Why You Should Buy the Dumbest TV You Can Find
Watching TV used to be pretty easy. Once upon a time there were about seven channels, and they could be obtained by fiddling with the antenna. But the proliferation of software platforms and advances in technology have made interacting with the TV much more complex. Enter so-called “smart” TVs (sometimes called connected TVs) that offer all-in-one convenience: all major streaming platforms pre-loaded, internet connectivity built in (usually including the world’s worst web browsing). experience) and they even have app stores that let you install other useful utilities just like you do on your phone.
There are many reasons to want a smart TV in today’s hyper-connected age, but there are actually many reasons why you don’t need a smart TV and why you should seriously consider buying a “dumb” TV that offers incredible features. viewing experience, and leave all smarts on a separate device. In fact, that’s why you should buy the dumbest TV you can find.
Consider Ads and Privacy When Buying a TV
Smart TVs are marketed as the ultimate entertainment tool, but in fact, you’re not the only customer, and often not even the most important customer. Many smart TV manufacturers aggressively sell your browsing data and fill their user interfaces (UIs) with ads. TVs that cost thousands of dollars come out of the box absolutely riddled with pre-installed apps and huge, ugly, constant ads everywhere you look .
Worse, they often hide the settings you need to change to eliminate most (but not all – never think you’ll be allowed to actually own the TV you just spent your mortgage payment on) of these ads.
And the privacy issue is not small. These days, when you turn on a smart TV, you’ll probably have to click through a legal agreement, and somewhere in it, you agree to let the TV manufacturer track everything you do with the device and sell that information. Companies that buy this information? They will use it to target ads to be shown on your TV. So not only does some faceless corporation find out that you’re binge-watching Is It Cake? , they also use this information against you.
Even worse, some TV manufacturers are experimenting with advertising when you watch live TV . To be clear, this is in addition to the ads that the broadcast or cable channel may show you while you watch. And these live ads are calibrated using your own viewing data that the TV has been collecting since you turned it on. And other TV makers are implementing advertising models that are becoming increasingly difficult to avoid, such as Samsung’s takeover ads that pop up every time you turn on your TV .
Want to avoid this advertising hell? Buy a dumb TV. With a dumb TV, you can plug in any streaming box – Roku, Apple, Chromecast – and if that platform starts mimicking a smart TV in terms of ads and other issues, you can use those free market forces and switch to another one.
Security is a concern for smart TVs
When I bought my first smart TV a few years ago, the pre-installed Netflix and other streamers were great. And then, not so great, because the TV manufacturer allowed the device’s operating system to degrade and never updated the built-in Netflix application. In the end, I had to buy Roku just to get the current version of the app.
And it’s not unusual. TV manufacturers are generally not software developers, and there is a strong tendency to orphan their platforms almost as soon as they are released. Apart from the inconvenience of having outdated applications, this is also a major security issue. After all, your smart TV is an Internet-connected device loaded with your personal information and connected to your home Wi-Fi network or wired internet. Microsoft releases security updates for Windows weekly . How do you think your TV is doing after two years without software fixes? With a stupid TV, you don’t have these problems – sure, in theory your smart TV could be upgraded with new features, but no amount of software will turn a 4K TV into an 8K TV, so the benefits are minimal.
Flexibility is the key
Finally, using a simple TV gives you maximum flexibility and control when it comes to entertainment. With a mute TV, you can choose any device to stream. But an Amazon Fire stick or an Apple TV set-top box will offer you all the same options and features, with the bonus of being able to switch at any time. When you buy a smart TV, you’re locked into that company’s interface and platform, whether you like it or not, and those platforms tend to be poorly designed and difficult to interact with.
Buying a dumb TV
The big caveat when it comes to stupid TVs is that they are absolutely not a priority in the market and therefore it can be hard to find a stupid TV with screen size, resolution and other smart TV features. However, this is not impossible. Samsung, for example, makes a 65-inch 4K resolution dumb TV , just like the Scepter , but identifying and finding dumb TVs can be tricky. Here are some tips if you decide to become mute:
- business displays. You know when you walk into an office or store and a bunch of big TVs are blaring ads and store content? These are almost always stupid TVs. They are commonly referred to as commercial TVs or commercial monitors – the word “commercial” is a stand. These are full-featured TVs that usually don’t have smart features because businesses don’t need them.
- Street TVs. Most outdoor TVs lack smart features. It’s true they’re not ideal for indoor use because they’re designed to be very bright to be seen in sunlit areas and often don’t have built-in speakers, but this is an option if you’re facing a wall. discovering others. sources of stupidity.
- 4K monitors. In the era of streaming, the difference between a TV and a monitor becomes very thin. You can connect your streaming device to your computer monitor, instantly turning it into a TV. However, monitors tend to be smaller than TVs, so finding a monitor larger than 50 inches or so can be a challenge. However, it is an option if smaller sizes suit you.
After all, buying and setting up a TV is all about fun and relaxation – it should be easy. While you’ll definitely give up some features if you go crazy, you’ll also get your privacy back and full control over your couch surfing, which is priceless. But if you decide the smart TV trade-offs are worth it, that’s obviously a good thing, as long as the decision is sound.