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I miss the days just buying a TV in a shop without worries (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by Grogon@lemmy.world to c/casualconversation@lemm.ee

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So my last TV I bought I pretty much woke up, drank a coffee, walked to the tech store that isn't around anymore and got pretty much what I needed and went home happy and had a TV.

Either it is me in general but I hate having to upgrade tech nowadays. Even if it is just a friggin' smart phone I tend to go to deep into the subject and go through points I shouldnt care about because I'm not the target audience.

Like I don't care how great the cameras are now on phones. Yet when I have to upgrade duo to missing upgrades after 5 years I upgrade and then I read through all that non sense just to get the best out of the money I'll be dumping for features I won't ever use.

Ill compare Samsung S23, S23+ and Ultra and what ever and then read comments about how bad X is and company Y does better for the money and then it's to late.

Then I dump 12 hours into researching on youtube, trying to filter the company fanboys and the real talk people just to find out they are all "bought" and only 5% of the reviews aren't bought.

Now I am sitting here wanting to upgrade my 2011 TV and have to choose between LG G4, Samsung S90D, S94D, S95D and every single one of these tvs has negatives and pros and I am lost.

Might not just buy a tv and go drink coffee and play computer.

I personally would have went with the S95D from Samsung because I personally like matte screens more but funny enough most reviews critics are because it is a matte display and not glossy lol. I have huge windows behind my sofa and thought it might be cool but now I am not sure anymore duo to almost everyone saying how bad matte screens are for OLED TVs.

The dude in the shop said I should go with the S95D because it is cool if I have a lot of light sources and yes it has it's downsides because of the matte screen really bright scenes can create a "white cone" around the edge duo to matte screening but he also said it's something you won't notice or pay attention too when using it. I am not comparing G4, S90D and that TV when watching a movie.

I also don't watch a lot of TV at daylight but when I do I know reflections are annoying. And I also saw that the S95D performs great in the dark as well against other glossy OLED TVs even if it has a matte screen.

This again is probably a subject I shouldn't care about. It's like my TV right now is just displaying grey instead of black and I lived with it 12 years (happy). Either TV will be a huge upgrade for me. I could just save my time and buy the tv and be happy but no, I am here researching way to long for a friggin' TV. I am so deep in the TV subject now that I even know the S90D Series has a Panel Lottery because some TVs have OLEDs and some have QD OLEDS panels... like... honestly, if no one told me I would have been happy without QD panel and wouldn't have known but now that I know.... dunno not gonna buy.

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[-] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 50 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Then I dump 12 hours into researching on youtube

There's your problem!

Notebookcheck for phones and laptop is god tier. RTIngs is great for TVs.

[-] Intrama@lemmy.world 43 points 3 months ago

From what I've experienced the newer TVs aren't built for longevity. That's been a real disgusting revelation. I mean.. FFS.. you're expected to shell out a ton of cash but you can't have the peace of mind that it'll be there in working order 7 years from now. And even expecting that... There's almost an air about it that "what do you expect.. it's been 7 years, upgrade!"

So I feel you. Sorry for the rant.

[-] Grogon@lemmy.world 17 points 3 months ago

Yeah probably keeping my currently well running 2011 TV in the basement lol.

[-] kitnaht@lemmy.world 14 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I managed to find a 65" 1080p Non-smart TV with a VERY feint line on the right quarter-inch of the edge of the screen. (the blue pixels only) Lady said she'd take $75. I never got money out of my wallet so damn quick. Been happy with it for years. I wouldn't upgrade unless I had the money to plop down on a very large commercial display that didn't have any of the smart features.

[-] jeena@piefed.jeena.net 14 points 3 months ago

This is the main thing I'm afraid of when our TV gives up. Nowadays you can't buy non smart TVs anymore :(.

And the smart shit is always in the way. I just want it to turn on when the HDMI signal tells it to and show what my Chromecast or computer is showing. I don't want to first need to find the remote to click away all the advertisement.

[-] hoanbridgetroll@midwest.social 8 points 3 months ago

Just don’t put it on your home network. I have an LG C3(?) from 2018 that is a perfectly good dumb TV without the WiFi password.

[-] jeena@piefed.jeena.net 7 points 3 months ago

I will follow your advise once I have to buy a new one.

On the Chromecast I was able to replace the launcher so it doesn't show any advertisement and replaced the YouTube app with SmartTube with sponsor block so it doesn't even show ads and jumps over the sponsors and 'subscribe to this channel' reminders, it's awesome!

[-] bizarroland@fedia.io 7 points 3 months ago

Quick little hack, if you have to connect the TV to the internet once for setup purposes, create a hotspot on your phone and connect it that way and then turn off your hotspot once you are done.

Usually that will be enough to shut it up so that you don't have to keep fighting with it.

[-] DaGeek247@fedia.io 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

My rtings suggested tcl TV has the option to go straight to a specified input. Since I only have one device going to the TV, that's great. Plus I've never connected WiFi, so it doesn't try to break itself over time through software updates.

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[-] I_Miss_Daniel@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

When I bought my Chiq, the local tech who services them said that they'll last a long time if you don't crank the brightness all the way.

That may hold true for other sets as well.

[-] sloppy_diffuser@sh.itjust.works 12 points 3 months ago

They also don't last. I've bought 6 flat screens since 2006. 4 have died, all in the second year of ownership. 3 of those died on month 13, 1 month after the warranty. 1 of those died the day after the warranty expired...

I swear they plan for them to die right after warranty or I just have the worst luck. Doesn't matter if I spend $500 or $3000+ on name brand. I started saving money on the last two that died by insuring them. At this point I'm just leasing them until they die.

[-] Squibbles@lemmy.ca 4 points 3 months ago

Check with your credit card if you bought it that way. A lot of them offer warranty extensions that can double warranty length (up to an extra year). I've used it before once for a camera and it's a bit convoluted but it works. I think the process for me was to call the credit card company to confirm it would be covered, then getting a repair estimate from an authorized repair place. Then they either approve it and pay for the repair or pay you the original value if the repair would cost too much.

[-] sloppy_diffuser@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago

That is a good point, will have to check my benefits. Thanks!

[-] bizarroland@fedia.io 4 points 3 months ago

I am still mad about a horrible botched update on a Vizio TV that I bought back in 2017.

Turns out the fix was to call customer service and listen to them for an hour until they finally sent you the old firmware so that you could downgrade it, but until they sent me that and I went through that rigmarole pressing the source button would take an honest 15 seconds just to show the sources, it was so laggy and horrible that it just murdered me to use

That being said, after getting the fix it has been a good dumb TV. I run an old laptop I got from a pawn shop for $50 through it and it does all of the media viewing that I need.

Whatever TV I get I will not be connecting it to the internet. I probably won't buy a Vizio again, not going to get an LG or a Samsung, don't really know what my choices are but I'll figure it out when I get there

[-] sloppy_diffuser@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

The one that didn't die right array was also a botched update. Never got the firmware over email (Hisense). Vizio, Sony, and Samsung were the ones that died right after warrenty.

I use an external media box so I don't update them anymore.

[-] OpenStars@discuss.online 11 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I've not met anyone who enjoys buying things these days. Reviews aren't trustworthy, and even as I type this my hands burn from using a (checks notes) standard web browser app (Firefox, Android) - possibly my own fault for using Blokada VPN but iirc I've shut it off before and the issue still persists. On a Samsung Galaxy S22 for fucks sake!?!?!?

My next phone will probably be either a Fairphone, dumb phone (except I really need Google Maps rarely but occasionally), or maybe I'll get a pihole (or sth) on my home network and buy an iPhone, except I don't want to pay premium prices for just a handheld web browser attached to a phone and Maps device.

Anyway, companies don't sell what we want, only what they can extort from us to buy. If we don't like that then... well no, that's it, we have no choices between "become god-tier expert in every subject that we might ever want to make a purchase in, even once a decade", and "we enslave ourselves to the whimsy of chance to do with us what it wills".

[-] jeena@piefed.jeena.net 6 points 3 months ago

If you need google maps mostly in the car then my dad has been very happy with an external devise only for maps and gps, no need for a subscription, no need for internet, etc.

[-] OpenStars@discuss.online 2 points 3 months ago

I would think the map would need to be refreshed at some point, as new roads are built and such, but possibly that can be done manually somehow or at worst a trip to a mechanic.

But for me I sometimes need a device while traveling to another city I've never been to before. I suppose a laptop would mostly work.

[-] jeena@piefed.jeena.net 3 points 3 months ago

Yeah, like once a year or so my dad takes it home to the PC with him, connects it through a USB cable and puts an update on it.

[-] OpenStars@discuss.online 1 points 3 months ago

Oh wow that's awesome that it can use a standard cable. I imagine that varies per device like some built-in car ones might need a special one.

[-] Persen@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

You can just buy something like a used s10e and install a custom rom (without gapps) and osm (if specifically maps isn't required). It makes a practically dumb phone with a browser plus maybe some apks.

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[-] GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk 11 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

If it helps, I'd go for the LG G4. Or C4 if you want to reduce the cost a bit.
I've sworn off Samsung, just for the sheer levels of anticonsumer bullshit they pull.
I've had my CX off the network for its entire life. The Apple TV handles internet and playing media properly, the TV handles taking an HDMI lead and displaying the picture accurately.
The anti-glare it does have was still miles better than my previous plasma, even though the screen is glossy.

Check out AVForums for TV reviews, and just as a general thing, Which.
Though Which do sometimes struggle with comparing the technical details that matter.

And get it from somewhere that offers a decent warranty. If costco is the same in your area, you get 5 years on TVs so long as you maintain membership.

[-] invisiblegorilla@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I agree with this. I had a slew of Samsung's and they've been getting worse. Post purchase they installed apps that can't be removed and there's no space on it already. Ads in the fucking menu system and the tv isn't responsive like the older models. Fuck Samsung for TVs. They've fallen hard.

[-] neidu2@feddit.nl 10 points 3 months ago

The more I learn about the horrors of modern smart TVs and their ads and privacy breaches, the more I am convinced that I lucked out when I went to the store some years ago and picked up "any" TV that fit my requirements (and I didn't have many requirements).

I bought a pretty cheap Samsung. My todler broke the old TV, so I needed a new one on short notice. I wish it had one of those RF remotes instead of IR, but it's fine. The only "ads" I see is that when you turn it on, it defaults to a streaming service named Rakuten, and they always show Andromeda episodes. All of my kids know how to start their streaming service of choice, so nobody really cares.

[-] laughterlaughter@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

The last TV I had was a 55' inch dumb one. Absolutely NO smart features bullshit. And I had to leave it behind when I moved to a different country. The sound sucked, but that was fixed with a sound bar.

I miss that TV.

[-] Alchalide@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

Use it as a dumb panel. Don't connect it to the web.

[-] Ashtear@lemm.ee 9 points 3 months ago

Then I dump 12 hours into researching on youtube, trying to filter the company fanboys and the real talk people just to find out they are all “bought” and only 5% of the reviews aren’t bought.

To me, getting this kind of info in good faith without corporate sponsorship has been one of the most important functions of Reddit and something I hope Lemmy can take up as it grows. Even now, astroturfed content is much more common on Reddit than it was, and forget about any article with SEO good enough for one to even find on a search engine. At least Fakespot helps a little with the AI-generated reviews out there, but it's not going to catch anything written by a human in bad faith.

For what it's worth--and for posterity--the screen on the Samsung TV my father bought a few years ago is still going strong, but holy crap has the smart TV side of it been bad. One of the apps I used regularly (Steam Link) was outright discontinued and a couple others just stopped working. For whatever reason, it wipes out the app list on its own every few months or so, too. I ended up buying him a Fire Stick. At this point, all the smart TV functionality he's getting out of it is getting served ads on the menu. 🙄

[-] naevaTheRat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 3 months ago

I snapped and instead bought a large computer monitor, Edifier speakers + fossi BT amp, and use a computer running kodi to watch media now.

No apps, no end of support life, no subscriptions, no shitty UI, no ads etc. I power on and yay my shows. Can also play the radio/music through it and retro video games when feeling nostalgic, control through phone if needed.

Cost more (TVs subsidised because they sell your data) but I don't have to worry about that or learn some manufacturers bespoke and bizarre settings.

[-] Rolando@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Same, I haven't bought a TV since the 90s, it was a CRT ("tube"). Now I just do monitors hooked up to a linux box, or a Mac mini before that.

[-] laughterlaughter@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

duo

due*

You tripped me up with this one. I thought you were talking about Duolingo for a bit.

[-] dingus@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I think the difference isn't the TV tbh, it's you. People have always had the ability to dive deep into the differences in tech of various devices. There have always been in depth reviews of every item or phone.

The difference is the last time you purchased a TV, you didn't seem to care about all that. Guess what? You still don't. You could absolutely walk into any store that sells TVs, buy one on a whim that looks ok, and be perfectly fine. They are all just TVs. Sure, they have their differences, but they mostly function the same.

The same could be said for smartphones. Just grab one that looks decent and they mostly will have the same experience as one another unless you're some sort of power user.

Really, there are a butt load of people who actually don't know all the tech details. They stroll in the store and just buy something that looks ok within the price range they are willing to spend. Non-internet people are far more inclined to do this. Sometimes places like Lemmy and Reddit don't realize how little the general public knows or cares about tech...and they all manage to get by just fine.

If it bothers you to be this into tech reviews, just don't. Be spontaneous. They are all going to basically do the same thing.

[-] HelixDab2@lemm.ee 3 points 3 months ago

Just grab one that looks decent and they mostly will have the same experience as one another unless you’re some sort of power user.

My only big requirements for a phone has been that it has a physical headphone jack, a slot for a physical SIM, and a slot for a microSD card (since I usually have >100gb of music saved on my phone). That ends up taking the overwhelming majority of phones out of the running. I used to require a removeable battery, but I don't think those exist on any phones now.

[-] pascal67@lemmynsfw.com 3 points 3 months ago

I only know of one, the Samsung XCover6 Pro. They don't even advertise it because it is one of those "rugged" phones or whatever meant for work crews moreso than regular consumers. But it apparently has swappable battery, headphone, SD, and dual SIM so I'm thinking of giving it a shot. Haven't pulled the trigger yet though.

[-] thesohoriots@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

I was in a good spot when I got my tv. Literally two requirements: not a god-forsaken LG, and it had to have feet that would fit on an existing IKEA stand which was maybe three feet from end to end. Best Buy promptly showed me to the TVs for Poors aisle, and we measured the Samsung tv bases for the widest possible feet under 36”. Got an absolutely brain-melting 43” screen. Honestly very happy with it.

[-] Lifecoach5000@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

I don’t know too much about TVs these days. I know I’ve been happy with my mid level TCL I got prob 6 years ago. The black levels aren’t fantastic but I was long overdue for an upgrade.

I don’t think I saw this in your post but how big of a TV are you looking into purchasing?

[-] unmagical@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 months ago

If you were happy enough with your tech to hold onto it 5 years past its updates anything on the market today will please you.

I was looking at computer upgrades and started getting too in the weeds before remembering that anything available will be better than what it is replacing.

[-] mke@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago

Performance and general usability wise, yes, but I'm not sure that holds up for other aspects. What if I care about buying stuff that:

I can properly own
Is made to last
Is repairable
Doesn't bundle spyware (or bundles less of it)
Doesn't remove features I like (e.g. audio jacks)
Doesn't support shitty companies (or does so as little as possible)

And so on. You add up all those tiny worries and suddenly buying things becomes a nightmare, even if every option seems better on the surface.

I'm much more aware of this stuff now than I was over a decade ago and, sadly enough, I can't forget it. Ignorance was bliss.

[-] sentientity@lemm.ee 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

This is the hard part. I don’t care about picture quality or specs or anything. But I don’t own a tv or computer right now because it seems there is nothing out there that will be guaranteed to 1. Be compatible with everything I want to use it with and 2. Not make my life suck in sneaky, other ways. I just want things i can disconnect from the internet and plug other things into easily. It’s gotten so hard that it’s just not worth the money for me to own either.

[-] Persen@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

No devices have that anymore. I was looking for a phone for my cousin and the only decently preforming normally priced phone without permanent oem lock and a headphone jack was a poco f5. And it doesn't have a sdcard slot. If you are ok with practically e-waste, you can still buy a redmi/galaxy a15 and the overpriced xperias still have some legacy features. And if you want something as simple as usable battery pull-tabs, the only manufacturer still doing that is Xiaomi or maybe nokia's e-waste. And don't even mention the fairphone, as you can't justify the price.

[-] grue@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

For me, it's relatively simple because Sceptre is basically the only brand left that sells modern TVs that aren't "smart".

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[-] Hydra_Fk@reddthat.com 3 points 3 months ago

Have you tried not buying Tvs? I wonder the average number of TVs per household is in America?

[-] kitnaht@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

The number of TVs - Rapidly declining.

The number of screens - Rapidly increasing.

[-] pelletbucket@lemm.ee 2 points 3 months ago

I still go to Best Buy to buy a TV. whatever you do, don't get a Vizio. they look good, but the firmware is shit and if you update it to try to fix it, they break something else with every update

[-] nightwatch_admin@feddit.nl 2 points 3 months ago

Who cares? TVs won’t last long anyway, and they’re basically carriers for advertising anyway. If you’re only watching streaming content, buy an apple tv or similar and a decent monitor. Both will last much longer than a regular smort TV and are way better adaptable to your needs.