Hey do anybody know where you get a tv that supports 4k and does not have that locked up smarttv shit?
If there are none, does anybody know a tv that boots fast(less than 30 seconds) and displays an hdmi input by default without the need to choose the input from a menu.
Thanks in advance.
And sorry if I am in the wrong place.
Supposedly, the Spectre 55 inch is 4k and dumb as a rock: https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV/U550CV-UMR-55-4K-UHD-TV-product959category1category73.html
I have an older model of this Spectre. Can confirm it looks fantastic for the price and no smart features .
I paid $200 for mine. Do not buy the Walmart version. Also this seems overpriced for this unit
Do not buy the Walmart version.
I’m pretty sure Sceptre is specifically Walmart’s TV brand, much like Insignia is Best Buy’s brand.
I bought mine from Amazon, but that was probably 5 years ago. Sceptre has fallen big time since the early 2000’s, but that would be a new low for them.
I don’t think so. I bought one from Menards years ago.
Also seeing ScAmazon and Worst Buy selling them online.
Ahh, okay, that makes sense then. I’ve only ever seen them at Walmart where I am.
How about projectors? They’re stupid as shit.
The newer ones usually have some smart stuff built in
Wtf! I’ve had my 1080p 55 inch dumb as a rock tv for over 7 year, i liberated it from my brother so its older, and was gonna start looking for when finally starts to go. I guess ima need to find someone that knows how to fix it.
I’ve got a slightly older Sceptre 43 inch 4K, and tbh I’ve been trying to find a replacement for a while. The form factor of the TV itself is great, but the picture is pretty crappy. There’s a ton of light bleed around the edges, the HDR functionality is insanely frustrating and looks terrible, and the upscaling is crap. I got it on a ridiculous sale towards the beginning of the pandemic when local shops were clearing their inventories, so I can’t really complain. But I would not buy it again.
I also have two of their PC monitors, and they have the same problems as the TV. No more Sceptre for me in the future.
So is their 65 inch https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV/U650CV-UMRD-65-4K-UHD-TV-product1171category1category73.html
Still happy with it after a year. Recommend getting a soundbar though
Does it bother anyone else to pay for all that “smartness” and then figure out how NOT to use it?
How can consumers fight back against this bullshit?
You aren’t paying for the smartness. You are actually getting a subsidized TV that should cost a whole lot more but is being sold for cheap since it is also a data collection device.
Non smart TVs are more expensive than their smart counterparts.
The only answer is to never give your smart tv access to your network and to use an external device for streaming.
This is exactly what I do, my TV never connects to my network.
You’re right. What you really need is a tv that reacts less bad to being online. It’s a shame Logitech killed the Harmony because dumbing down your tv successfully generally requires a universal remote.
As a long time Harmony user, expert, and former employee … The Sofabaton remotes are the closest substitute I’ve found. Easy to configure and use. Just no “activities” like a Harmony. But at least you can set it to control the volume on X device when you have it in the mode to control Y device.
Activities are the killer app of Harmony. How do you set it to switch inputs on the various devices?
It has a physical scroll wheel to switch between devices. The on each device mode you can customize the buttons.
I use configure one of the buttons to be a hot key to set the TVs input for the device I have selected.
Again, it’s not as automated as an activity, but it eliminates switching around to different devices and finding inputs.
In our case we have some devices connected to a receiver (Apple TV) and others to TV (game systems). We use ARC for audio for those devices. I suppose it’s easier if everything is connected to TV for that purpose.
Not really. All the extra circuitry costs money. Building and maintaining the software costs money. And that’s way more than you’re expected to “earn”.
As much as it fuels your conspiracy boners, it’s not like Samsung is raking in billions by showing you ads.
As much as it fuels your conspiracy boners
If you want to discuss this topic further, I’d be happy to. But not if you’re going to causally throw around insults.
You don’t know anything about me or my work experience.
You don’t know anything about me or my work experience.
Throwing around insults is not helpful, but neither is “trust me bro”.
I just did some searching around and found out that smart tv with the same specs as dum tv is cheeper.
That’s the neat thing: I don’t need to.
If you’re just parroting the same narrative without any basis like anybody else and also use the same narratives, I can safely assume that unless proven otherwise, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Username checks out
Thanks for confirming my original response to you.
Vizio makes twice as much profit from those ads and tracking services than the actual TVs:
https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/10/22773073/vizio-acr-advertising-inscape-data-privacy-q3-2021
Lots of the “features” are profit motivated. Lots of companies love to be paid for bundling software on the device.
Got a Sony Bravia OLED and it’s set up as a dumb TV, turns on instantly + I never see the Smart TV UI, not even a logo.
What I did was decline everything at setup, hook up to the Internet via Ethernet once to update, unplug Ethernet and set it to turn on to last input.
Yep, the new Bravias with Android TV or whatever give you a choice as a part of the first time setup that essentially disables all the smart features. I had the same experience.
If it’s not been mentioned, you want Commercial Displays, or Large Format Displays. Much more expensive generally for less features, but many are explicitly non-smart.
https://www.cdw.com/content/cdw/en/products/computer-monitors-displays/large-format.html
Look into commercial displays.
I’m rocking a 4k ViewSonic display. Nothing smart about it.
Almost every TV doesn’t have smart functions if you don’t connect them to your network.
They usually still have their dumb OS bloated with pre-installed apps.
They don’t matter though.
I got a Vizio 4K and refused to give it my wifi access. it boots in maybe 5 seconds and the only issue is the time displayed on screen is way off. otherwise fully functional with no smartness. and it restarts using the same input as when it was last used.
I did the same thing with Vizio and it eventually would randomly turn off, or sound wouldn’t work or something, you’d call support and they’d tell you that you have to update it. It doesn’t make any sense, but I did it and it would work find for awhile again. Thr tinfoil hat in me says they do that to get whatever info they have stored on you.
My 6 yr old Visio is starting that general fuckery too. I have to unplug for a minute to get it going.
A few months ago, I connected my Vizio to my network to do firmware updates to see if it could be any better since it was 3 years old and I was sure there were improvements. Then and only then did I start seeing random crashes and the TV speakers turning on and up to max volume (I have a sound bar + subwoofer). The TV shut off without warning in the middle of a Rocket League tournament and wouldn’t turn back on until I unplugged it and plugged it back in. That was the last straw. Disabled the Wi-Fi connection and it’s been running fine ever since.
interesting. i didnt have those issues. i havent updated.
I hate “smart” TVs too, unfortunately I have one but I just never connected it to the internet. I only use the HDMI input to connect it to my HTPC running Linux and Kodi, it’s an awesome setup.
Almost every smart TV I have played with you can set them up to just go to an HDMI input and turn off any “home” menus screens. You also can usually skip any Network setup.
I have played with LG, Vizio, Samsung and Sony TVs all have had options to do this. (But this has been over the last 1-7 years).
I have a TCL Roku TV and I just set it to boot straight to the HTPC on startup
My vizio also starts on the last input. So it only goes to the smart TV stuff when I want it too. It’s older (E50x or something like that) but it’s been getting updates so I’m assuming it’s the same on newer ones still.
My newer Vizio will not default to hdmi. It always brings up the menu, where you have to scroll through a bunch of ads to get to your apps and input options. The apps randomly change order. Sometimes you even get a pop-up ad when you first turn it on. I wish I had never bought the damned TV.
I’m going to assume because you said your shopping for a 4k telly and havent set a set amount that you got the money to afford something decent in that case look at getting a used commercial or large format display I found this for £380 which may interst you or prehaps just buying a smart telly and not connecting it to the Internet
I got an LG C3, never plugged in the ethernet cable and changed the song so it starts on that last active input.
I did have to enter my postal code though, which is H0H 0H0.Post code can be used to adjust settings for regional differences with broadcast tv reception
I’m still ok with the TV thinking I live in the North Pole
I have found some. The key is to look for either outdoor televisions or ones designed for commercial use, such as those used for restaurant menus at the counter.
If there are none, does anybody know a tv that boots fast(less than 30 seconds) and displays an hdmi input by default without the need to choose the input from a menu.
I have a Phillips 4k “smart tv” I keep in “dumb” mode at all times. https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/65PFL5766_F7/5700-series-4k-ultrahd-led-android-tv-with-google-assistant
Just never ever connect it to the internet, and keep it on HDMI 1.
The TV is even smart enough to detect when there is a live signal on HDMI 1 and it turns itself on automatically. This might be a feature of my stereo having an ARC out HDMI line.
I have all my game consoles, google chromecast, etc etc connected to my stereo, then stereo out connected to the TV’s HDMI 1. When I turn anything on it “just works”. No menus, no inputs, it just flips on and displays HDMI 1 and keeps its mouth shut lol
I need to get non-smart TVs for work and usually end up buying Sceptre TVs. They do everything you’re asking, but I don’t live with them day-to-day so I’m not sure what they’re like in that regard.
Look for a commercial grade television set. For example, on Best Buy, search for ‘Television’ click the ‘Non Smart’ option and you will get 38 choices to peruse. BTW, commercial grade is more durable with a longer warranty. Good luck!
