Dumb TVs deserve a comeback

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Problems with current smart TVs

  • Strong frustration with spying, targeted ads, dark-pattern UIs, and long boot times.
  • Many describe sluggish, buggy, short‑lived OSes baked into otherwise long‑lasting panels.
  • “Smart” layers are often unavoidable even when using HDMI only: nag screens, setup loops, and ad‑laden home screens still appear.
  • Concern that TVs are designed for frequent replacement, unlike older “dumb” sets.

Availability of “dumb” or less‑smart displays

  • True “dumb” consumer TVs are rare but not gone: some mention brands/models with no network hardware or minimal software, often with weaker panels, older specs, or poor stock.
  • Commercial / “digital signage” / hospitality displays and large “monitors” are widely available, typically ad‑free but much more expensive and sometimes optimized for brightness or 24/7 use rather than home cinema quality.
  • Projectors and high‑end gaming monitors are proposed as de‑facto dumb TVs, with trade‑offs in price, brightness, and setup complexity.

Workarounds and defensive setups

  • Common strategy: buy a smart TV, never connect it to the internet, and drive it via Apple TV, Nvidia Shield, Chromecast, Roku, HTPC, Raspberry Pi, or ISP set‑top box.
  • Some TVs offer “store/basic mode” or effectively dumb behavior if EULAs or Wi‑Fi setup are declined; others repeatedly nag or restart setup when offline. Reports conflict by brand/model and firmware.
  • Network measures: separate VLANs, Pi‑hole, firewall blocks, IP reservations; counterpoint that DoH and hardcoded endpoints can bypass DNS‑level blocking.

Economics and advertising

  • Widely accepted view: ad and data revenue heavily subsidize TV prices, making dumb SKUs uncompetitive; “you pay a premium for bullshit‑free.”
  • Some argue there would be a niche for ad‑free versions, especially on four‑figure OLEDs, citing other markets with paid no‑ads options. Others think the niche is too small to matter at mass scale.

Regulation and long‑term risks

  • Debate on regulation: some say it “could fix this,” others see GDPR as partial/uneven and doubt political will or fear capture that could entrench tracking and hinder DIY blocking tools.
  • Future concerns: embedded LTE/5G or use of neighbor/mesh networks, mandatory periodic online license checks, or HDMI‑layer ad insertion, making “never connect it” ineffective; currently speculative but seen as plausible.

Alternative visions

  • Desire for: a certified “DUMB” standard, modular/replaceable smart boards, or open‑source TV firmware.
  • Some opt out of TV entirely or use only local media (Blu‑ray, MKV + Jellyfin) to avoid streaming‑ecosystem tracking.