweden used to have it like this. You had to pay a license for owning a TV receiver. But then the public broadcaster also started offering streaming over the internet. Then they declared "also a computer is a TV receiver" and required everyone with a computer to pay TV license. If you refused, you were taken to court. The court agreed with the broadcaster. Only in the highest court was it thrown out. Had it not, ther…

Same with Finland. TV licensing fees were replaced with public radio tax.

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#388

Post by tigrezno » Sat, Oct 03, 2020, 8:56 AM UTC

Why not buy a decent computer screen, a mini itx PC and use a TV tuner card?? They come with an IR remote.

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#389

Post by TeMPOraL » Sat, Oct 03, 2020, 8:58 AM UTC

skyyler wrote: post #281

phonon wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> wattage (energy output) Nope, power output.

Did your distinction really deepen the conversation? Why are people compelled to make corrections like this?

Because GGP confused energy with power. It's a common mistake (the fact that the most popular unit of energy in everyday use, in context of electricity, is kilowatt hour, is not helping). But a mistake nonetheless, and one that, uncorrected, will make it hard to think about topics related to energy.

In such cases, a friendly correction is very much the right thing to do.

Re: What is the best dumb TV?

#390

Post by andra_nl » Sat, Oct 03, 2020, 9:00 AM UTC

tigrezno wrote: post #388

Why not buy a decent computer screen, a mini itx PC and use a TV tuner card?? They come with an IR remote.

The article actually addresses this:

Monitor displays are relatively darker than TV displays. This is because monitors are designed for people who sit up close.

It may not be a problem when you’re watching a movie in a dark room. If you watch with the windows open during the day, however, your monitor won’t be able to produce enough brightness to give you pleasant viewing experience.