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I'm actually going to be in the market for a new television later this year. My only use is to watch Netflix, some Blu-rays, and dock my Nintendo Switch to it.

I'm actually going to be in the market for a new television later this year. My only use is to watch Netflix, some Blu-rays, and dock my Nintendo Switch to it. Are there any recommended high definition (4k+) televisions that aren't Smart TV's?

jeromegv 8y ago
Would recommend to use an external device for Netflix (Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, etc) and just block internet entirely from the TV.
- ygra 8y ago
  How is the privacy and data collection behavior of those external devices?
  - swebs 8y ago
    >Apple doesn’t gather your personal information to sell to advertisers or other organizations. https://www.apple.com/privacy/ https://www.apple.com/privacy/ >Roku Devices regularly upload usage information to Roku as part of their use. The collected information includes the specific identifiers of streams played, duration played, various quality measures, error logs, software version numbers, and other usage statistics. Usage information uploaded from Roku Devices is personally identifiable by product serial number. In some instances, serial numbers are associated with personally identifiable information to aid in customer service and support. https://soundbridge.roku.com/privacy/ https://soundbridge.roku.com/privacy/ >Lol https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en Also he didn't mention the Raspberry Pi by name, but Linux does not collect your information and you have complete control over everything it does.
    - unwiredben 8y ago
      That's a very old link to the Roku privacy policy from back before Roku had streaming video products. The current one is at https://docs.roku.com/doc/userprivacypolicy/en-us https://docs.roku.com/doc/userprivacypolicy/en-us
- antsar 8y ago
  Rather than blocking internet, you can just buy a TV without the spyware. Keywords: "Commercial Display", "Digital Signage", "Computer monitor". I've been happy with models from LG and NEC.
  - dev_dull 8y ago
    That’s a hassle and you never know exactly what you’ll get. Commercial TVs also don’t go on sale like regular ones do. Better to use a smart, safe connected device from a manufacturer that won’t sell your data (Apple).
    - antsar 8y ago
      > you never know exactly what you’ll get What does that mean? These models have reviews online just like regular TVs (sure, maybe there are fewer data points), and the tech specs tend to be even more detailed.
    - namibj 8y ago
      Huh? Companies like Iiyama live on dumb screen for now at least well over a decade, judging by the age of hardware made by them still running (not 24x7 though, the CCFL backlight in the older ones would have given up).
  - nicwolff 8y ago
    I spent double to get a commercial LG OLED retail display without smart features, and I'm delighted with it. But commercial displays generally don't offer 4K, or HDR, which home theater users have been told to want - or even CEC which is actually useful.
- pdkl95 8y ago
  > block internet entirely from the TV That may work with current TVs, but system-on-a-chip vendors have offered devices with LTE/etc baseband processors for several years. The only reason the TVs are still using your internet connection instead of the cellular networks is because nobody has spent the time negotiating for some sort off-peak bulk rate deal with the carriers. The precedent for that happening is OnStar; if the TV manufactures start to lose too much of their spyware revenue due to being blocked at the home LAN, they will simply bypass the problem. edit: my point is that the solution to this problem isn't technical. Political fixes (regulation) could solve the problem. Throwing people in jail for trespassing or harassment when they willfully appropriate private spaces without informed consent would also work.
  - paulie_a 8y ago
    I hope they do that, I now have free data using their sim card, and I will abuse it.
mizzack 8y ago
Unfortunately, better sets all include smart features. Just don't setup network connectivity and you'll be fine. Doing so also blocks the annoying new(er) "feature" many manufacturers have introduced -- injecting ads into the UI. As far as I know, Sony is the only high end mfg that doesn't put ads in their current TV offerings.
- dev_dull 8y ago
  Exactly this. And use something like an Apple TV for connected watching through a company that actually cares about your privacy.
  - xxpor 8y ago
    Too bad the Apple TV does violence to the sound output of the content that's playing. Unfortunatly, it seems like the only box that supports everything (HDR, x265, bitstreaming atmos, dts:x, etc) is the nvidia shield which is android TV so you get all of the usual Google crap.
    - kitsunesoba 8y ago
      Atmos support at the very least is coming to Apple TV with the tvOS update coming out this fall.
- mikestew 8y ago
  As far as I know, Sony is the only high end mfg that doesn't put ads in their current TV offerings. My $DEITY, it's gotten that bad? Not that I'd connect a modern TV to a network connection, but yeesh, it's almost like they don't want me to buy another TV when this (thankfully, relatively new) one dies. But I'd guess there are a lot more folks willing to put up with it than there are cranky old farts like me.
  - mizzack 8y ago
    Yep. https://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/ads-in-smart-tv https://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/ads-in-smart-tv I stand corrected, too, it looks like Vizio is also in the clear with Sony. That said we're just talking about ads. Both Sony and Vizio have questionable pasts regarding information collection/privacy violation.
nfoz 8y ago
They’re hard to look up but you need to check “commercial” series. I bought a 55” 4k LG dumb tv a year ago and I’m quite happy with it. Simple remote, no hassle. The downsides are that it only has two HDMI inputs and afaik no antenna for over-the-air channels. Also it doesn’t do HDR and I don’t know if they have a “commercial series” dumb-tv that does. I’ll link you to the model when I’m back at my desktop.
- mizzack 8y ago
  Those are typically sold as "digital signage" and like you said do not include tuners.
  - nfoz 8y ago
    Ah, found my model: https://www.lg.com/ca_en/commercial-tv/lg-55UX340C-public-display-tvs https://www.lg.com/ca_en/commercial-tv/lg-55UX340C-public-di... From lg.com you have to click the sneaky "For Business" button at the top-right. From there, it's under Products > Commercial TV > Commercial Lite. Even then, the dumb-tv options are a subset of what's shown. It's not under "digital signage". They don't make it easy for us. I was lucky enough that these products are sold to normal people at canadacomputers; I was able to pick one up in my city. YMMV.
- fluxsauce 8y ago
  That's a really good idea. I fairly recently ended up with a TV with a large amount of features that are just ignored because I don't ever connect it to the internet, instead relying on an Android device I have more trust in. I'd rather not have things that I don't use. I won't be buying another for quite some time but I'll keep commercial displays in mind next time or when asked for a recommendation.
- TheCapn 8y ago
  How was cost comparison? Did you save anything significant going with this line over a SmartTV? My future solution is to simply not plug the SmartTV into the network and if it means paying the same why not?
namibj 8y ago
I can recommend the Iiyama PROLITE X4071UHSU-B1, a 39.5" dumb screen with a nice panel and the choice between 2160p60@10bit or 2160p75@8bit. I did not get my GPU to spew out the latter though. These two only work over the Displayport, afaik. It is honestly the nicest panel I ran across on a dumb screen. Nice too as a Desktop screen, the screen real estate is worth it if you live in a city, earning city wages on your computer, and can use it productively. Only downside I noticed is the long boot time it seems to show. Combined with the low black level, you need the room somewhat dark to notice if the Backlight turned on. Netflix 4k on it is gorgeous, as long as it's close by.
Marsymars 8y ago
As an alternative to the digital signage other posters have suggested, you could also consider a projector if it's possible to make work in your physical space.
- gh02t 8y ago
  Projectors are also getting smart features, at least the ones targeted at home users. 4K projectors also still represent a significant price premium over TVs, which has gotten a lot better in the past year or so, but still. Projectors also inherently have a shorter lifetime because of all the heat generated by the lamp. That said, if you have a good space for one a projector is awesome. I bought an Optoma projector a while back and have worked it to death. TV, movies and games on a gigantic projector screen are just awesome.
dawnerd 8y ago
Stay away from Samsung if you value privacy. They’re absolutely awful with it. Lg seems to be going that path too which is a shame. What I’d do is just get a pihole and get a tv ad blocklist and you should be fine.
- mieseratte 8y ago
  > What I’d do is just get a pihole and get a tv ad blocklist and you should be fine. But that's still giving money to the dirtbag company...
  - dawnerd 8y ago
    Unfortunately, yeah. There's not that much choice out there - especially if you want to just pick one up from a store or if you want new features like oled.
- paulie_a 8y ago
  Samsung seems to be incapable of making quality software that benefits the actual consumer. I would avoid connecting anything they make to the internet.
Jach 8y ago
I bought a 65" 4k@60hz HiSense TV (65H8C) about a year and a half ago, haven't had any major complaints. It's always in PC/game mode which turns off as much of the post processing stuff as possible and it's low latency enough that I can play games on it without irritation. It's technically "smart" but it's never been connected to a network, I just use it for HDMI out of a media/gaming PC + consoles. If you don't need something that big or bigger, there are lots of options in the 40-50 inch range... 3 years ago I got a dumb 42" 4k@60hz Seiki "TV" solely to use as my primary workstation monitor, it works fine for movies too. I did have to get some beta firmware from Seiki's Facebook account though in order to remove the unbearable latency even for programming tasks (gaming was out of the question before the flash). Neither of those is going to impress someone who really cares about display quality of course. They work for me.

jeromegv 8y ago

Would recommend to use an external device for Netflix (Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, etc) and just block internet entirely from the TV.

ygra 8y ago
How is the privacy and data collection behavior of those external devices?
- swebs 8y ago
  >Apple doesn’t gather your personal information to sell to advertisers or other organizations. https://www.apple.com/privacy/ https://www.apple.com/privacy/ >Roku Devices regularly upload usage information to Roku as part of their use. The collected information includes the specific identifiers of streams played, duration played, various quality measures, error logs, software version numbers, and other usage statistics. Usage information uploaded from Roku Devices is personally identifiable by product serial number. In some instances, serial numbers are associated with personally identifiable information to aid in customer service and support. https://soundbridge.roku.com/privacy/ https://soundbridge.roku.com/privacy/ >Lol https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en Also he didn't mention the Raspberry Pi by name, but Linux does not collect your information and you have complete control over everything it does.
  - unwiredben 8y ago
    That's a very old link to the Roku privacy policy from back before Roku had streaming video products. The current one is at https://docs.roku.com/doc/userprivacypolicy/en-us https://docs.roku.com/doc/userprivacypolicy/en-us
antsar 8y ago
Rather than blocking internet, you can just buy a TV without the spyware. Keywords: "Commercial Display", "Digital Signage", "Computer monitor". I've been happy with models from LG and NEC.
- dev_dull 8y ago
  That’s a hassle and you never know exactly what you’ll get. Commercial TVs also don’t go on sale like regular ones do. Better to use a smart, safe connected device from a manufacturer that won’t sell your data (Apple).
  - antsar 8y ago
    > you never know exactly what you’ll get What does that mean? These models have reviews online just like regular TVs (sure, maybe there are fewer data points), and the tech specs tend to be even more detailed.
  - namibj 8y ago
    Huh? Companies like Iiyama live on dumb screen for now at least well over a decade, judging by the age of hardware made by them still running (not 24x7 though, the CCFL backlight in the older ones would have given up).
- nicwolff 8y ago
  I spent double to get a commercial LG OLED retail display without smart features, and I'm delighted with it. But commercial displays generally don't offer 4K, or HDR, which home theater users have been told to want - or even CEC which is actually useful.
pdkl95 8y ago
> block internet entirely from the TV That may work with current TVs, but system-on-a-chip vendors have offered devices with LTE/etc baseband processors for several years. The only reason the TVs are still using your internet connection instead of the cellular networks is because nobody has spent the time negotiating for some sort off-peak bulk rate deal with the carriers. The precedent for that happening is OnStar; if the TV manufactures start to lose too much of their spyware revenue due to being blocked at the home LAN, they will simply bypass the problem. edit: my point is that the solution to this problem isn't technical. Political fixes (regulation) could solve the problem. Throwing people in jail for trespassing or harassment when they willfully appropriate private spaces without informed consent would also work.
- paulie_a 8y ago
  I hope they do that, I now have free data using their sim card, and I will abuse it.

mizzack 8y ago

Unfortunately, better sets all include smart features. Just don't setup network connectivity and you'll be fine. Doing so also blocks the annoying new(er) "feature" many manufacturers have introduced -- injecting ads into the UI. As far as I know, Sony is the only high end mfg that doesn't put ads in their current TV offerings.

dev_dull 8y ago
Exactly this. And use something like an Apple TV for connected watching through a company that actually cares about your privacy.
- xxpor 8y ago
  Too bad the Apple TV does violence to the sound output of the content that's playing. Unfortunatly, it seems like the only box that supports everything (HDR, x265, bitstreaming atmos, dts:x, etc) is the nvidia shield which is android TV so you get all of the usual Google crap.
  - kitsunesoba 8y ago
    Atmos support at the very least is coming to Apple TV with the tvOS update coming out this fall.
mikestew 8y ago
As far as I know, Sony is the only high end mfg that doesn't put ads in their current TV offerings. My $DEITY, it's gotten that bad? Not that I'd connect a modern TV to a network connection, but yeesh, it's almost like they don't want me to buy another TV when this (thankfully, relatively new) one dies. But I'd guess there are a lot more folks willing to put up with it than there are cranky old farts like me.
- mizzack 8y ago
  Yep. https://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/ads-in-smart-tv https://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/ads-in-smart-tv I stand corrected, too, it looks like Vizio is also in the clear with Sony. That said we're just talking about ads. Both Sony and Vizio have questionable pasts regarding information collection/privacy violation.

nfoz 8y ago

They’re hard to look up but you need to check “commercial” series. I bought a 55” 4k LG dumb tv a year ago and I’m quite happy with it. Simple remote, no hassle. The downsides are that it only has two HDMI inputs and afaik no antenna for over-the-air channels. Also it doesn’t do HDR and I don’t know if they have a “commercial series” dumb-tv that does. I’ll link you to the model when I’m back at my desktop.

mizzack 8y ago
Those are typically sold as "digital signage" and like you said do not include tuners.
- nfoz 8y ago
  Ah, found my model: https://www.lg.com/ca_en/commercial-tv/lg-55UX340C-public-display-tvs https://www.lg.com/ca_en/commercial-tv/lg-55UX340C-public-di... From lg.com you have to click the sneaky "For Business" button at the top-right. From there, it's under Products > Commercial TV > Commercial Lite. Even then, the dumb-tv options are a subset of what's shown. It's not under "digital signage". They don't make it easy for us. I was lucky enough that these products are sold to normal people at canadacomputers; I was able to pick one up in my city. YMMV.
fluxsauce 8y ago
That's a really good idea. I fairly recently ended up with a TV with a large amount of features that are just ignored because I don't ever connect it to the internet, instead relying on an Android device I have more trust in. I'd rather not have things that I don't use. I won't be buying another for quite some time but I'll keep commercial displays in mind next time or when asked for a recommendation.
TheCapn 8y ago
How was cost comparison? Did you save anything significant going with this line over a SmartTV? My future solution is to simply not plug the SmartTV into the network and if it means paying the same why not?

namibj 8y ago

I can recommend the Iiyama PROLITE X4071UHSU-B1, a 39.5" dumb screen with a nice panel and the choice between 2160p60@10bit or 2160p75@8bit. I did not get my GPU to spew out the latter though. These two only work over the Displayport, afaik. It is honestly the nicest panel I ran across on a dumb screen. Nice too as a Desktop screen, the screen real estate is worth it if you live in a city, earning city wages on your computer, and can use it productively. Only downside I noticed is the long boot time it seems to show. Combined with the low black level, you need the room somewhat dark to notice if the Backlight turned on. Netflix 4k on it is gorgeous, as long as it's close by.

Marsymars 8y ago

As an alternative to the digital signage other posters have suggested, you could also consider a projector if it's possible to make work in your physical space.

gh02t 8y ago
Projectors are also getting smart features, at least the ones targeted at home users. 4K projectors also still represent a significant price premium over TVs, which has gotten a lot better in the past year or so, but still. Projectors also inherently have a shorter lifetime because of all the heat generated by the lamp. That said, if you have a good space for one a projector is awesome. I bought an Optoma projector a while back and have worked it to death. TV, movies and games on a gigantic projector screen are just awesome.

dawnerd 8y ago

Stay away from Samsung if you value privacy. They’re absolutely awful with it. Lg seems to be going that path too which is a shame. What I’d do is just get a pihole and get a tv ad blocklist and you should be fine.

mieseratte 8y ago
> What I’d do is just get a pihole and get a tv ad blocklist and you should be fine. But that's still giving money to the dirtbag company...
- dawnerd 8y ago
  Unfortunately, yeah. There's not that much choice out there - especially if you want to just pick one up from a store or if you want new features like oled.
paulie_a 8y ago
Samsung seems to be incapable of making quality software that benefits the actual consumer. I would avoid connecting anything they make to the internet.

Jach 8y ago

I bought a 65" 4k@60hz HiSense TV (65H8C) about a year and a half ago, haven't had any major complaints. It's always in PC/game mode which turns off as much of the post processing stuff as possible and it's low latency enough that I can play games on it without irritation. It's technically "smart" but it's never been connected to a network, I just use it for HDMI out of a media/gaming PC + consoles. If you don't need something that big or bigger, there are lots of options in the 40-50 inch range... 3 years ago I got a dumb 42" 4k@60hz Seiki "TV" solely to use as my primary workstation monitor, it works fine for movies too. I did have to get some beta firmware from Seiki's Facebook account though in order to remove the unbearable latency even for programming tasks (gaming was out of the question before the flash). Neither of those is going to impress someone who really cares about display quality of course. They work for me.