🚫 Don't Buy a Smart TV in 2025 - Here's Why! 🚫

[@johnbowles4754]

I've got a 17 year old Samsung tv and I won't buy another till it's completely dead, thanks for keeping us in the loop. 😊

[@akj2012]

I don’t have a smart tv either. I’ve been having my 32 inch Emerson tv since 2010. No problems. And i have a Firestick connected. So I’m with you. Agreed

[@cwtek1]

I agree there is no point throwing away a perfectly good TV.

[@StreetLewis-l7m]

Wow l you got a 17 year old TV you've done well I know people that I've only had that TV for 2 years and it's dead

[@johnbowles4754]

@@StreetLewis-l7m thank you 😊 👍

[@ksumar]

@@akj2012 You can, and should upgrade to Sharp 55" Roku Smart 4K TV for £279 from Tesco! That's 3X more viewing area. Enjoy 😊!

[@markroberts666]

Actually don't bother with a TV full stop, unless you're happy to be force fed shit from all the main channels

[@cwtek1]

Good that you have the internet as an alternative for your entertainment.

[@cjay2]

@@cwtek1 'alternative'? Why do you need to be entertained? Nothing better to do with your time?

[@nilobeebee]

​@@cjay2So what are you doing here commenting on a KZbin video if not entertaining yourself? Educating yourself?

[@andrewdonohue1853]

My 55" tv is hooked up to my pc. I watch whatever I want and play pc games. Sound quality? I have a pioneer av receiver, 5 speakers and a subwoofer. Never rely on a tv for built in audio

[@johnbgood52]

@@nilobeebee Trolling.

[@Kivetonandrew]

My 16 year old plasma Panasonic has no smart facility but works perfectly well with my latest Amazon Firestick. Does all I need.

[@cwtek1]

I am glad to hear your 16 year old plasma is still going strong!

[@stilmotionpicture]

Wow plasma! lol I almost forgot about those plasma haha. Did you guys ever get a burn in?

[@30kendel]

Mine is 15 years old and still working fine 720p though 😅

[@mattus1gig]

I got my Panasonic plasma a few weeks before I got married, that was back in 2003! Cost me thousands and still works.

[@paul5683]

My old plasma TV works great too. I had a Sony DLP before that and I never had a problem with it either because I have always used a power conditioner that would clean up the power that I feed the TV s. The power conditioner is made by Monster. It cost a couple of hundred dollars when I bought the DLP . Funny thing, when I sold the DLP to a guy I worked with and the TV was working just fine. But I kept the power conditioner for my next TV. The DLP died in a couple of weeks and the guys house. I helped him move it to his house and when he plugged it in you could see a little arc of electricity at the plug. That DLP was crazy bright, when there would be video of arc welding on the TV. The arc light would hurt my eyes, I would have to shield my eyes from the light.

[@melike1984]

There is nothing on TV worth watching so a very easy choice for me not to buy a tv at all.

[@cwtek1]

No point in buying a TV if you are not going to watch it!

[@hollowmoon7766]

@@cwtek1 Exactly. I have a Samsung 8 series wich was given to me and I use it as a monitor basically with my pc. There's rarely anything on tv worth watching these days.

[@claudedecruyenaere3161]

So true

[@ConorHanley]

True, unfortunately the wife likes to watch S. Korean soap's

[@carlmorgan8452]

Propaganda Twisting our brains

[@Philip---pip267]

I have hoped for years that manufacturers would stop selling so called tvs altogether. The effort to contain everything in one box like 40 years ago is futile. Instead, they should call them media displays, and they should only contain a 4k screen and a multitude of every input under the sun. They won't, as its all about making money, but you are so correct here. Upstairs I have an 8 year old Toshiba that won't even go online properly let alone use an app. Another friend has a 5 year old Samsung that cannot have itv x. I already have 3 firesticks and only 2 tvs, they're 3 year old Sonys. People should be generally aware that in the UK, even if you have an old school Tube TV going back as far as 1965 you can use it with a fire stick. All you need is a powered hdmi to phono or scart converter box for a few pounds. Then run the output of that to a Uhf modulator box costing around £5 to £10. I did it on an old black and white TV with spares from my junk box and the kids thought it was hilarious. You'll need your nose up to the screen to read the you tube thumbnails though!

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for letting us know about your setups, and about the UHF Modulator box.

[@williamsmiler184]

Like playing Fallout 😊

[@Tebbit38]

So u don't have to have smart TV for a firestick

[@Philip---pip267]

@@Tebbit38 No, that's the whole point. And if it there is no hdmi input it can still be done with adapters. Even without having any problems with your TV at all, it's worth it. You are better off, because you do not suffer the certain app restrictions that a lot of TV manufacturers employ with using their own software. Full Android all the way.

[@Tebbit38]

@Philip---pip267 would be doogee u9 tablet work mate. Not very good with tech help would be grateful thanks

[@kblectronix]

I fix TVs as part of my living. I agree with most of this. But lot of people still just want DTV in the UK i.e. aerial in free TV. I recommend only Sony and LG telly's as the rest of them (toshiba, panasonic and supermarket brands) all come from Vestel in Turkey, terrible quality products that just don't last. The old school brands should be ashamed for branding this rubbish as their own. They're slow right out of the box and the picture is bad, menu options are impossible to fix the screen. And on top of that the failure rate is very high due to bad backlight and total panel failure. If the TV is still working, a set top box of some sort with DTV is the only economical way forward. Sorry for the rant. 😀

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for the information, Sony and LG are my favourites for picture quality too.

[@vudusid8717]

Would you put Samsung in with the bad ones?

[@dieseldragon6756]

@@vudusid8717 My understanding is that - Like any resident of the DPRK commenting on Pyongyangs public transportation - Many people „Can't complain“ about Samsung televisions... ⛓

[@edwardmacnab354]

The Telly is the tell , and maybe the teeth

[@fjp3305]

And what about TCL TVs?

[@stevvieb]

Well said. A TV is for looking at no matter what smart apps it may have at the time of being brought, Us oldies have always known this. I have a little stand alone PC that runs rings around even the top of the range smart TV and it has no camera or mic so LG/Google/Amazon can't farm that data.

[@cwtek1]

That's great, thanks for sharing!

[@Checker63]

My uncle bought a Sony TV. Smart. 3D etc. £1000+. Didn't use it much. Missed an ota update. It went dumb. Won't connect to WiFi etc. Phoned Sony support. Nothing that can be done. It's got fantastic picture and sound. So now it's used with a roku.

[@cwtek1]

I am glad to hear that you sorted it with a Roku, the Sony would have probably only slowed down anyway!

[@lyleg.9192]

If he couldn't get a file that was downloadable or to an ISO CD for that update and that is a failure on the manufacturer's part regardless of the OTA

[@amoebavirus1508]

Should still be able to upgrade the sw via a usb. If you can get the sw?

[@timnelson6334]

I had a Sony point and shoot camera, it worked great until I couldn't see the pictures on the memory card. Sony stopped supporting the software in the camera and I've been buying Canon ever since.

[@megapangolin1093]

Best thing is to give up on a TV, the programmes are getting worse and worse. I really didnt realise, not having bought a TV in 14 years just how degraded the TV ownership experience now is regarding the computing power. Surely for a few pounds a decent processor and RAM can be purchased and save throwing millions of TVs away. Well done Chris.

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for your comments, I know what you mean about TV programs.

[@ulflyng]

👍

[@Philip---pip267]

@@megapangolin1093 I cancelled the licence 4 years ago owing to the programmes and never watching anything. I was paying effectively just to see the news. Now I have you tube and Netflix instead, and my TV has never had so much use In 40 years. I don't even watch itv x. or all4 etc, as the programmes are the same as what you get on live. Its just as if you recorded it. For me its not about saving the money, but more like being made pay for something you do not want or use.

[@vthomas375]

Exactly, just brainwashing from the Cult. The cartoons on the 2D screens are correct and practical reality is wrong? I don't think so.

[@davewallace5008]

I spent 3 hours just sifting through Netflix, Prime, Paramount+, ITVX and so on to find something to watch; in the end I just switched it off. These days I get bored with the box really quickly as it tends to either stream the same diatribe (bbc and so on) or put mind crushing programs on like strictly, baking and soaps, all gendered towards the woke narrative. I prefer to sit and read a book now than watch that mind-numbing box and I can feel that one day soon, it is going to be thrown out the window.

[@dennisc6716]

My TVs only act as computer monitors now. Everything I watch comes through computers running Linux so I've been sort of upgrade proof.

[@cwtek1]

That’s great, I must have a go at setting up,a Linux media centre.

[@dieseldragon6756]

@@cwtek1 The minor irony in that comment - Speaking as a Linux user myself - Is that any Android-based „smart“ TV is already running Linux (At least at the kernel level)... 📺🐧😉

[@stellviahohenheim]

​@@dieseldragon6756It doesn't matter what OS it's running, the problem is tv's can't be upgraded heck they don't want it to even be repairable. Go and buy a new one when yours is broken, it's cheap for a short time but in the long run it costs more and it's more e-waste than something you can repair and upgrade

[@infopackrat]

@dieseldragon6756 Yes. But it's the google stuff that gets loaded after that which is the concern

[@erica1399]

​@@cwtek1 sadly many streaming services block Linux meaning they are inaccesible on Linux devices, say there are more pirates on Linux vs Windows/Android/IOS, I honestly hate that, would rather not use Windows 11 tbh.

[@dennispennington9773]

This makes sense, Chris. I have 3 TV's and none are smart TV's but I use other apps to make them operate as a smart TV. This whole process is an ongoing thing of course, but my daughter has a smart TV and has more problems with it than I do with mine.

[@cwtek1]

Sorry to hear of yours and your daughters issues with Smart Tv's.

[@Barbarapape]

I have been in the A/V repair trade since the early 70's and have watched with horror at times as to how much worse the next generation of technology leaves us with inferior products. Plasma TV'S were the first flat panel ones at a price.then LCD became available and your electric bill went down, great until they introduced the smart features that were ran with underated SOC's that struggle when new, once you add more apps the slower they become. I still have a Plasma that way outperforms these 4k ones with SD or HD content all fed via an Apple TV box. Don't waste your money on the latest model just because they claim it is brighter, it won't remain that long if you run it with out of the box settings.

[@LubosHozzan]

Exactly! "Stupid TV" without artificial "planing aging" is much much better, like newer smart TV, which you must trow away every few years. Yes, buy TV for what is it and connect any "smart devices" to add some features. As a smart device you can use computer also and have "smart TV" without any "planing aging". Basically forever, or until one thing died (TV itself or "smart device") or until you want to maintain it :).

[@rschier1]

@@Barbarapape I had a 2006 Panasonic Plasma, and actually bought another one in 2012 knowing that they were likely going to be discontinued. To me, Plasma was the best, with perhaps certain OLED's not too far behind. Smart TV ? That is what a firestick is for.....

[@Jack_Warner]

I've got a 14 year old Panasonic TV. It isn't a Smart Arse TV, but it performs faultlessly. I always buy Panasonic. I had a Microwave that lasted 32 years.

[@cwtek1]

Wow, I hope your TV lasts as long as your Microwave!

[@andrewbrazier9664]

Likely the then new Pansonic 1080p series we have Not as slimline & very heavy but better sound to. I worked in the trade, purchased it Autumn 2009 👍

[@dirkfrazier9779]

@@cwtek1 A microwave serves you, a TV...

[@cwtek1]

@dirkfrazier9779 😂

[@crewmax4240]

And never buy an extended warranty. When it dies there will be more advanced and probably cheaper ones available!

[@cwtek1]

My Sony TV came with a 6 year warranty as standard but it seems warranties don’t cover software issues.

[@jugaloking69dope58]

@@cwtek1 buy one from costco! extended warranties are just a extra fee for ignorance people. insurance is a better option for something expensive or important like a phone.

[@Charonupthekuiper]

I tried to argue that with a salesman once when buying a camcorder (using tape). He was adamant they wouldn't get any cheaper!

[@cwtek1]

@Charonupthekuiper 😂

[@jasejj]

Never *buy* a warranty, yes, but always try to get an extended warranty for free (John Lewis, Richer Sounds, Costco etc) wherever possible, as newer televisions have been becoming very unreliable of late. Chinese panels commonly fail after a couple of years, the backlights also fail in short order.

[@OneofInfinity.]

I got one better Chris: don't buy anything "smart" the tech is going to be wrongly used against hard working people.

[@cwtek1]

I would still buy Smart if the picture is better than non smart TVs but just dont connect it to the internet, that will stop if connecting to the outside world.

[@b.k.c.4076]

I'm B.K.C. and I approve of this message!!!

[@cwtek1]

@ Thanks for your approval 😂

[@briananderson7285]

Never forget that smart once ment hurt or pain.

[@lgrantnelson2863]

I got away from smart TVs and use a projector. I built an 8'x5' screen. I have a TV tuner, DVD player, an HDMI switch and a computer with a 5.1 computer speaker system. If one component fails I replace it instead of a TV. It's just like being at the theater. Turn the lights out and let it roll.

[@cwtek1]

Wow great setup.

[@edwardmacnab354]

what do you mean by projector ?

[@s3enu]

@@edwardmacnab354 .... I would imagine a device which" projects" video and images to a large screen .. Not a screen based device in itself

[@mathewcooper7402]

I did the same. I then simply setup a separate Android TV box and connected it to my projector.

[@lgrantnelson2863]

@@edwardmacnab354 the inexpensive version of a projector businesses use for multimedia presentations. Found one at a Bi-Mart store where I live, in the electronics department. Best Buy has them at a higher price point.

[@addier44]

Yes Chris, I have a six year old Sony Bravia that recently had no end of problems with the apps and online connection dropping. Then it wouldn't switch from apps back to TV viewing, just a black screen. Had to reset the tv and didn't sign in to WiFi or Google account. Plugged in my firestick which is older than the tv itself. Now all working fine and I can access apps and streaming services through the old firestick. 👍

[@cwtek1]

I am glad you found a way around these issues, like I have!

[@glennso47]

The black screen might have been more entertaining than the regular program. 😂

[@TomTomicMic]

I use a Alexa fire cube it's "generally" rapid and updates my 15 YO 55" Sony Bravia TV to smart again, had a problem with TV turning off but just disabled eco mode!?!

[@andrewjohnson6633]

I've got a Samsung 40" TV I bought for the 2012 Olympics. It isn't "smart" but it works quite happily with a Roku or Firestick and is presently working with a Sky Q satellite box. 13 years and still going strong.

[@cwtek1]

Great to hear.

[@johnmoran1481]

I bought a TV before smart TVs even existed. I use it with a Chromecast HD, it is as good as any smart TV, and the picture and sound are beautiful even after many years of use. I also have 3 films OTA recorders so I can watch TV and record 3 channels at the same time, after 15 years of use they still work perfectly. My. total cost for the television and the recorders was $2000.And I don't pay for any services to operate this stuff, I do pay for internet but I would have that anyway. Fifteen years of free TV!

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for sharing information about your setup.

[@dirkfrazier9779]

That's what it is all about, "free"!

[@gordhenry1684]

I bought a 65 inch Sony smart TV with Android 6 years ago and it still works perfectly with my apps. Kodi etc

[@cwtek1]

I am glad to hear that, it does seem to be a rare occurrence these days.

[@mikegilgenbach4840]

Did you buy the top of the line flagship Sony at the time?

[@fritzkabeano1969]

The key is not bogging down the tv with too many apps and erasing the cache of ones you keep once in a while. Most of the free channel apps have the same channels so getting rid of the redundant ones is no loss. Basically "keep it simple". Your phone can handle tons of "use only once in a while" apps but google tv can't.

[@mikldude9376]

Your lucky , we have a Sony smart TV and it's sluggish as hell , and has been from brand new , the picture and sound are good , but the interaction between the user and the remote control and the telly are not good , sometimes the TV will freeze up or become unresponsive and I have to o power the TV down and restart it , and this is at the very least a weekly event, bloody annoying . Don't get me wrong it's a nice TV with all the bells and whistles, but at times it's a pain in the ass , it is getting some years on it now , but even when it was new it was sluggish in the user interface and had freezing issues . And I suspect this problem was as mentioned in the video that the computer side of it's smart functions where under powered. Edit : once bitten twice shy , next time we update the TV , special consideration will be given to its hardware .

[@gordhenry1684]

No, I didn't buy the top of the line model. My tv certainly wasn't cheap but it was definitely not their top of the line model ​@mikegilgenbach4840

[@saviordream]

I bought a 77" LG CX about 4 years ago and the smart features are still working great. Being one of their higher-end models though, that's kind of to be expected. That said, a couple of months ago I bought an Onn 4K Pro box and have started using that instead. As I said, no real problems with the LG, but I wanted to try something different, and for the low cost of the Onn it was worth it. Plus, while things are fine now, I don't know how much longer LG will keep supporting the TV, so this is kind of future proofing myself.

[@cwtek1]

Good thinking with the onn box also I find the App Store on LGs quite restrictive so the onn has opened you up to a expanded world of apps.

[@marcuscole8796]

My 65C7 from 2017 received another fw-update TODAY ... so at least 3 more years for your CX I'd assume...

[@geoffclements269]

Bought my Samsung Series 5 F5500 in 2013, it's still going strong but many apps have stopped working. Added a Roku Streambar last year, it's a great upgrade, sounds good too.

[@cwtek1]

Great upgrade, perhaps get a streaming stick to get your apps back if you miss them.

[@geoffclements269]

@@cwtek1 The great thing about the Roku Streambar is that it's a sound bar and a streaming stick in one item, so it's two upgrades in one (if your telly as poor speakers, otherwise just get a streaming stick)

[@waltercoslovi6404]

I live in Australia, we a 2005 Panasonic 42in Plasma TV, I will be keeping it until it dies, original I was told it will only last 6 years. It is attached to a new Telstra Fetch box, just works great. Note Telstra in Australia owns a majority stake in Fetch

[@dieseldragon6756]

Telstra owing most of Fetch sounds entirely ordinary for a communications company. The same thing happened several years ago in France, where several regional cable operators were bought-up by Orange, who then started doing their own DTV/Internet TV services. 📺🇫🇷🟠

[@cwtek1]

these plasma's do seem to be work horses and have in the main outlived they're expected life.

[@dieseldragon6756]

Telstra owing most of Fetch sounds entirely ordinary for a communications company. The same thing happened several years ago in France, where several regional cable operators were bought-up by Orange, who then started doing their own DTV/Internet TV services. 📺🇫🇷🟠 (Reposted b/c KZbin and * _mumble mumble mumble_ * silеncing of LGBT users...)

[@hottuna7]

@@cwtek1 That's mostly because the "lifespan" they quote is almost wholly dependent upon the number of hours the screen has been used. For most modern TV's, the screen's lifespan is 8,000 hours.

[@wm437]

The real reason these tv's crap out after you buy them is CORPORATE GREED !!!!!!!!! memory and processing power are dirt cheap. I can pick up 256GB memory sticks for pennies. A powerful android processor will cost just a little more. Why not offer the tv with no apps, no processor and no bloatware. Just a tuner and a screen like a TV used to be. Will save a lot of money for everyone.

[@cwtek1]

Definitely they cut so many corners to keep production costs to a minimum!

[@IronHorsey3]

Fascinating problem. Repaired my friend’s 2006 Panasonic Plasma. No spying or these issues.

[@cwtek1]

Thats great, we should try and keep these older TVs working for as long as we can!

[@IronHorsey3]

@@cwtek1 - darn thing works great and has such great performance. Think the 2006 Pioneer was top of the heap. It's a Pioneer not Panasonic. Also have a 2013 LG and repaired that one all by myself with replacement strips. It took a while but it keeps working.

[@MegaBadgeman]

I use my laptop for viewing you tube, BBCi Player, ITVX and the like then put it through the HMDI port. Been doing it for several years now and never looked back.. It's sometimes slightly inconvenient scanning back and forth but other then that it's fairly simple to do.

[@cwtek1]

I did the same thing too, I also had a MCE remote!

[@clivewu9721]

Laptop is a good work around or even consider a mini PC to do the same jobs as you have mention.

[@teardowndan5364]

My Samsung Smart TV is used primarily as a large-format secondary monitor for my PC for 1/3 the price of a comparable 4k PC monitor at the time. I haven't bothered activating its smart functions, all it does is stay on HDMI1 and I connect it to the internet about twice a year over Ethernet for software updates.

[@cwtek1]

You probably don't actually need any software updates unless you have any problems with the screen!

[@teardowndan5364]

@@cwtek1 One of the first updates fixed a few HDMI connectivity issues. Haven't noticed what the other updates after that have improved since I most likely don't use whatever they changed. Still getting random black screens when using a PS4 Pro in 4k60/RGB though, kind of hoping a firmware update will eventually fix that. Unlikely to happen on a 6yo TV.

[@johnurban7333]

I agree on the picture quality. Sound doesn’t matter to be because I turn it off and use a soundbar instead.

[@cwtek1]

Most TV's now have pretty bad sound, but there are still a few which just about get away without a soundbar.

[@johnurban7333]

@ I did not know that.

[@simonochana3189]

I’ve never used the smart features of my smart tv’s. I have a games console connected to them, so I access the smart features that way. 📺

[@cwtek1]

A great way of doing things.

[@craigostopovich4860]

Indeed ...thanks to ps3 ps4 😂

[@grahamkelly8662]

I tried Netflix on ps4/5 and pic was so dark. I went back to using the to app

[@adetone3252]

I have a 7 year old LG OLED and 10 year old Samung LED and both are still working fine event though I have kept the software updates up to date.

[@cwtek1]

I am glad to hear that.

[@ksumar]

@@adetone3252 LG OLED is King 👑... 😊 I love the remote pointer which I use for tutoring when connecting a 💻!

[@mikegilgenbach4840]

I would bet you would change your mind about how well they work if you got one of the smart boxes for your tv and used it for a couple weeks. Then try and go back to using your tv OS

[@Timborob]

@@mikegilgenbach4840 I have a 49" LG 3d tv from 2016 and the performance of running Netflix and Disney + apps have not changed got any slower for me running on standard internet speed. Usually within 15 seconds from clicking Neflix app i am in and ready to choose something to watch. How much faster is it on your newer device ?

[@madwarrior84]

In my opinion, go with separate streaming devices , rather it be Roku stick , fire stick , or an Apple TV,, that will alleviate a lot of the issues…

[@cwtek1]

Surely just the one streaming device is enough! My Firestick has every app I need!

[@LeChef5269]

I use a Nokia Streaming Box 8000 8GB for a few yaers now, works great. There is also a newer model, the 8010, that's even better.

[@fookorf]

@@cwtek1 reading comprehension.

[@MegaBadgeman]

Number one rule ,one tool for one job.

[@NoEgg4u]

Ask yourself if you are purchasing 1) a TV, or 2) a computer with a huge monitor and no keyboard. If you are required to connect your TV to the internet, then you purchased #2, and should not have done that. When you purchase #2, you do not really own the TV -- at least not having control of it. You are renting control of the TV. Why? The manufacturer can disable your TV at their whim, and there is nothing you can do about it. Roku TVs required customers to agree to terms and conditions, or the TV would not work -- not even inputs to watch from, for example, your DVD player. You had no choice but to agree to Roku's terms, unless you wanted to carry the TV back to the store, or ship it back, etc, assuming you would be able to get a refund. You might get hit with a restocking fee, depending on the store. And the above is after you paid and took delivery of the TV and hooked it up. That is when the manufacture says "Surprise!", when you plug in your TV. Accept the agreement, or take a hike. There is no mention of such forced compliance in the sale's listing. So what is in the agreement? You agree that you are not permitted to sue the manufacturer. So if the TV catches on fire, and burns down your home, well... too bad. And you agree to allow the manufacturer to run any code that they want on your TV / computer. And once you connect your TV / computer to the internet, you now have it on your home's local network, where it will have access to your Windows PCs and anything other devices in your home. And that agreement... well... you gave permission to allow the manufacturer to collect any and all information it chooses about any and all of your devices. Since (#2, above) is not really a TV (it is a computer), your TV will spy on you and phone home (in a manner of speaking). Your TV will keep track of everything you ever had on your screen (yes, even that). Also key employees will be able to turn on your TV's built-in camera. They designed your TV / computer. They send your TV / computer updates. They control everything that your TV does. Ergo, they can control your TV's camera. And if the camera has a light that turns on when in use, they control that light, too. The light is independent of the camera. TVs should never (literally never) slow down. "Smart" means rented, at the mercy of the manufacturer, and built-in spyware. The manufacturers actually make the customers feel good about the TV being smart. Avoid smart TVs.

[@Dystopikachu]

I don't have Roku TV's in my country as far as I'm aware, but I've owned many "smart TV's" and never once have I been required to connect them to the internet to use them. They work just fine scrolling through signal inputs, not one complaint or annoying popup in 10 years time. Also, if you are considering buying a TV with a built-in camera maybe just don't? Get one of the vast majority which don't have a camera... Your phone is still going to, or has the capacity to, spy on you all the same. If you have a problem with the arbitration clause in a terms of use agreement for a television, oh boy do I have bad news for you when it comes to to all the rest of the products and services you buy... On a positive note your TV is a very low-power device without any batteries and not very likely to burn your house down.

[@redpillnibbler4423]

I just want a quality tv set to watch dvd/blue ray discs.

[@cwtek1]

Interesting read, thanks for your comments!

[@NoEgg4u]

@@Dystopikachu "I don't have Roku TV's in my country as far as I'm aware" Please check and let us know. "but I've owned many "smart TV's" and never once have I been required to connect them to the internet to use them." It depends on the model. And once one company gets away with it, the others join in (the others will not miss out on any opportunity). "...not one complaint or annoying popup in 10 years time." Ten years ago, this was not an issue. One of the key points of our host's video was the TV (computer) slowing down over time. That is due to its internet connection. A TV should not need an internet connection to function. "Also, if you are considering buying a TV with a built-in camera maybe just don't?" 1) That limits your choices. 2) How many people know that the manufacturer can control the camera in your home? The point is that the manufacturer can control your camera, and does not reveal to the customer that they can. "Your phone is still going to, or has the capacity to, spy on you all the same." So if your child is getting ripped off in school, then it is okay for your child to be ripped off on his way to school, too? Your position is why some humans are no different than a frog in a pot of water, with the flame turned on. "If you have a problem with the arbitration clause in a terms of use agreement for a television, oh boy do I have bad news for you when it comes to to all the rest of the products and services you buy" People like you, who cowardly surrender their freedom, and capitulate to your overlords, are why we have so many issues with big tech companies invading our privacy. You make excuses for them. You bow before them. Pathetic. "On a positive note your TV is a very low-power device without any batteries and not very likely to burn your house down." I offered one example of the customer giving up their right to sue the manufacturer. Rather than grasping the sordid concept of businesses trying to force people from being made whole, in the event of a legal issue, you again come to the defense of the highly improper, devious actions of those companies. Perhaps you should purchase motor vehicle insurance that does not allow you to make any claims or collect on any damages?

[@Dystopikachu]

@@NoEgg4u "Please check and let us know" I did, I can't find any Roku branded sets in retail stores in Sweden where I live. Do you know of any other TV brands that force you to connect to the internet to use them, even just at setup? I worked at a major electronics retail store up until about 2 years ago and I never encountered something like that. I would find such practices highly problematic personally and would avoid brands that do it. "Ten years ago, this was not an issue." Not 10 years ago. In 10 years time. I've installed more TV sets during the past 10 years than I can count, and the last one I have I bought not even a year ago. "One of the key points of our host's video was the TV (computer) slowing down over time. That is due to its internet connection. A TV should not need an internet connection to function." It doesn't need an internet connection to function. If all you're doing is turning it on and letting it display an HDMI signal, it will never slow down regardless of how many software updates you apply. "The point is that the manufacturer can control your camera, and does not reveal to the customer that they can." Yep that is a problem, same as with every single mobile device with a camera except in this case you can choose not to connect it to the internet. I still wouldn't get a TV with a camera though unless I can make 100% sure the device isn't actively scanning for a Wifi network, revealing an SSID etc. You never know if in a few years down the line somebody comes up with an exploit you can inject locally. So your point about limiting choices I fully agree. People should simply not buy these devices, and possibly legislators should step in and ban them since they're a security threat. Not because of the manufacturer having control of the camera, but because these devices get very little to no security patching. Imagine a school, hospital or airport having hackable cameras with excellent view on standby 24/7. Complete nightmare. "People like you, who cowardly surrender their freedom, and capitulate to your overlords, are why we have so many issues with big tech companies invading our privacy. You make excuses for them. You bow before them. Pathetic" "I offered one example of the customer giving up their right to sue the manufacturer. Rather than grasping the sordid concept of businesses trying to force people from being made whole, in the event of a legal issue, you again come to the defense of the highly improper, devious actions of those companies." You don't know anything about my view on the subject. My original post was motivated by some your opinions that I found ill-informed, but I'm 100% with you that it should be illegal to track people in their own homes using cameras and microphones in order to sell them more useless shit they don't need. I also think that buying a device should mean you OWN it, not that you are renting it until the manufacturer chooses to withdraw their consent for you to use it while at the same time avoiding all legal responsibility. I found your accusation amusing though, very melodramatic for a subject like this.

[@radio-ged4626]

I have a Panasonic Smart TV TX-40GX700B which we bought about 4 years ago. It still runs Netflix, Amazon, iPlayer, ITV X, Channel 4 etc. For some reason ITVX and Channel 4 started to really mis-behave, stopping halfway through a program and going back to the beginning or just exiting out of the app altogether. The TV also sometimes won't connect to the internet and has to be switched off, left for a few minutes, and switched back on again, and then it connects - this happens whether I use a LAN cable, Wi-Fi, DHCP or Static IP. I have tried my access point on 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz and on different channels. I now have an additional AP which is dedicated to the TV and now at least ITVX is stable (although the adverts freeze and skip to another advert - I couldn't care less about that problem). Our son has an older HDMI non-smart TV (Hitachi) with an Amazon Fire TV - he has no problems whatsoever. When it starts to slow down after a month or so he cleans up the cache on the Fire TV and it speeds up again. When our Panasonic Smart TV eventually gives up on Apps I will use a Fire TV.

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for letting us know about your setup I am glad to hear you got over your connection problems, although it sounds like you had to pull out all the stops to get it working.

[@radio-ged4626]

@@cwtek1 I think because I had already invested I was fairly determined to get it to work right. The second access point was one I already had and wasn't using. Stroke of luck that it worked better with the TV. I guess it's the way modern tech businesses work these days. Give people the bare minimum to keep costs right down due to tight margins and demanding share holders.

[@PuggiTheGreat]

100% agree. Buy only for picture and sound quality and use a smart box, mini computer or console…the smart functions of smart tvs or should I say their OS’s are awful, very slow.

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for your comment.

[@michaeldavis2039]

Living in the U.S., I still have an old, big and heavy "dumb" tube TV from JVC as a hand-me-down from one of my old apartment tenants 7 years ago. Picture and sound quality still excellent after all these years, not to mention the years my former tenant had it. Have a DTV box and rabbit-ears for reception of local channels, but I abandoned watching regular TV altogether 6 years ago and only watch my DVDs on a regular RCA-coaxial type DVD player. Was also given an older Samsung smart TV last year by a friend of mine, which I've never used, so I'll take your advice whenever I'm ready to use it...but again, I'll probably just use for watching DVDs. Today's TV channels are just not worth watching anymore. Call me old fashioned or ancient, but the older programs of my youth back in the 70s and 80s along with educational history documentaries are about all I watch these days...mostly on KZbin on my phone or tablet.

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for letting us know about your setup etc, I hope it runs well for many years to come.

[@ahmedalmabrook8329]

i am agree 100% , the salesman told me the same but i bought the bravia in 2019 and now the tv is just used as display only as it's connected to tv box , receiver and dvd player

[@cwtek1]

It’s awful to think it’s only 5 years old and all the smart stuff is next to useless.

[@bigbio2012]

I bought a vizio smart TV about 10 years ago yeah I know I over paid. I ended up buying a NVIDIA shield just because my picture and audio are good for a 1080P system. So yeah buying a smart TV is not that smart. I can run so many apps from my shield. I have also used the ONN box and was really displeased.

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for letting us know of your experience.

[@robncoly]

The shield is by far the best way i have found. I'm running 3 of them. A decent spec android box would also be a good addition.

[@bigbio2012]

@@robncoly I run a T95 TV box on one of my TV's and it is by far in par with the firestick to me.

[@miroslawkaras7710]

I both my first smart tv around 2010 It was 32 in Vizio for $700. That was steep price . It have I believe Yahoo apps. After 2 years tv stop updating, and after 4 years it went blank. After that I boh TCL 40 in. That cost around $250. I give that to my father .I currently have another TCL 50in that I both in 2019 for aroun $270 and from the get go I connected Android PC - Odroid N2. I almost never using TCL upp.

[@mikegilgenbach4840]

I figured this out years ago when I realized my old tv worked better with the basic firestick than my 1yo Sony tv. Ive since bought several different kinds. My rankings are AppleTV, Firecube, Firestick, Shield. Im pretty angry about the Shield. I cant use it for more than a week without it freezing up in different ways. It ended up in a drawer.

[@cwtek1]

Everyone seems to bang on about how great the shield is, so I am surprised you had problems, I am glad you got around the issue with a Firestick!

[@DodgyBrothersEngineering]

Is it the Shield that is locking up or the apps on it? I have had my 2019 Shield Pro for a couple of years. I was having issues with lock ups, but a lot of that seemed to be tied to the version of Kodi I was running at the time. Seldom need to force reboot it these days.

[@mikegilgenbach4840]

@DodgyBrothersEngineering I take it out about every 6 months and update it to see if thats it. I use it about week before it goes back in the drawer.

[@DodgyBrothersEngineering]

@@mikegilgenbach4840 there was a bug fix released not that long ago for the OS. So it may contain changes.

[@kevinmorton4439]

I have a fairly new 75 inch Samsung. But I run practically everything through a 4K Apple TV. Very happy. 👍😎

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for sharing information about your setup, glad its working good with your Apple TV!

[@paulsalongo4927]

I had to replace my 18 year old Samsung plasma. It was great but it's power supply was acting erratically. Just bought a LG OLED. Hope it lasts as long. It has a beautiful picture by the way.

[@cwtek1]

I hope it does last just as long but unfortunately they aren’t made as well as they once were.

[@jmdennis1967]

I had a dumb TV before it died and had to buy a smart TV years ago. It was a FireTV and has slowed way down. I have a Roku attached and it is much faster then the TV. I just wish that we could buy non smart TV's which I am sure we can if we can find then and add what we want to them.

[@Sirlarrythecat]

I have never owned a "Smart" TV mine have all been non "Smart" none have been 4K but then that's not really bothered me 1080p does me just fine and I use an Android TV box it cost me £80 and works just fine it's not using the latest android version but all my apps work just fine and the box is as fast as when I first bought it which was a while ago as it runs android version 9. There are non smart TV's out there and you do have to look around for them and they are basic but they work well and last longer than most smart TV's.

[@cwtek1]

Smart tv or dumb tv just by the one with the best picture quality, don’t turn on the smart stuff at setup and add your smart in the form of a stick.

[@jameskilrain38]

I got a old dumb Samsung TV with a firestick connected.

[@ethanlane8516]

Always use a firestick or roku box. Bought a really nice Sony 32in tv for £10 and a 42in Panny with limited smart functions for £23.

[@cwtek1]

Nice 👍

[@lbudt29]

Taking the tv out of echo mode can speed up the tv too. Find it in the power section of the menu. You might be able to do a refresh for the tv and its apps too.

[@cwtek1]

I am assuming you have a fire tv when you refer to echo mode.

[@LarcR]

I bought a TCL TV (model 50S525) in September 2019 and haven't noticed any slowdown of the Roku operating system. It recently updated to v.14.0.4. The TV has a beautiful picture and a Vizio M-Series soundbar provides excellent audio. Unfortunately, all this prevents me from justifying purchase of a new TV. This one is still fulfilling all my TV needs.

[@cwtek1]

If you are still happy with it then there is no need to change it.

[@dieseldragon6756]

By the sounds of things, TCL might actually _care_ about their customers. Which means that one of its competitors will come along, make a hostile takeover, and then remotely brick all the TCL sets to tarnish their name and force customers into buying something else. 🙁 And you can bet that same competitor will just happen to offer some kind of „Charity“ discount on their own products around that exact time to try and sweep up as many TCL customers as possible... 🤔

[@chrisbolton5461]

Good advice here. No mention of Apple TV and though some dislike Apple, they do support their products for a while.

[@cwtek1]

Thank you, I haven't had any experience with Apple TV so I could not comment on them, but I have heard they are good.

[@chris582]

My LG TV is almost 10 years old. Th OS is still snappy… but that’s because the TV no longer supported the newer LG WebOS versions. So I couldn’t update some of the apps anyway. The android box connected to it does all the heavy lifting now.

[@cwtek1]

Great Stuff these android boxes are great!

[@oojimmyflip]

I still have a 50inch plasma TV but I only use it as a display panel for a windows pc via the hdmi port. I don't watch live TV any more so we don't have a TV license. The computer is serviceable software wise and light maintenance keeps it running relatively fast, a wireless keyboard with an inbuilt track pad and you can sit back and control it from a distance. You can even buy a small form factor pc to mount behind the TV on the wall these days, it also allows you to store a good sized library of films on the hard drive.

[@cwtek1]

That's how I started out with an old laptop and a MCE Remote connected to my TV, but then I got a firestick which ran everything I did on my old laptop and much more also it looks a lot neater hidden behind the TV, I also have a NAS drive which it connects too where I can store films and TV Shows locally!

[@mobelue]

I wish we could compare the old vintage topic of the onboard TUNER. For people like me with indoor antennas as a ‘free tv option,’ the tuner inside the TV is paramount. This also includes channel buffering, etc.

[@cwtek1]

I had an old Sony DVB box which had a really sensitive tuner, we live on the fringe reception of three areas and this beast could pick up more channels than any other box in the house.

[@MarieJackson-sp3be]

I have a 17 year old 47 inch LG un-smart flat screen. It's still as sharp as ever and its sound is great. I use an Apple TV add-on to stream. I do not have cable (there was nothing worth watching) and do not watch the news (that only brings down your spirit). I generally know what's going on (things are still not great). I am very content.

[@cwtek1]

That’s great to hear let’s hope it serves you for years to come.

[@SteveSmith-zz4ih]

i still have a Toshiba flat screen CRT TV, am i alone? good picture no lag, tad small though at 80 or 85cm

[@cwtek1]

You can't beat a CRT, wow that is a hugh screen though, I bet its very deep too!

[@SteveSmith-zz4ih]

Deep and heavy, about 80kgs, people keep saying buy a new one, i hardly watch TV, . Too much crap on TV now, damn Woke and Gov rubbish. So i watch YT and Netflix on the PC 😁

[@alancoales7057]

​@@SteveSmith-zz4ihI totally agree about government propaganda. Have stopped TV licence and watch mainly KZbin. Can still use ITVx to catch up their content but find their search function poor. Thanks to Roku for subscription free stick and Google for platform host for some great channels.

[@heinrichvisser8518]

Just gave away my old TV, in the market for a new smart TV for next year. Thank you for the advice.

[@cwtek1]

Hope the advice is helpful.

[@heinrichvisser8518]

@@cwtek1 Thank you.

[@davidk7262]

I have an LG C2. Nearly 2 years in and it is fine. If it does slow down I’ll go with a Roku box. The picture is excellent to my eyes.

[@cwtek1]

I am glad you are happy with your LG and yes I think you are wise to go for a Roku if it slows down.

[@Rob-u3c]

You can always hook up a micro-PC or PC to your TV. This will give you greater flexibility. Its not as convenient as scrolling with a remote, but you can store movies and have access to a lot of applications. Some NAS devices also have an HDMI output, this will give you another alternative.

[@cwtek1]

This is exactly What I done before I got the fire sticks.

[@jester-lester]

Firesticks also start to go really sluggish after a while. Whilst you say ther are cheaper to upgrade than buying a new TV, it's still frustrating. I got the Google Chromecast and it's been working really well up to now

[@cwtek1]

I have noticed a slight slowdown on my Firestick but nothing much compared to the software on my TV, I am glad to hear your Chromecast is working well though!

[@jameskilrain38]

Good.However,so far my firestick is fine.In any case,if it does go bad,another one is cheaper than a new tv.

[@frommatorav1]

I bought the Firestick 4k Max. The new version of it has 16GB storage and a better remote. It will be less likely to get sluggish because it won't run out of room for the apps and has wifi6. The older (original) Firestick 4k Max is on my other 2 TVs. One is a 2010 LG 42" that was never a smart TV and the other is 2015 Sony 40" TV, which didn't have many apps and most (if not all) are out of date. It isn't problem free but is far superior to most apps built into the TV. The best part is if it stops working it's $20-40, instead of the price of a new TV.

[@danielkaram5217]

I have an 8 year old Samsung curved TV that still works great including all the apps. Cheers!

[@cwtek1]

I’m glad to hear that.

[@plasmahdtv]

Im still rocking my Pioneer KRP 500 plasma. Came out in 2009, build like a tank and still to this day one of the best picture quality money can buy.

[@cwtek1]

these plasmas were Built to last unfortunately because of the cost, many people ended up going for the cheaper LEDs which unfortunately don’t last as long as plasmas.

[@hereforthechips7710]

I do AV systems for a living and was talking to a client and they thanked me for how long their 15 year old Pioneer plasmas lasted and look. All I have done is change out their sources. Absolutely gorgeous picture. I’ve changed out multiple LCD/LEDs for other clients. Buy quality TVs and more importantly SPEAKERS.

[@plasmahdtv]

@ Pioneer Kuro’s are legendary for their overall quality

[@CdnJsyBoy]

@@plasmahdtv Still have my 60 in Kuro from 2008 for casual use and enjoyment. Despite its bulk & chunky framing it still looks amazing. Been looking for awhile at a 77in A95L (never mind measly 1 yr warranty) but the Kuro just wont die. Was thinking of trying to sell it but doubt anyone wud pay anything decent for it.

[@plasmahdtv]

@@CdnJsyBoy keep it mate, it will outlast any tv

[@amoebavirus1508]

Ive got a Sony KDL - 37W5500 its about 14yrs old, very good picture & sound quality, ive had varius plugin units over the years, i have had an Nvidia shield pro for around 3mths and am very happy with it. I do run a Panasonic Blu-ray HDD unit & Xbox 360 on the tv. Until it blows up im not changing it.

[@cwtek1]

Yes Sony's are really good for Picture quality, its a shame about the software which is forcing us to use plugin units.

[@MrErik038]

I stopped watching tv years ago and have real nice hobbys in return, same whit computers. After e few computers & laptops they get slow or breakdown. I stopped buying/using them 😂 its just expencive! Tablets my wife & myself use for everything. They have more uses.. so money not wasted by buying newones every 5-6 years.. I even phone on them, make video/pictures and watch movies. Nice video👍

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for sharing information about your setup.

[@fastas8]

Watched this on a 86inch LG tv with a laptop hooked up to it, works great

[@cwtek1]

That’s great that’s exactly how I started Making my TV smart.

[@ivancho5854]

I agree that you should buy your TV based on its picture quality and not the software, however ALL modern TVs have poor sound. This is a function of them being flat. A good speaker requires a resonance chamber. This is physics and cannot be resolved. A cheap soundbar will usually sound better than a flat screen TV. I'm no audiophile btw. All the best.

[@cwtek1]

I agreed a flat TV is not going to produce as good sound as the old CRT's once did, but my Sony TV's are still pretty good without a soundbar.

[@mikegilgenbach4840]

I got an LG C3 this summer and I dont even use the soundbar from my old tv with it because it sounds really good. It doesnt have deep bass, but it still sounds pretty good.

[@ivancho5854]

Maybe I should listen to a more up to date TV. You never know.

[@cwtek1]

@ivancho5854 I have got to say my TVs were from around 5-7 years ago, the more recent Sony TVS I have heard have not been as good sound wise.

[@DnBclassictunes]

I've had my LED tv for 11 years. Hooked a pc up to for everything. Works great

[@cwtek1]

That’s great to hear.

[@nickyfanelli]

I have a Sharp 32" android TV bought 3 years ago and still working ok. The only annoying thing is the missing freesat channel sorting. It scans the satellite and saves the channels in (probably) the order of transponder frequency, then I have to sort them out (BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, etc). that would be OK if I had to do this only once but... every so often the channels move frequencies, and whenever this happens they are saved at the bottom of the list, and their original position number (1 for BBC1, 2 for BBC2 etc.) literally disappear, so I can't just move the new channel to the right position in the list, because that position is no longer there. So every time I have to do a new satellite scan, and re-sorting them all out. But apart from that it's a great TV, clear screen, powerful sound, lots of useful apps.

[@cwtek1]

That's a pain, my Mums is the same, you get several versions of Channel 4 at the front of the Channel list!

[@cfg83]

110% agreement. I disconnected my TCL/Roku TV from the internet and use an external Roku. When it had the wifi connection it degraded over time and turned itself on/off at random. In fact, the next time I open it up I plan to REMOVE the wifi card. If the smart OS doesn't go bonkers, then the wifi card stays out. I do NOT recommend a Roku stick because the remotes are known to go bad and the sticks will not work with 3rd part remotes.

[@cwtek1]

thanks for sharing your experiences with your TV. I hope that you don’t have to result to take the Wi-Fi card out.

[@redpillnibbler4423]

I’d appreciate some advice. What should I buy to replace my Panasonic 50 inch plasma? Considering I only ever watch DVD/Blue Ray films etc. Picture quality and some anti reflective screen properties is my main concern,not so much sound as a sound bar can address that.I’ve been looking at Samsung S90D or even S95D - is this overkill? perhaps a QLED model would be good enough at maybe half the price? What do you think?

[@cwtek1]

I would go to a store that has many TV's one show and compare and find the one that has the best picture quality!

[@redpillnibbler4423]

@ Ok I’ll do that tomorrow.

[@oojimmyflip]

The likes of LG still make plasma tvs you just have to ask in store for one as they won't stock them because they are only selling the latest and most expensive products.

[@michaelweis4756]

Bought myself a 43" LG and I'm absolutely overwhelmed compared to what it does compared to the 12 yo. 32" Philips before. The sound, the connectivity.---- I'm totally happy and satisfied! 3x❤

[@cwtek1]

That's Great, Thanks for sharing information about your setup.

[@michaelhenderson7658]

I bought a smart TV quite a number of years ago, wasn't that smart all the apps were foreign apart from one which as you mentioned was only there for a period of time then taken down.Thanks for you very informative videos.

[@cwtek1]

I can only imagine your TV was not intended for your country!

[@michaelhenderson7658]

@cwtek1 it's a 50" Hitachi.bought from Argos.

[@BSPIVEY100]

Thanks. My sister's 9 year old Sony has started doing this. She said she can't watch the streaming services lately. This explains exactly what's happening. I will suggest a stick type streaming device for her. Nice job !

[@cwtek1]

Thanks, I hope it helps her out!

[@ryutenmen]

I have a "dumb" Sony TV for about 6 years now and I've made it smart by way of PC. So no slowdowns, no expiration features, hardware, etc. You can make any TV/monitor to be smart by way of a mini/PC mounted on VESA or just lay down to the side.

[@cwtek1]

This is how I started, with an old laptop under the TV and a MCE remote.

[@ryutenmen]

@@cwtek1 This is the best way as Tv and PC are not conditionally tied to be able to work. If something happens to one of them, you fix it or repair it; you can even upgrade the smart part(PC) when you need/want it.

[@HyundaiAlbakshi]

I have an 18 year old Toshiba, connected to a computer - works perfectly!

[@cwtek1]

That’s great.

[@HyundaiAlbakshi]

Best solution - forget smart features - using a PC gives a much better experience.

[@alirezaNikkhah]

My Sony tv update from Android 9 to 10 just couple months ago!!!! Yes is getting slow after sometimes but I don't think Android update involves

[@cwtek1]

You are lucky mine is virtually unusable after an upgrade.

[@addier44]

Really? Android 10 is no longer supported. 😂

[@stevejh6630]

Totally agree. Buy for picture and sound. Would also look for a good selection of ports, then you can plug in whatever. Cheaper to change an add-on than the whole TV.

[@cwtek1]

Yes having enough ports can also be another issue, I think most TVs come with 3 HDMI's as Standard.

[@j.j.1064]

I have a 50" plasma TV that I bought new when they stopped making them. It only has Freeview. I bought a firestick and upgraded later to 4k it's worked fine ever since. Plasma v LCD was the same dynamic as betamax and VHS The cheaper and worst system will always kill off the more superior. At the moment you can still buy plasma second-hand for a reasonable price and believe me they are worth it. Here's why. ... When comparing Plasma vs. LCD TVs, it's essential to focus on facts rather than opinions to make an informed decision. The history and technical realities reveal why plasma TVs remain a strong contender, even in 2024, for certain use cases. Plasma TVs are renowned for their superior image quality, offering deep blacks, excellent contrast ratios, smoother motion handling, and wide viewing angles. These features make them ideal for cinematic experiences and sports viewing. On the other hand, LCD TVs gained dominance due to their affordability, energy efficiency, lighter weight, and better brightness in well-lit rooms-despite lacking the raw image performance of plasma. This mirrors the Betamax vs. VHS dynamic, where a superior technology (Betamax/plasma) was outpaced by a cheaper, more convenient option (VHS/LCD), largely due to market preferences and manufacturing shifts. Modern LCD and LED TVs often boast "smart" features, but this introduces a significant issue: planned obsolescence. Most smart TVs depend on small processors and limited software support, which manufacturers stop updating after 4-5 years. This renders many apps and services unusable, forcing consumers to replace their TVs even if the display hardware is still functional. In contrast, a plasma TV paired with a device like an Amazon Fire Stick or Roku eliminates this problem. These external devices handle the "smart" functionality independently and can be replaced or upgraded at a fraction of the cost of a new TV. Moreover, plasma TVs are built to last, with long lifespans and consistent performance as long as their components (like capacitors) remain functional. They also don’t rely on software updates or app ecosystems, making them a timeless choice for image quality. By contrast, many LCD TVs face backlight degradation, color accuracy issues, and reliance on software that may not age well. Here’s the takeaway: If you value long-term reliability and image quality, a second-hand plasma TV paired with a Fire Stick or similar device is a great option. This setup avoids the pitfalls of smart TV obsolescence. If you prioritize features like slim designs, brightness for well-lit rooms, or cutting-edge smart functionality, modern LCD or OLED TVs may better suit your needs-but expect to upgrade sooner due to app or software limitations. The decision ultimately comes down to your priorities and viewing habits. Understanding these facts helps you make a choice that’s not only informed but also cost-effective in the long run.

[@cwtek1]

Very well said, although I think the downfall of Betamax was due to Sony keeping the rights to itself, whereas Panasonic, the inventor of VHS sold the rights to other companies to produce VHS players, which did ultimately sell more units which allowed the cost to come down. With regards to cost and reliability, I remember seeing an interview with the CEO of one of the major hard drive manufacturers, who was once asked if they could build a hard drive that would last a lifetime? The answer was yes they could but it would cost 10 times more than the cost of current drives and quite simply hardly any one would pay that kind of money. With regards to Plasmas vs LEDs unfortunately for many viewers, they did not notice much difference between the two technologies, not enough to warrant paying a premium, of course during the time of LED screens we have seen resolutions increase from my first LED which was 576i to my 2nd which was 720p and to my current TV which is now 4k.

[@redpillnibbler4423]

My 50 inch Panasonic plasma has finally died ⚰️ It was great except for needing a dark room because of reflections. I think the reason people stopped buying them is ignorance - LCD sets looked better in a well lit showroom.

[@ozelhassan8576]

Thank you for explaining, it’s obvious for me that it will be better to get a monitor not a tv, thank you.

[@cwtek1]

Make sure your monitor has speakers.

[@dirkfrazier9779]

If it's labeled smart, it should be renamed dumb or stupid!

[@cwtek1]

😂

[@davidrhodes9997]

Thanks for all the info. Ive got old TVs and have been using Android boxes with them for other content for years. Ive been eyeing off those fancy smart TVs for a good while and have often been tempted. Now I can see that if I do buy one, I just really need to concentrate on the TV itself and not get too excited about the features. This was a very useful video for me.

[@cwtek1]

Glad the video helped! If you haven’t done so already please subscribe to my channel to find out about all my latest videos. It’s free and easy to do just tap or click subscribe on any of my videos.

[@iznone]

Just bought lg c4, wanna return, very dissapointed! I don't need smart tv, just normal tv, but there is no such in a market.

[@cwtek1]

Your best bet is to reset the TV up but do not opt to connect it to the internet. this should cut out some if not all of the clutter.

[@brianschuetz2614]

I never bought a "SmartTV". I get all my entertainment on my computer. Hulu, Netflix if I wan it, KZbin, video games, etc. I have a fair set of speakers that I've had for several years, and fair 1080p monitors. I've recently considered buying a large screen TV and hooking it up to my computer. I have a decently powerful system, and if I want or need more power, I can build a better computer. I've had my monitors for several years as well. While having all the parts in one case is cleaner (fewer cables) and requires less effort to turn on and use, I never have to worry about having to replace the whole system if one part fails or goes out of date. I can always add more later if I feel inclined. I like having flexibility.

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for letting us know about your setup.

[@jugaloking69dope58]

thinking of a cheap tv but i just bring my laptop closer to get a bigger screen! 😂😂

[@cwtek1]

😂😂

[@secondchance6603]

I stopped watching TV channels some years ago and bought a 32" monitor and done the same thing. Put it on an adjustable mount, brought it closer to me and it's the best thing I could have done.

[@Reman1975]

My 15 year Old TV does everything I need it to do. It allows me to view prime video, Netflix, KZbin, watch DVD's, browse the internet, and read/reply to emails. It can do this because every 5 to 7 years I buy a cheap second hand office desktop PC, I usually slap a bit more memory and a larger hard drive in it, then slot it into the stand under my telly. Even with adding those upgrades it usually cost's less than £100 to do, and it'll be quicker, offer more functionality, and be more future proof than any smart TV or streaming dongle. The PC currently filling this role was getting a bit sluggish about a year ago after I updated the version of Linux I run on it, so I found an upgrade for it's obsolete entry level CPU on eBay for (IIRC) £10, I fitted that in about 15 minutes, and I'm guessing I might get another 4 or 5 years out of this one now. One thing this setup DOESN'T do though, is receive live TV channels. About 9 years ago I decided there wasn't 150+ quids worth of stuff on the UK's live telly anymore, so I let the licence expire, removed the aerial cable, and reset all the channels. A couple years back I stayed at a friends house for the night, and they had the TV on CONSTANTLY...... Seeing the drivel spewing out from the BBC that night reassured me that I'm not missing anything interesting or entertaining.

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for letting us know about your setup, I did that with a computer many years ago before I found the fire stick.

[@joulzee001]

When I bought my 1st smart TV after about 5 years all apps stopped working said I need to update the OS before I can use them again but TV was on latest supported OS. When I bought another after a few years it got so slow it was unusable I gave that away to a friend explained she can only use it as a normal TV. Now this one is getting slow but currently still usable.

[@cwtek1]

Seems to be the same all over, I am still yet to find anyone who's TV after a few years is still as quick as they day they bought it!

[@tyronejohnson6482]

Excellent advice Sir! I will be keeping your pointers; when I make my purchase sometime soon..

[@cwtek1]

Glad it was helpful!

[@PamPoen-zu6gf]

I stopped watching TV more than 20 years ago… But if you want to sell your soul to Satan - I guess a TV is a must…

[@cwtek1]

It sounds like you are loving life without your TV and that’s great!

[@emmyduze]

Very funny. Here you are watching KZbin thinking it's not tv. No more comments.

[@JoeBlow-tf4cc]

I have a 12" black & white tv with rabbit ears in my living room.

[@cwtek1]

Nice! 😂

[@pjdavidson94]

Firstly I go for picture quality, preferably direct lit led with full array local dimming. I've always used Roku streaming device

[@cwtek1]

Totally agree.

[@emyserozzi8088]

I use my 2017 Samsung 43" 4K TV ONLY for Blu-Rays/4K and as a external monitor. I rarely ever use the pre-installed Apps or any streaming services or regular TV. For that, it's a good TV. And definitely don't feel like buying another TV.

[@cwtek1]

I am glad you are still using your Samsung, I hope it serves you well for many years to come!

[@lesh4357]

I've said this to all my family for years - "Buying a Smart TV is a DUMB Idea" I bought a Samsung TV, it was sluggish to start with, then within a year BBC iPlayer was discontinued. Like you say, buy for the picture quality and sound quality, also the number and type of connections. How many HDMI ports, DVI ports etc. If you can find a TV with no "Smarts" and is cheaper because of that, then all the better.

[@cwtek1]

Thank you for your comment.

[@Averagedude-mi3fl]

We have a 65 inch tcl roku TV from 2020. Haven’t really used many of its smart functions. Not long after getting it, I actually factory reset it and pretended not to have internet. We used a roku stick for a while with it, but then changed to a fire stick which works well. As he said, pick your TV based on features, picture quality, sound etc, then get a fire stick and never connect your TV to the internet.

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for letting us know about your setup.

[@steveragsdale2358]

Don't connect your TV to the internet... If you can 😮

[@cwtek1]

Good advice.

[@smartturkey123]

Most people stream their content

[@steveragsdale2358]

​@@smartturkey123 So do I, but I use other devices for streaming, not the smart part of my TV.

[@you2be839]

And if you do connect your TV to the internet, please first disable everything related to automatic apps and firmware updates!

[@redpillnibbler4423]

I need a new quality 55 inch tv purely for dvd/blue ray - any advice?

[@ninoovcov]

Can you factory reset the tv after using it for a bit connected to the internet? Would it go back to original picture and sound quality?

[@cwtek1]

I tried that on my Sony but it made little difference to the speed, the sound and picture quality have always been great.

[@richardjones8699]

I have a 4 year old Samsung Smart TV. Everything runs perfectly on it.

[@cwtek1]

I am glad to hear that!

[@janne_1954]

Hi Chris:Thanks for this video.👍 I've stuck to Sony devices ever since the early 70's, due to their impeccable quality and longevity, both in hi-fi and TV's. Today my 2009 40" Sony Bravia LCD TV, runs really great with Google TV/ Chromecast dongle and works faultless together with my Sony Xperia 10 V Android 12 smartphone. It's perfect for me and I wouldn't change it for any new smart TV.☮️❤️📺

[@cwtek1]

I am glad your Sony is serving you well with your external devices.

[@crewmax4240]

I count the HDMIs! As many as possible, because they will die!😂

[@cwtek1]

So far my HDMIs have been fine.

[@StreetLewis-l7m]

I've got an LG 5 years old never had a problem with the HDMI

[@crewmax4240]

@@StreetLewis-l7m Good for you.

[@JennaFowler1]

Every TV I've ever had the HDMI socket has broken. I hardly ever take the cable out and I'm very careful when I do insert or remove the cable.

[@phillipp1722]

I have a 2013 LG 55in 120hz. I changed the power supply and main board and still have it.

[@cwtek1]

That’s great glad you managed to resurrect this TV.

[@Ka_Daver]

I kicked out my tv years ago. Hate the media and fake news and shit programming.

[@cwtek1]

sounds like you’re just getting all your entertainment and news from the Internet now.

[@cjay2]

@@cwtek1 At least now he can choose.

[@alanthornton3530]

Thanks for this video, our Sony TV was purchased in 2015 but didn't come with an Android OS, the biggest problem is the Panasonic HDD box we paired it with. This isn't supported by Panasonic anymore (last 3 years) even though the OS is open source & similar to Linux! The only solution is to connect a mini pc & stream the content to watch, if you run Linux on it you'll be able to upgrade the OS for several years, just get one that you can upgrade yourself, storage, ram & processor then it's future proof. :)

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for the tip.

[@R2BMusicCH]

We've got 2 Samsung smart TVs. One is 8 years old and the other from 2023. I can't really complain much except that the KZbin app sometimes crashes on both. The big letdown though is that there is no VPN app available for neither models. That said, my Android TV box does not find any VPN apps either. Is that a technical limitation of TV OSes?

[@cwtek1]

Samsung TV's have an OS called Tizen I believe the apps are harder to port to this system than something like and Android or IOS system which is used in Phones and Tablets as well as TV boxes.

[@erics607]

I currently have a Samsung smart TV that I bought about 4 years ago. It works perfectly fine, but I'm planning on purchasing a portable projector and having a projector screen that I can move around wherever I want it. This way I can have options about where I want to set it up, and I can free up space in my house if needed by storing the projector and screen out of sight.

[@cwtek1]

Thanks for letting us know about your Samsung Tv and your plans for a portable projector.

[@LyuboA]

the best thing if you want smart TV is to just buy an Android TV Box much more powerful for alot less money and it even has more functions

[@cwtek1]

Agreed!

[@curlylast8121]

I have a 15yo Panasonic LCD TV, still works just fine, supports 1080p, so instead of purchasing a smart TV, or firestick et-al, I decided to spend AUD150 on a Beelink Mini S PC, 16GB Ram, 512GB SSD, Win 11, twin HDMI ports, only measures 100mm x 110mm x 40mm even came with a bracket to bolt to the back of the TV. It runs everything I need and boots faster than the TV! Cheap, cheerful and it works.

[@edwardmartinez9459]

I have a Samsung 2024 43 inch beautiful picture but sound is distorted like it missing a audio channel almost unwatchable. Must be a defect dont buy samsung junk!

[@cwtek1]

I would return it and get it exchanged!

[@Walkerthatsme]

Tbh I brought the same and mine is absolutely fine know problems yet must of been lucky imo

[@philipmcdonagh1094]

Is there a smart TV where by you can turn off the smart features, the one I have drives me mad every time I turn it on, I use it as a monitor, I've crap eyesight so its a 65 inch TV for my PC.

[@cwtek1]

Try disconnecting it from the internet, that will stop it from being smart.

[@philipmcdonagh1094]

@@cwtek1 Its amazing how we overlook the simplest solution, yea that will definitely sort it out thanks.