4 ms·

Yes, but Roku has metastasized: be sure not to buy a TV with bundled Roku either.

kstrauser 3y ago
As of this moment, I'm not aware of a TV on the market that connects to the Internet on its own without using the owner's Wi-Fi or Ethernet. To my knowledge, none of my TVs are online in any way whatsoever. I'd vastly rather use an Apple TV (or Android equivalent or PS5 or XBox or whatever) than some TV's junky built-in apps anyway.
- smallmancontrov 3y ago
  You underestimate the evil that is Roku. I did too. I thought I just wouldn't connect my Roku-enabled TV to the internet and it would be fine. Turns out that it starts bootlooping after a few months if you don't let it download ads. Can't return it at that point, so you call support... who helps you connect it to the internet. Boot loop goes away, ads download, fine whatever you'll just disconnect it after the call, right? But then after a while it starts bootlooping again, until you let it download ads. Amazingly sinister.
  - kstrauser 3y ago
    > Can't return it at that point The hell I can't. Most major credit cards include extended warranties that let you return defective items for a year or so after purchase. A TV that can't be used as a TV without purchasing additional 3rd-party services (i.e. Internet access), and that doesn't make that clear at the time of purchase, is defective. I'd let Roku make their case to American Express. I'm completely serious here. That's defective. I've never seen a TV with "requires Internet access" on the box. There are many millions of households that'd still prefer to watch free OTA broadcasts and have no interest in subscribing to an Internet service. My own mom has no Internet access beyond her iPhone. If her TV stopped working unless she bought it an unnecessary online account, she'd be back in the store raising hell until someone gave her a refund.
    - smallmancontrov 3y ago
      My card ended their extended warranty program about a year before I bought the TV. But yes, agreed, this makes it defective.

As of this moment, I'm not aware of a TV on the market that connects to the Internet on its own without using the owner's Wi-Fi or Ethernet. To my knowledge, none of my TVs are online in any way whatsoever. I'd vastly rather use an Apple TV (or Android equivalent or PS5 or XBox or whatever) than some TV's junky built-in apps anyway.

smallmancontrov 3y ago
You underestimate the evil that is Roku. I did too. I thought I just wouldn't connect my Roku-enabled TV to the internet and it would be fine. Turns out that it starts bootlooping after a few months if you don't let it download ads. Can't return it at that point, so you call support... who helps you connect it to the internet. Boot loop goes away, ads download, fine whatever you'll just disconnect it after the call, right? But then after a while it starts bootlooping again, until you let it download ads. Amazingly sinister.
- kstrauser 3y ago
  > Can't return it at that point The hell I can't. Most major credit cards include extended warranties that let you return defective items for a year or so after purchase. A TV that can't be used as a TV without purchasing additional 3rd-party services (i.e. Internet access), and that doesn't make that clear at the time of purchase, is defective. I'd let Roku make their case to American Express. I'm completely serious here. That's defective. I've never seen a TV with "requires Internet access" on the box. There are many millions of households that'd still prefer to watch free OTA broadcasts and have no interest in subscribing to an Internet service. My own mom has no Internet access beyond her iPhone. If her TV stopped working unless she bought it an unnecessary online account, she'd be back in the store raising hell until someone gave her a refund.
  - smallmancontrov 3y ago
    My card ended their extended warranty program about a year before I bought the TV. But yes, agreed, this makes it defective.