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0 pointsghettoimp6y ago0 comments

If you want a TV, is there any alternative? We got a new TV last year and I (joe shmoe average user) didn't see any that weren't smart.

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10 comments · 7 top-level

chime6y ago· 2 in thread

Buy the best TV that fits your needs. Do not configure the Smart TV features at all. If it requires Internet access for initial configuration, setup your phone as a hotspot with a temporary password. Once configured, change your phone hotspot password and disable it.

I have many Smart TVs, all working great as dumb monitors for my AppleTVs. I wouldn’t change a thing.

r3vrse6y ago

Anecdotal: was setting up some Hisense TVs at work the other day and the unit came up with a message that "all Network features" would be disabled if you declined the EULA.

Immediately thought "works for me".

I wonder if any other manufacturer offers that choice.

Edit: commercial signage panels are about as close as you get to dumb TVs these days. Rarely include any smart features, can get in quite large sizes. Not OLED or anything but if you just want a decent display...

SmellyGeekBoy6y ago

FWIW - I discovered recently that Hisense is actually owned by the Chinese state government, if that kind of thing matters to you.

Smoosh6y ago· 1 in thread

There are some still out there (in Australia - YMMV). I just bought this on Wednesday: http://www.bauhn.com.au/product-listing/58-4k-ultra-hd-tv-AT...

Sendotsh6y ago

Aldi has very very questionable quality though. I've had multiple DOAs, and multiple of their things die within months.

They're good with warranty returns, but usually can't give you a replacement product due to how they do batch/bulk sales and don't keep recurring stock, so you generally end up with a refund and have to start shopping around again for an equivalent product.

nicwolff6y ago

There is, but since they're not able to sell your data they cost a lot. I bought a 55" LG OLED 1080p commercial signage display for $5000. The power and control hardware is in a separate box so the display panel is just 6 mm thick, and it has no "smart TV" features at all, just basic firmware for configuration.

https://www.lg.com/us/business/oled-displays/lg-55EJ5E

Springtime6y ago

NEC sell 4K resolution large displays on their store [1] (not affiliated but someone in a HN topic noted them). Should be said that while they appear to not feature smart TV capabilities (they're intended more for retail/enterprise use) they lack HDR local dimming which is something to consider.

As for not connecting smart TVs to Wi-Fi I read in a recent HN comment [2] that theirs connected without consent automatically to the first available unsecured Wi-Fi it found, sometime later. Seems some TVs are being extra sneaky with this.

[1] https://www.necdisplay.com/category?category=displays

[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21010777

bjelkeman-again6y ago

In Europe I buy dumb panels from https://www.swedx.se/index.php?cPath=133

They are mainly aimed corporate buyers, I have one 42 inch TV and one small video wall (4x42 inch) from them.

swader9996y ago

I might have to get a projector

buckminster6y ago

I bought a cheap TV from Argos, a UK catalogue store. No smart features. Still working well after a year.

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