Non-smart TV options
Discussion
After years of Virgin Media we have moved to a non cable area so are looking at our tv options. Have decided we want to avoid smart tv's if possible bur would like to record/pause live tv, so the preferred route is a Roku box with a non-smart TV with Freeview Play. Not into huge sizes, about 40" would be fine. Does such a thing exist?
Smart Tv seem to have so much awful design-Samsung which means you have to have a samsung account and agree to their adverts before you use their TV... after youve paid for it.
There are other examples, but to me I'd like a non smart tv with the correct connections at the back for a smazon fire, now tv etc
There are other examples, but to me I'd like a non smart tv with the correct connections at the back for a smazon fire, now tv etc
williamp said:
Smart Tv seem to have so much awful design-Samsung which means you have to have a samsung account and agree to their adverts before you use their TV... after youve paid for it.
There are other examples, but to me I'd like a non smart tv with the correct connections at the back for a smazon fire, now tv etc
Id be very surprised if any TV failed to work as a normal TV just because it wasn't connected to the internet. I've not tried a Samsung but my Sony certainly works with out an internet conection.There are other examples, but to me I'd like a non smart tv with the correct connections at the back for a smazon fire, now tv etc
Not sure I see the issue with Smart TVs, we have 2 (one LG and one Samsung). Both do the job very conveniently and it's better than plugging a fire stick or Now TV in to them.
I know that as we also have 2 old Samsung TVs with a fire stick and a Now TV. They work well enough, but the smart TVs use one remote and it all works quite neatly. Despite being 5 years old, the LG TV works as new, whereas the Fire Stick is quite sluggish at times.
If this is a privacy thing, then you'll want to forgo all of the online options of course.
I know that as we also have 2 old Samsung TVs with a fire stick and a Now TV. They work well enough, but the smart TVs use one remote and it all works quite neatly. Despite being 5 years old, the LG TV works as new, whereas the Fire Stick is quite sluggish at times.
If this is a privacy thing, then you'll want to forgo all of the online options of course.
MikeM6 said:
Not sure I see the issue with Smart TVs, we have 2 (one LG and one Samsung). Both do the job very conveniently and it's better than plugging a fire stick or Now TV in to them.
I know that as we also have 2 old Samsung TVs with a fire stick and a Now TV. They work well enough, but the smart TVs use one remote and it all works quite neatly. Despite being 5 years old, the LG TV works as new, whereas the Fire Stick is quite sluggish at times.
If this is a privacy thing, then you'll want to forgo all of the online options of course.
There does seem to a common complaint that smart TV's stop updating their apps after a few years where as sticks/PVR's seem to keep them updated.I know that as we also have 2 old Samsung TVs with a fire stick and a Now TV. They work well enough, but the smart TVs use one remote and it all works quite neatly. Despite being 5 years old, the LG TV works as new, whereas the Fire Stick is quite sluggish at times.
If this is a privacy thing, then you'll want to forgo all of the online options of course.
The only app still working on my telly is the BBC iPlayer one. Admittedly it's a ten year old Panasonic, but quite a few of the apps stopped working after a relatively short time.
Problem with a lot of smart TVs is that the manufacturers push the smart stuff heavily, even though their hardware isn't up to it. So the TV channel selection menu bit is integrated into the Smart stuff, rather than the other way around like it used to be. I can see why you would just want to be able to turn on the TV and use the up/down buttons to change TV channel and have the smart stuff completely invisible. Especially in a couple of years time when everything has stopped working.
To be fair, they're mostly on Android now, so apps stopping working should be less of an issue, but still.....
If you actually want to use Smart stuff, use your choice of smart box - Google Chromecast TV, Firestick etc. Use their remote, press the button and the TV will open straight to HDMIwhatever and drop you straight into that content. One remote, no rubbish.
To be fair, they're mostly on Android now, so apps stopping working should be less of an issue, but still.....
If you actually want to use Smart stuff, use your choice of smart box - Google Chromecast TV, Firestick etc. Use their remote, press the button and the TV will open straight to HDMIwhatever and drop you straight into that content. One remote, no rubbish.
My LG OLED can pause, record etc. Had to plug in an external SSD.
Admittedly, it does have a heap of smart features, but these can be ignored and not used. They're just apps you use on demand and not a necessity.
You wont find new tv's with smart features. It's by and large just software, so there's no real cost to putting it onto each machine.
Admittedly, it does have a heap of smart features, but these can be ignored and not used. They're just apps you use on demand and not a necessity.
You wont find new tv's with smart features. It's by and large just software, so there's no real cost to putting it onto each machine.
Thanks for the replies. My aversion to smart TVs is based on a couple of things: I'm not keen on the longevity of the TV being determined by the manufacturer's willingness to keep it updated and also the privacy aspect.
My current TV that I used with a VM box is well over 10 years old and works fine. I want to change it as it is too small for our new house and it doesn't have the pause/record facility. Sounds like I need to start perusing Gumtree etc.
My current TV that I used with a VM box is well over 10 years old and works fine. I want to change it as it is too small for our new house and it doesn't have the pause/record facility. Sounds like I need to start perusing Gumtree etc.
williamp said:
Smart Tv seem to have so much awful design-Samsung which means you have to have a samsung account and agree to their adverts before you use their TV... after youve paid for it.
There are other examples, but to me I'd like a non smart tv with the correct connections at the back for a smazon fire, now tv etc
I've just bought a brand new Samsung, didn't have to sign up for anything There are other examples, but to me I'd like a non smart tv with the correct connections at the back for a smazon fire, now tv etc
DaffyT4 said:
Thanks for the replies. My aversion to smart TVs is based on a couple of things: I'm not keen on the longevity of the TV being determined by the manufacturer's willingness to keep it updated and also the privacy aspect.
My current TV that I used with a VM box is well over 10 years old and works fine. I want to change it as it is too small for our new house and it doesn't have the pause/record facility. Sounds like I need to start perusing Gumtree etc.
The apps dont determine the longevity of a TV. Even if they all stop, it will still be a TV that you can input anything you like to it.My current TV that I used with a VM box is well over 10 years old and works fine. I want to change it as it is too small for our new house and it doesn't have the pause/record facility. Sounds like I need to start perusing Gumtree etc.
You do sound a little paranoid. But listen to the comment you've had here and you will be fine. The fact you are using the internet to access Pistonheads means you have no privacy, if you look at it that way. But unless oyu are a russian spy or watch illegal porn, no one is interested in your viewing habits.
DaffyT4 said:
I'm not keen on the longevity of the TV being determined by the manufacturer's willingness to keep it update
The solution to that is to buy a separate smart streaming device, eg the Google Chromecast or the Amazon Firestick or similar, then you're just replacing that bit if it becomes obsolete and they're cheap. But you don't need to go that route until you decide the TV's apps are sufficiently out of date, it shoudl be enough to know you can fix it if it's a problem down the line.TBH, trying to buy a TV that isn't smart ìs going to be like trying to buy a new family car without modern safety features. Virtually evertthing is smart, from the top-end right down to almost the bottom of the barrel.
'Smart' is a big part of Freeview Play. Without smart it's just a Freeview TV. The Internet connection is how the extra bits that make Play work work. No smart then no iPlayer, ITV hub, or any of the other catch-up services that are integrated in to the EPG. The guide won't look back in time without an Internet connection enabling the smart features.
It's time to rethink your plan.
'Smart' is a big part of Freeview Play. Without smart it's just a Freeview TV. The Internet connection is how the extra bits that make Play work work. No smart then no iPlayer, ITV hub, or any of the other catch-up services that are integrated in to the EPG. The guide won't look back in time without an Internet connection enabling the smart features.
It's time to rethink your plan.
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