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I was in the market for a TV late last year and was astounded to discover that “dumb” TVs are no longer available at your typical retail outlet. Every one at Wa

I was in the market for a TV late last year and was astounded to discover that “dumb” TVs are no longer available at your typical retail outlet. Every one at Walmart, Sams, Target, Costco, etc. has some sort of OS running on it. I just want an HDMI cable port and a decent display, but it’s quite obvious that isn’t what makes the TV manufacturers money these days.

cobookman 9y ago
> ...it’s quite obvious that isn’t what makes the TV manufacturers money these days. Or adding in smart capabilities is < 10$. And without those features you loose some number of sales. I'm sure they do the cost analysis and find adding in features that 90% of people wont use still helps differentiate your product. For example if I saw 2 identical tvs. One had smart capabilities the other didn't. Same price for both. What TV would the average joe buy...the smart tv. I'm sure people would also buy the smart tv if it's only 15$ more expensive than the dumb one. Netting the manufacture an additional 5$.
sli 9y ago
Basically just have to buy a PC display if you want a "dumb" TV.
- AstralStorm 9y ago
  You will lack the RF and DVB modems though so you will need an added box to handle the actual TV part. Which is not too bad actually.
t1o5 9y ago
Exactly my thoughts too. I was "forced" into buying a smart TV this year. The app store sucks and they serve occasional ads too. I pulled the LAN and wifi off the TV. I am happily using an after market custom android box plugged into HDMI and a Bose TV sound bar. The TV is just for the display.
bmm6o 9y ago
A few months ago, I couldn't watch TV on my TV because the TV-watching app kept crashing. It didn't even occur to me that this problem was possible in theory. I had to factory reset it.
thesandlord 9y ago
Look for bottom of the barrel and off brand TVs. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sceptre-55-Class-4K-2160P-LED-TV-U550CV-U/46784939 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sceptre-55-Class-4K-2160P-LED-TV-... They still exist, but are getting harder to find.
paganel 9y ago
I still hold to my plasma TV like an obsessive fan, as a cinephile I find its color rendering still miles ahead compared to any modern smart-TVs.
- treis 9y ago
  Have you seen an Oled set? Those look awesome because the blacks are so black. They are coming down in price and will eventually replace my Plasma set.
  - paganel 9y ago
    Actually, no. Genuinely glad to hear from another plasma owner that there's current technology that can replace it, performance-wise. Will follow the oled prices, they're still quite a little expensive for the time being.

cobookman 9y ago

> ...it’s quite obvious that isn’t what makes the TV manufacturers money these days. Or adding in smart capabilities is < 10$. And without those features you loose some number of sales. I'm sure they do the cost analysis and find adding in features that 90% of people wont use still helps differentiate your product. For example if I saw 2 identical tvs. One had smart capabilities the other didn't. Same price for both. What TV would the average joe buy...the smart tv. I'm sure people would also buy the smart tv if it's only 15$ more expensive than the dumb one. Netting the manufacture an additional 5$.

sli 9y ago

Basically just have to buy a PC display if you want a "dumb" TV.

AstralStorm 9y ago
You will lack the RF and DVB modems though so you will need an added box to handle the actual TV part. Which is not too bad actually.

t1o5 9y ago

Exactly my thoughts too. I was "forced" into buying a smart TV this year. The app store sucks and they serve occasional ads too. I pulled the LAN and wifi off the TV. I am happily using an after market custom android box plugged into HDMI and a Bose TV sound bar. The TV is just for the display.

bmm6o 9y ago

A few months ago, I couldn't watch TV on my TV because the TV-watching app kept crashing. It didn't even occur to me that this problem was possible in theory. I had to factory reset it.

thesandlord 9y ago

Look for bottom of the barrel and off brand TVs. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sceptre-55-Class-4K-2160P-LED-TV-U550CV-U/46784939 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sceptre-55-Class-4K-2160P-LED-TV-... They still exist, but are getting harder to find.

paganel 9y ago

I still hold to my plasma TV like an obsessive fan, as a cinephile I find its color rendering still miles ahead compared to any modern smart-TVs.

treis 9y ago
Have you seen an Oled set? Those look awesome because the blacks are so black. They are coming down in price and will eventually replace my Plasma set.
- paganel 9y ago
  Actually, no. Genuinely glad to hear from another plasma owner that there's current technology that can replace it, performance-wise. Will follow the oled prices, they're still quite a little expensive for the time being.