Really basic questions about buying a TV

[Trifle]

Hello smart mustachian folks

So I would like to buy a TV so that we can watch Netflix, Prime, and Disney+ on something bigger than a laptop screen.  We haven't had a TV in over 20 years so I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.  I have a fingernail understanding of what a "smart" tv is vs. a "regular" tv.  I think (?) we want to get a "smart tv", right?  So we don't have to get any type of add-on products in order to stream? 

I'd like to not spend a lot of money on this, and we probably want something in the range of 40".  We aren't picky and don't need the latest and greatest in screen technology.

Ideally -- can someone just tell me what to buy please?  For some reason I have very limited mental bandwidth for researching this.  I find myself getting confused and irritated.  I feel old people!  Very old!   :)

TIA,
Trifele

[nereo]

If you aren’t a cinema-phile looking for the deepest blacks and most accurate colors basically any newish (made in the last 5years) is going to suit you just fine.

Virtually all new TVs are “smart” - which simply means you can connect to your WiFi and you can stream Netflix or YouTube or any other internet streaming service. None will need a TV subscription (ie comcast or VerizonTV).

I’d give you a specific model to look for but honestly your best bet is to do one of the following

1) look on FB marketplace or CL or similar for anyone selling or giving away a smart TV. I see them every week, often for under $100.

2) go to the big-box retailer of your choice or Amazon Prime and find the one that’s discounted or on promo.

Either way if you accept 1080p resolution (“HD”) it will be pretty darn good. New models can be found for under $200. Used are often free as people upgrade and can’t get rid of them. OR get “UHD /4K” for closer to $300 new. The picture will be sharper when viewing 4k content (still limited) but it isn’t “blow me over better”. It’s just an incremental improvement when casually watching a 40” TV from a distance of 6 feet or more.

It’s really hard to go wrong - most TVs use the same components

[Dave1442397]

If you decide to buy new, I like the TCL Roku TVs. The interface is very easy to use. You can delete any channels you don't need, and even add some freebies using the Roku app on your phone. They're not quite the cheapest TVs, but close to it.

Best Buy has a 40" for $230 - https://www.bestbuy.com/site/tcl-40-class-3-series-led-full-hd-smart-roku-tv/6302321.p?skuId=6302321

Roku "hidden" channels - https://www.purevpn.com/blog/hidden-roku-channels/

[Villanelle]

I too was going to suggest Marketplace, Buy Nothing, and similar sites. 

If you want new, re TVs something that usually have big 4th of July sales?  Might be worth looking in to that and waiting if that's the case. 

[Tester]

I have 3 TVs in the house (I have an older smaller one my son used for remote school for a while, not used now).
I resisted as much as possible until adding the third.

But, second and third are the same, some 55" from Costco, "smart", LG and one of those two was on sale at 275 USD. I don't know if it is UHD or HD, I suspect UHD?
I find it perfect for me, although I know there are TVs which can cost a lot more and a "TV maniac" would not like mine :).

That being said, I really like Roku, I have a Roku on the small TV which is in fact not used :).
You could look for a TV which has Roku "included", like the TCL suggested above.

Keep an eye out for sales or look for used.

[geekette]

You can find non smart TVs and get the box separately.  We bought a good TV 16 years ago (OMG, TVs were expensive then!) and have used a couple different streaming devices since - AppleTV and Roku both.  I prefer the Roku; DH prefers AppleTV. 

I'm apparently strange because I don't like bundles, and don't want to buy another TV just because the smart part is no longer supported.

Eta: Then again, I just checked our local FB Marketplace - dang, get a used smart TV.  They are practically giving them away...

[svosavvy]

Yeah people are "recycling" 40" tv's to chase the biggest and best.  If you are happy with a 40" tv good on you.  A resource that is different that I would suggest also is the landfill.  Really no joke.  I am not a "dumpster diver" but our landfill charges $20 to dispose of "flatscreen" tv's.  There is probably a pile 20 feet high there and they work.  I see people all the time getting rid of flatscreens often 40" or bigger so they can run out and get a 70".  If you have a laptop you can just hook it to the tv instead getting a "smart" tv.

[Syonyk]

We haven't had a TV in over 20 years so I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.

Something right, for sure!

I have a fingernail understanding of what a "smart" tv is vs. a "regular" tv.  I think (?) we want to get a "smart tv", right?  So we don't have to get any type of add-on products in order to stream? 

It's easy enough.  If it's on sale now, it's a Smart TV.  It will, depending on brand and details, report everything you do on it, including things that aren't done internally (like what DVDs you watch with an external player, what video games you play, etc) upstream.  Some of them have cameras and mics that can safely be treated as "always hot," and likely to stream a lot of what's going on in the room they're in out to the internet, because... big data analytics.  Or voice activation.  Or something of the sort.

If you're fine with all that, get a random Smart TV from the past few years and it'll be fine.  No need to really worry about LCD vs OLED vs etc, it's not going to matter.  A cheap 1080p TV in your desired size will be totally fine.

If you're not OK with that sort of data collection and analytics, get something, don't connect the TV to the internet, and get a cable to let you connect your laptop to the TV as an external monitor.  It's less-bad, that way.

Roku is particularly bad about "exfiltrating all the data they can if you let them touch a network."  Their "privacy" policy is a laugh, it basically says, "Anything we can do, we will do.  Anything prohibited by the laws of the country we collect the data in will be solved by moving it to another country first."

[jfer_rose]

Echoing Synoyk.

In our household we are very concerned about the amount of data that companies are sharing about us online and how advertisers are using that info to manipulate our emotions. We currently use a years-old non-smart tv with an Amazon Fire stick but we think we would prefer to connect a dedicated inexpensive computer to the tv instead due to data tracking and ads. For example, we are finding that is is much easier to use ad blockers on a computer.

[ixtap]

One downside to ROKU is that they ended their agreement with YouTube :( We also find the Disney+ app to be very hit or miss, but that might be our crappy wifi. But then we can't get Disney+ to play on any of our Android devices, so...

Don't suppose you are in SoCal? We are getting rid of two TVs, one Vizio, one TCL ROKU.

[geekette]

YouTube works on my Roku (I don't have YouTube TV, so I can't speak to that).

Disney+ also worked well for the month I had it.

[ixtap]

YouTube works on my Roku (I don't have YouTube TV, so I can't speak to that).

Disney+ also worked well for the month I had it.

Looks like it has been reinstated, we just never tried again after the cut off earlier this year.

[Syonyk]

We currently use a years-old non-smart tv with an Amazon Fire stick but we think we would prefer to connect a dedicated inexpensive computer to the tv instead due to data tracking and ads. For example, we are finding that is is much easier to use ad blockers on a computer.

Our TV is technically "Smart," but it's not connected to the network.  So there's not a huge amount it can do.  We have a PC behind it on the wall, currently running Windows 10, but likely to get a Linux install here soon.  It certainly won't get Windows 11.  I should split that drive and dual boot here... just to play around a bit.

Most of our content is locally served off a Plex server - lots of ripped DVDs for kids shows and such, which keeps the DVDs safe in storage.  Having a browser allows us to do other stuff like Netflix, but it's contained in what it can exfil of our behavior.  The Netflix-in-browser, for instance, shouldn't be able to determine what plays on Spotify.  A SmartTV will collect all that and send it on up.

Sorry, I hate the state of modern consumer electronics.

[Trifle]

Amen to your last comment @Syonyk. 

Thank you all so much for your comments!  Very, very helpful.  I had not thought about privacy beforehand but should have.  I actually care a lot about privacy, so if there's a way to do this that protects it better than another way -- that's for me.  Is it possible for our situation (clueless, borderline Luddites) that we should just get a big and nice, but 'dumb' screen, and hook our laptop to it to play the movie?

I will definitely check CL (I'm a regular).  I had no idea that people just basically give away or recycle these (to me) enormous high-tech things.   

Thanks again everyone.  You're the best.   

[Syonyk]

Is it possible for our situation (clueless, borderline Luddites) that we should just get a big and nice, but 'dumb' screen, and hook our laptop to it to play the movie?

Or a "Smart" screen that you never connect to wifi.  I don't think they're actively seeking out open wifi networks...  yet...

But, yes, that would be the best solution from a privacy perspective.  You'll need an HDMI cable (you should have an HDMI out on your laptop if it's... oh, the last decade or so), and those can typically carry audio as well.  So just hook up the TV as a second monitor and then either mirror the displays or drag the browser window over to the TV and fullscreen it.

[simonsez]

Is it possible for our situation (clueless, borderline Luddites) that we should just get a big and nice, but 'dumb' screen, and hook our laptop to it to play the movie?

Or a "Smart" screen that you never connect to wifi.  I don't think they're actively seeking out open wifi networks...  yet...

But, yes, that would be the best solution from a privacy perspective.  You'll need an HDMI cable (you should have an HDMI out on your laptop if it's... oh, the last decade or so), and those can typically carry audio as well.  So just hook up the TV as a second monitor and then either mirror the displays or drag the browser window over to the TV and fullscreen it.

OP, if cheaper, just get a large computer monitor rather than a TV (still connect same way with HDMI).  Maybe you can even find someone selling a decent used one after they realized working from home wasn't for them!

[bryan995]

The only TV to buy new is a LG OLED!

https://slickdeals.net/share/iphone_app/fp/725605

Usually you pay more $/sqr-inch for the smaller sizes. 77-83 is the sweet spot. And so much more enjoyable to watch! If that is something you value.

Outside of buying new, FB marketplace. Lots of 1080p or 2-3yr old 4K TVs for sale. Ive noticed that on the lower end, the on screen menus seem to slow down / become annoyingly unusable after only a few years. You can certainly buy an older dumb screen and run cables to laptop/dvd etc. I prefer smart and simple. Much cleaner looking (installed on wall, no visible cables!).

[nereo]

The only TV to buy new is a LG OLED!

https://slickdeals.net/share/iphone_app/fp/725605

Sarcasm, I hope?

[bryan995]

The only TV to buy new is a LG OLED!

https://slickdeals.net/share/iphone_app/fp/725605

Sarcasm, I hope?

Unfortunately not. :). That’s the best of the best (if buying new). Though I would opt for the 77 personally. Assuming of course TV/Movies/Games bring you joy.

[geekette]

I would have no idea where to put one that large…

[Syonyk]

Usually you pay more $/sqr-inch for the smaller sizes. 77-83 is the sweet spot. And so much more enjoyable to watch! If that is something you value.

Sorry, what forum did I stumble into?  $/sq-in of TV space is like trying to optimize lb/$ in vehicle purchase or something.  It's something you can do, but it's quite nonsensical...

Seriously, though, 80" TV?  I still think our 43" is a bit excessive.

I prefer smart and simple. Much cleaner looking (installed on wall, no visible cables!).

Ah, see, I've also done that.  I've got an in-wall cable hider kit, and the computer lives on a little shelf behind the TV, so it's quite invisible as well.  Except I'm not having everything I do in my living room sent up by a "Smart" TV for aggregation and marketing.

[nereo]

The only TV to buy new is a LG OLED!

https://slickdeals.net/share/iphone_app/fp/725605

Sarcasm, I hope?

Unfortunately not. :). That’s the best of the best (if buying new). Though I would opt for the 77 personally. Assuming of course TV/Movies/Games bring you joy.

I’m just not understanding how that remotely applies to the OPs situation, or this forum’s values at large…

[JLee]

I have been really happy with my TCL mini LED (Google smart) TV. The UI isn't the fastest all the time but the picture and overall performance is much better than it has any right to be at its price point. (and I say this having previously owned an LG OLED)

Rtings has an excellent review process and browsing may be helpful - https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/best/budget

[bryan995]

Seems I have brought shame unto myself.

This TV is only $0.99 and should fit the MMM mold of being frugal for frugals sake.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/394101988150?hash=item5bc24f1b36:g:vfoAAOSw94likP4S

$/sq-in is very good on this one.

[ChpBstrd]

Hello smart mustachian folks

So we would like to buy some heroin but I've been clean for so long that I don't know what I'm looking for. I've been living the last 20 years like a successful person, in control of my own priorities, and not as a wage slave to some sketchy dealer.

I'd like to not spend a lot of money on my heroin, and I'm looking for something in the range of traditional black tar.  We aren't picky and don't need the latest and greatest in fentanyl-laced heroin.

Ideally -- can someone just tell me what to buy please?  For some reason I just really want to pick up this addiction to spend more and more of my life staring at the wall and losing all my money, time, relationships, and life opportunities.  I find myself getting confused and irritated.  I feel old people!  Very old!   :)

TIA,

[Syonyk]

Seems I have brought shame unto myself.

No, you're just being an ass by not actually reading what the person was actually asking for, and going on about brand new, "luxury class," "size of the wall" TVs, and then further ignoring any observations about the vile toxicity of "Smart" streaming equipment by claiming that "clean installs" are more important.  Despite the fact that it's entirely possible to do so without having a bunch of cables lounging around.  A bog standard cable hider in the wall (or surface mount version) will happily run power and HDMI up and keep things clean.

An 80" TV is quite insane for what the OP asked for advice on.  It's further insane to suggest that someone who's gone without a TV for 20 years go buy a brand new high end TV to watch a few things.  A used, 30-40", 1080P TV will meet the requirements for remarkably less than the $900/48" you linked, or the "quite a bit more expensive" 80 inch class - which, I'd add, cost more than the bulk of the cars I've owned in my life.

You're not trying to be helpful, you're showing off that you can't consider anything under 80" a sane TV.  Great, but not relevant here.  It's as pointless as someone asking for advice on a small hatchback to get around, and me giving them advice on full ton pickups.  Now, if the daily driving mileage is low enough, I'd likely drop an ebike suggestion in, if they've already got a sane car, but... come on.  Knock it off.

[GuitarStv]

Seems I have brought shame unto myself.

This TV is only $0.99 and should fit the MMM mold of being frugal for frugals sake.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/394101988150?hash=item5bc24f1b36:g:vfoAAOSw94likP4S

$/sq-in is very good on this one.

OP wanted to watch netflix on the TV, and that appears to only offer analog OTA reception.  It's also 'untested' . . . which usually means 'broken' in my experience.

I don't think that buying something that doesn't fit your needs qualifies as frugal.

Hello smart mustachian folks

So we would like to buy some heroin but I've been clean for so long that I don't know what I'm looking for. I've been living the last 20 years like a successful person, in control of my own priorities, and not as a wage slave to some sketchy dealer.

I'd like to not spend a lot of money on my heroin, and I'm looking for something in the range of traditional black tar.  We aren't picky and don't need the latest and greatest in fentanyl-laced heroin.

Ideally -- can someone just tell me what to buy please?  For some reason I just really want to pick up this addiction to spend more and more of my life staring at the wall and losing all my money, time, relationships, and life opportunities.  I find myself getting confused and irritated.  I feel old people!  Very old!   :)

TIA,

This would be a better zinger if it wasn't coming from someone losing money, time, relationships, and life opportunities typing in front of an addiction forming screen on addiction forming social media.

We've all got our little vices.

:P

[ChpBstrd]

This would be a better zinger if it wasn't coming from someone losing money, time, relationships, and life opportunities typing in front of an addiction forming screen on addiction forming social media.

This made me feel like someone out there finally understands me. It’s a very 2020’s observation.

[yachi]

Seems I have brought shame unto myself.

This TV is only $0.99 and should fit the MMM mold of being frugal for frugals sake.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/394101988150?hash=item5bc24f1b36:g:vfoAAOSw94likP4S

$/sq-in is very good on this one.

OP wanted to watch netflix on the TV, and that appears to only offer analog OTA reception.  It's also 'untested' . . . which usually means 'broken' in my experience.

I don't think that buying something that doesn't fit your needs qualifies as frugal.

Hello smart mustachian folks

So we would like to buy some heroin but I've been clean for so long that I don't know what I'm looking for. I've been living the last 20 years like a successful person, in control of my own priorities, and not as a wage slave to some sketchy dealer.

I'd like to not spend a lot of money on my heroin, and I'm looking for something in the range of traditional black tar.  We aren't picky and don't need the latest and greatest in fentanyl-laced heroin.

Ideally -- can someone just tell me what to buy please?  For some reason I just really want to pick up this addiction to spend more and more of my life staring at the wall and losing all my money, time, relationships, and life opportunities.  I find myself getting confused and irritated.  I feel old people!  Very old!   :)

TIA,

This would be a better zinger if it wasn't coming from someone losing money, time, relationships, and life opportunities typing in front of an addiction forming screen on addiction forming social media.

We've all got our little vices.

:P

Even worse, there's no such thing as analog OTA TV anymore.  The US digitized the old TV transmission band, which allowed them to consolidate all the transmissions into a narrower band.  They auctioned off the rest of the old band that used to be analog TV.  So unless you're going to resurrect a bunch of old transmission equipment and break lots of fcc rules, you won't have anything to watch.

[FLBiker]

We've been very happy with one of the aforementioned Roku TCL tvs.  It sounds like Roku has a lousy privacy policy, but I'm not sure what the risks are (since we only use it to watch free TV shows -- mostly using CBC Gem).  I think we paid ~$125-$150 for ours (I think it's 32").  Like you, we hadn't had a TV before, and had never had a smart TV, and they're very easy to use.

[Trifle]

We've been very happy with one of the aforementioned Roku TCL tvs.  It sounds like Roku has a lousy privacy policy, but I'm not sure what the risks are (since we only use it to watch free TV shows -- mostly using CBC Gem).  I think we paid ~$125-$150 for ours (I think it's 32").  Like you, we hadn't had a TV before, and had never had a smart TV, and they're very easy to use.

Thanks @FLBiker!  That's helpful. 

[alsoknownasDean]

Another option is to get any old TV of the desired size/resolution/etc and hook up a streaming stick. Eventually the built in software on smart TVs is unsupported and you can always swap out a new streaming stick.

I actually use a Chromecast with Google TV hooked up to a not all that old Hisense smart TV because the built-in software on the Hisense is already kinda lacking compared to the Google TV software (although of course that depends on one's willingness to use Google devices/services). In five or so years time the Hisense software will be utterly unsupported and the built in apps will probably no longer work, but $100 or so for a new up to date streaming stick and you're off to the races.

I've got an old shitty 32" TV from about 2009 that still I can still watch YouTube etc on with an Android TV powered streaming box. The only reason I'm not still using that streaming box is that it doesn't support one of the apps I use.

[GuitarStv]

If you canvass friends/family you may just be able to pick up a used TV for free.  At least among the folks I know, it's pretty common for them to throw out a perfectly working set because they want to get a newer/bigger one.  The used goods goods places around here are really picky about what TVs they'll accept as they get so many people trying to get rid of old sets.

[dcheesi]

If you canvass friends/family you may just be able to pick up a used TV for free.  At least among the folks I know, it's pretty common for them to throw out a perfectly working set because they want to get a newer/bigger one.  The used goods goods places around here are really picky about what TVs they'll accept as they get so many people trying to get rid of old sets.

Both my former and current SOs did that. In both cases, I found the equipment ...problematic. I finally put my foot down after the climactic "Battle of Winterfell" in GoT was rendered a darkly unwatchable mess on my fiancée's screen. Bought her a TCL Roku TV (of the perfect size to fit on her existing furniture --it really ties the room together!) and never looked back.

Now if you can find a set that's truly OK for free, then go for it! I actually got by with a $40 used TV from my old office's breakroom for a few years (it was in high demand, but I won the office "raffle" for the honor of buying it). But there's a line between frugal and cheap, and IME freecycled TVs often cross that line.

[GuitarStv]

I finally put my foot down after the climactic "Battle of Winterfell" in GoT was rendered a darkly unwatchable mess on my fiancée's screen.

In defense of cheap TVs, the "Battle of Winterfell" was a darkly unwatchable mess even on a nice TV.  Crappy cinematography.  :P

[ChpBstrd]

If you canvass friends/family you may just be able to pick up a used TV for free.  At least among the folks I know, it's pretty common for them to throw out a perfectly working set because they want to get a newer/bigger one.  The used goods goods places around here are really picky about what TVs they'll accept as they get so many people trying to get rid of old sets.

@GuitarStv is correct. A neighbor recently threw out a pair of flat screen TVs. I thought it was odd that two TVs would go bad at the same time, but maybe lightning struck? When a third 40" flat screen TV was put on the curb at the same house the following week, I picked it up, plugged it in at home, and found it worked just fine.

They were being thrown away in working condition because that household had decided to upgrade all their TVs at once.

[nereo]

Some unknown person recently tossed two flatscreens (both 32-40" size range, both 1080p) in my workplace's dumpster, in violation of a few different state laws. WE fished them out (because we had to) and decided to plug them in - yup, both worked fine.

It's bizarre to think that flatscreen TVs are now considered disposable items even when functional.

[ixtap]

I plan to list two TVs on our neighborhood FB buy nothing because you just can't get enough for them to bother sorting through the responses to any public listing.

[Trifle]

Yes, it's bizarre and very depressing that ~40" TVs in good working order are considered disposable items. 

Re: the friends and neighbors route.  I don't think I know anyone that would dispose of a newish TV that works.  I'm not on Facebook and we live in the country (no neighbors or curbs) -- so CraigsList it is.  I've found a few options on there that look good.  TVs (some dumb, some smart) in that size range for around $30.  We'll try that route, and if we can't get something decent we'll cough up the ~$140 for a new one.

Thanks everyone!  It's been an education.   

[thedigitalone]

Just jumping in to mention https://kodi.tv/ it's an open source home theater software package that can run an a huge number of devices.

There are add-ons for most of the streaming services so you can control everything from one interface. Family loves ours, I've set it up on cheap Amazon fire sticks all the way up to PCs, it just works.  I bring a fire stick when I travel and plug it into the hotel TV to avoid commercials.

[habanero]

Yes, it's bizarre and very depressing that ~40" TVs in good working order are considered disposable items. 

Re: the friends and neighbors route.  I don't think I know anyone that would dispose of a newish TV that works.  I'm not on Facebook and we live in the country (no neighbors or curbs) -- so CraigsList it is.  I've found a few options on there that look good.  TVs (some dumb, some smart) in that size range for around $30.  We'll try that route, and if we can't get something decent we'll cough up the ~$140 for a new one.

Thanks everyone!  It's been an education.

Been a while since I was in the TV market but as these are considered pretty much disposable items do check that your preferred services are actually working if buying an oldish model. It can be a bit so-so with software updatets on older models as new one comes out more frequently than you change your underwear. Also make sure it has your preferred mode of networking, i.e wireless or cabled.

If you get a dumb TV with HDMI port it can become pretty smart with a Google Chromecast. I use that for an old, once smart - now not-so-smart TV.

[alsoknownasDean]

The streaming devices like the Chromecast with Google TV, Roku, Fire sticks or the Onn devices are a pretty cheap way to give an old TV smart functionality.

Sent from my Redmi Note 8 Pro using Tapatalk

[lutorm]

Whatever you do, I would not buy a "smart" TV. (Nor would I buy a smart refrigerator, light bulb, clothes washer, toaster, or whatever other IoS (Internet of Shit) product they come up with.) It's taking something that used to be autonomously functional and turning you into a licensee of the manufacturer, who can not be trusted to provide ongoing support and updates to these devices.

Your laptop is perfectly capable of sending whatever you watch on it now to an old-fashioned "dumb" TV with an HDMI input, either through a cable or using a Chromecast or similar device. No need to get fancy.

[GuitarStv]

Whatever you do, I would not buy a "smart" TV. (Nor would I buy a smart refrigerator, light bulb, clothes washer, toaster, or whatever other IoS (Internet of Shit) product they come up with.) It's taking something that used to be autonomously functional and turning you into a licensee of the manufacturer, who can not be trusted to provide ongoing support and updates to these devices.

Your laptop is perfectly capable of sending whatever you watch on it now to an old-fashioned "dumb" TV with an HDMI input, either through a cable or using a Chromecast or similar device. No need to get fancy.

Agreed 100%.

I've yet to see much if any real utility to owning 'smart' devices/appliances.  They just have more failure points.

[lutorm]

Whatever you do, I would not buy a "smart" TV. (Nor would I buy a smart refrigerator, light bulb, clothes washer, toaster, or whatever other IoS (Internet of Shit) product they come up with.) It's taking something that used to be autonomously functional and turning you into a licensee of the manufacturer, who can not be trusted to provide ongoing support and updates to these devices.

Your laptop is perfectly capable of sending whatever you watch on it now to an old-fashioned "dumb" TV with an HDMI input, either through a cable or using a Chromecast or similar device. No need to get fancy.

Coincidentally, I just saw this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31706835
Agreed 100%.

I've yet to see much if any real utility to owning 'smart' devices/appliances.  They just have more failure points.

[Trifle]

OK, here's another honest question -- Why are 'dumb' screens more expensive than 'smart' TVs?  (Comparing apples to apples, new, in-store, same size)

[geekette]

OK, here's another honest question -- Why are 'dumb' screens more expensive than 'smart' TVs?  (Comparing apples to apples, new, in-store, same size)

Well, if they can't sell your data...

[Trifle]

OK, here's another honest question -- Why are 'dumb' screens more expensive than 'smart' TVs?  (Comparing apples to apples, new, in-store, same size)

Well, if they can't sell your data...

Ok, wow, does that account for all of the price difference I wonder?

[JLee]

OK, here's another honest question -- Why are 'dumb' screens more expensive than 'smart' TVs?  (Comparing apples to apples, new, in-store, same size)

Well, if they can't sell your data...

Ok, wow, does that account for all of the price difference I wonder?

I suspect it's mostly economy of scale - most people want smart TVs, they get produced in larger numbers / more frequently, and non-smart TVs are likely going to be a more specific / high end product?

[Trifle]

OK, here's another honest question -- Why are 'dumb' screens more expensive than 'smart' TVs?  (Comparing apples to apples, new, in-store, same size)

Well, if they can't sell your data...

Ok, wow, does that account for all of the price difference I wonder?

I suspect it's mostly economy of scale - most people want smart TVs, they get produced in larger numbers / more frequently, and non-smart TVs are likely going to be a more specific / high end product?

Ah yes, that makes sense. Thanks