Technology

You actually can buy quality dumb TVs, but you have to do the legwork and do research on what are often referred to as "commercial displays." I see them everywhere in businesses for ads and showing the menu. They're sometimes a little pricier, but they're usually built a little "beefier" too, as they're expected to deal with more rough usage in like a restaurant context.

However, the other solution is the one you've already mentioned where you never plug the Smart TV into the internet, and instead bypass the "smart" on the TV with your own streaming boxes.

I think as more people realize there is a market for dumb TVs, you'll start to see that market grow more and more until they no longer just "commercial displays." Just gotta get enough people buying them and not buying Smart TVs.

Is it just me or is it really fuckin' easy to not connect your TV to the internet?

I've hated "Smart TVs" for a decade now, but I solved my problem by just buying a set top streaming box (Apple TV, Nvidia Shield, etc) and leaving my TV off my WiFi.

all cars are headed there too.. so very soon you won't be able to get news or transportation without someone else's permission..

Smart devices are basically data sniffers scooping up any info about you and your family, your habits,. They watch network traffic, listen to your conversations, and record video,. I'll stick to dumb devices thanks.

I got a display signage TV. Totally dumb. The only app it has is YouTube and that's optional. I don't even have the internet hooked up to it. Works fine for gaming and occasionally streaming via other devices.

I have solved this by not buying a TV in the last two decades. I just own projectors. Larger screen, cheaper, no "smart" nonsense. Depending on mounting, essentially invisible when not in use and not a large black rectangle in your living room. Do recommend.

I just run an HDMI from my computer…

Sony Bravia models now give you an option to make it a dumb TV as part of the out of the box experience. It’s the first question they ask you when you power it on.

Yep, they're horrible. I always disable internet on them, uninstall any apps I can, and generally do what I can to avoid using the built-in smart TV, but I shouldn't have to do this, its unfortunate and sucks to deal with. They just take advantage of consumers who don't know better, wish the TV market wasn't like this. :/

I'll probably need to buy a new TV in a year or two. I read there are some ways to flash custom firmware on it.

Just wanted to say same. I have used a Linux box as my Media Center and Home Server since 2008. Also have a chomecast dongle so I can steam from Android and Android apps. Not sure what else one needs.

Seems to me what one wants wants really is mostly a browser and ability to stream stuff from apps on your phone. Since the Linux box is a Media Center and Server it also has a lot of features a Smart TV would not have. Just do not see the value of a Smart TV.

Pro Tip: Buy a Computer Monitor e.g. 4k 34 inch

they don’t have any smart tv shit, but you need to buy some extra for the audio

the smartshitification of TVs is annoying, and i too hate being tracked by every device i use. That said, the incredible value of these TVs can't be overstated. Most people can't or won't spend more than $500 on a TV, so most people would still be using 1080p displays if it wasn't for this phenomenon, but now EVERYONE gets to have a 4k TV because the price is partially subsidized by all those ads you're seeing.

I think it's probably a net negative for society overall, but just wanted to point out that there is an upside to all those ads.

As a lot of people here, I did the same, bought the smart TV, it needed internet for firmware upgrade, and once it had started and did not ask for my inputs or whatever, I selected the HDMI1 as startup, plugged a Chromecast. Then went into the TV menu to forget the network settings on the TV. It's just a monitor used to cast Netflix, Disney, Plex, Prime, etc.

I finally looked in the settings and found I can set my roku tv to not start in the smart menu and it is immediately better for me.

I have some practical annoyances, most surrounding multiple remotes and the clunkiness of it. I have two TVs in my house: a Samsung smart TV from 2019 and a Hisense Google TV I purchased earlier this year. The Google interface is not the most responsive, but it packs in all of the stuff I would want. Android is the most supported platform for apps. Samsung's OS has good app support, but open source projects and more niche apps aren't there. I think there is a nebula app now, but for a while there wasn't, for instance. So, I bought one of the Chromecast with Google TV sticks to bridge the gap. It works well most of the time, but unlike the Hisense, it doesn't support airplay. So if someone airplays, you get kicked back to the native OS and have to use the native remote. It's possible to configure the Chromecast to use the native remote, except the home button doesn't map, it is the home menu for the native OS. So it's just kinda clunky. I do think newer Google tvs with airplay built in (varies by brand) are going in the right direction here. If you're concerned about privacy, they're still gonna be a nightmare though.

I'm really happy that I got to skip the whole smart TV stuff by being a projector guy. They are still dumb as rocks for the most part.

My HTPC is an Odroid, so all is well in that department as well.