TV Malfunctioned. Ordered a Replacement

[Qs Laptop]

I actually have 5 flat panel HDTV's (with tuners & HDMI) in my home, and not a single one is a Smart TV. When I looked about a year ago, the only HDTVs that were not Smart TV's seemed to be commercial units that cost more.

My concern with the Smart TV is the extra delays waiting for the Smart TV system to load and the additional time going through Smart TV menus to get to a tuned channel or HDMI input with no prompts/indicators staying on the screen more than a couple seconds. Ignoring it or leaving disconnected from the internet wouldn't help if it's causing extra menu steps, delays, or other screen garbage/prompts. I've never used a Smart TV, so I don't know how bad it would be, so it's just a concern. Does anyone know?

If you're not going to use ANY of the smart TV functions, meaning you are either going to use an over-the-air antenna, a cable box, or a DVD/Blu-Ray player to watch content there is absolutely no delay or time needed to load the smart TV menus, switch HDMI inputs, etc.. You simply set your TV to return to the last used input on start up. So if you have a cable box, when you turn on your smart TV (connected or not connected to the internet) it will start up on whatever channel you previously were watching on cable when you turned the TV off last time. No delay.

There isn't any delay with smart TV's connected to the internet to load smart TV menus. There is a slight 2-3 second delay from the time you select your streaming provider, i.e. Netflix, and the time for that channel's home page to appear on the screen.

I can't imagine buying a TV without 4K resolution these days...

 

[GenXguy]

If you're not going to use ANY of the smart TV functions, meaning you are either going to use an over-the-air antenna, a cable box, or a DVD/Blu-Ray player to watch content there is absolutely no delay or time needed to load the smart TV menus, switch HDMI inputs, etc.. You simply set your TV to return to the last used input on start up. So if you have a cable box, when you turn on your smart TV (connected or not connected to the internet) it will start up on whatever channel you previously were watching on cable when you turned the TV off last time. No delay.

There isn't any delay with smart TV's connected to the internet to load smart TV menus. There is a slight 2-3 second delay from the time you select your streaming provider, i.e. Netflix, and the time for that channel's home page to appear on the screen.

I can't imagine buying a TV without 4K resolution these days...

OK thanks. That's good to know.

2 of my TVs are 720p, and 3 are 1080p. No 4 K. But my newest one was purchased in 2013:

Samsung UN22F5000 22-Inch 1080p 60Hz Slim LED HDTV

And my primary TV was purchased in 2008:

Sony W4100 46" 1080p 120 hz HDTV

 

[Sojourner]

I scoot up close.

But... why? I'm about to purchase an 83" TV for my living room where DW and I watch 2-3 hours of shows and movies most nights after dinner. I want a TV that fills the room in a cinematic fashion, where neither of us has to "scoot up close" or strain our eyes to see fine details on the screen. I just don't understand going smaller when it comes to TV screens. I mean, we're all FI around here and (generally) in the "older" demographic with weaker eyes and ears than we used to have. Why not spend some of that hard-earned FI money on big, dazzling screens that are easy to see from across the room?

 

[Pointby2]

My 27 inch TV malfunctioned and I just ordered a different one (still 27 inch).

I didn't realize that TVs today are about 95% smart TVs. All I really need is a simple TV. Not the smart TVs. The way I see things, I don't want a smart TV with the extra tech (complication) for the same reason I don't want a GPS in the dash of my car.

Anyhow, I found a non smart TV that can also work as a monitor and ordered it. Was a bit on the expensive side. Maybe priced to pay a bit extra for he peace of mind .

This belongs in the "Old School" thread.

 

[REWahoo]

But... why? I'm about to purchase an 83" TV for my living room where DW and I watch 2-3 hours of shows and movies most nights after dinner. I want a TV that fills the room in a cinematic fashion, where neither of us has to "scoot up close" or strain our eyes to see fine details on the screen. I just don't understand going smaller when it comes to TV screens. I mean, we're all FI around here and (generally) in the "older" demographic with weaker eyes and ears than we used to have. Why not spend some of that hard-earned FI money on big, dazzling screens that are easy to see from across the room?

Yes, when it comes to TVs size does matter.

 

[Golden Mean]

The smart TV function adds little if anything to the cost. Looks like the OP had to pay more to NOT have the smart TV function.

If you don't want it to connect to the internet simply do not provide your wifi details and don't connect an ethernet cable.

The twist is, the OP plugs in a FireTV device which... connects to the net. So it sounds like a premium was paid to continue to use the FireTV interface, for streaming, vs whatever a smart TV's streaming interface would be?

I wonder what intrusion or hassle is being imagined. My "smart" tv shows the last input on startup (and automatically turns on the external stereo amp via ARC). This is usually my HTPC running MythTV (Linux DVR), which is used to occasional browse the web or watch shorter youtube vids and watch OTA shows I've set it up to record.. For longer vids, I press 2 buttons twice and switch to the tv's youtube app (handles higher resolutions the HTPC can't do well). I also can instantly switch to Amazon streaming, Britbox or BBC. Simple, no hassle. No extra remotes, nothing requiring an extra power wire or eating up an HDMI port.

 

[Qs Laptop]

The twist is, the OP plugs in a FireTV device which... connects to the net. So it sounds like a premium was paid to continue to use the FireTV interface, for streaming, vs whatever a smart TV's streaming interface would be?

Once you get acclimated to a particular user interface for streaming you might pay an extra $30-$35 to buy that streaming stick and plug it into the back of whatever TV you buy. Some TV's stock user interface is a confusing mess of icons and advertisements (Samsung, any Google TV.)

 

[Out of Steam]

We have a 40 inch Sony TV that is over 15 years old, and have been talking about replacing it with a bigger one for at least five years. The limited space on the wall and fairly short viewing distance make the case less than compelling. Anything over 55 inches would significantly overlap the raised hearth floor of the corner fireplace.

 

[threeonesix]

You can buy a smart TV and run it as non-smart like I am doing. I just didn't allow Google to load all their junk. I plugged in an Amazon Fire stick and run through that.

The Amazon stick turns it into a Smart TV. Not to burst your bubble, just pointing that out.

The smart TV function adds little if anything to the cost. Looks like the OP had to pay more to NOT have the smart TV function.

Supply and demand sets prices, for the most part. There is little demand for non-Smart TV's so they cost more.


When it comes to the sweet spot for the size of TV screen you need, there are many online calculators to help with this. My chair is 8 feet from my TV so my main TV is a 55". Any larger and it would start to blur. An early (2011 model) Sony Bravia 1080p LED TV the picture is incredible, much better than the 4K/8K TV's I see in stores today. The OTA picture, that is. It doesn't perform as well with blackspace with streaming services. Live sports OTA, you feel like you're at the game/match. With live golf OTA I can see the fertilizer between the blades of grass.

 

[Al18]

4K for a 27 inch TV sounds insane, unless you are using it as a monitor and your eyeballs are 12 inches away.

Also, excellent 55 inch 4K TV’s range from $1000 to $2000 and are typically OLED - which is a completely different TV technology than most lower quality LCD screens with LED backlighting. There is NO backlighting on OLED screens

 

[GenXguy]

The Amazon stick turns it into a Smart TV. Not to burst your bubble, just pointing that out.

I have Amazon stick and the TV is still not a smart TV. The stick is just an attachment for content just like my HTPC, blu-ray, etc.

 

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

It is easy to ignore the smart stuff on the new smart TVs. I'm amazed at the smart TCL Roku TV 65" 4K for $228 I got from Walmart on sale.

I got mine in 2023 at that price and I love it, it's my 3rd Roku TV. I have a TV in almost every room in my big house so I'm slowly replacing them all with Roku brand when I see a great deal. It's on from about 5am till 10pm every single day, I even leave it on for the dogs when I'm out. I'm just watching Elons Dragon Freedom ship splashdown and the picture quality is amazing.

 

[Koolau]

We have a 40 inch Sony TV that is over 15 years old, and have been talking about replacing it with a bigger one for at least five years. The limited space on the wall and fairly short viewing distance make the case less than compelling. Anything over 55 inches would significantly overlap the raised hearth floor of the corner fireplace.

At one time, I had three old Tube TVs that still w*rked. I'd retired them to get a better TV. I still have one of those old Tube TVs and it still w*rks.

I've never "retired" a flat screen. They've all just died (quit). I get 3 to 4 years from a flat screen. I don't recall a Tube TV ever dying. What gives?

 

[GenXguy]

At one time, I had three old Tube TVs that still w*rked. I'd retired them to get a better TV. I still have one of those old Tube TVs and it still w*rks.

I've never "retired" a flat screen. They've all just died (quit). I get 3 to 4 years from a flat screen. I don't recall a Tube TV ever dying. What gives?

You haven't had very good luck. My main TV, which is on quite a bit, was new in 2008. Sony W4100 46". I have one finicky HDTV in my bedroom that is from that same time period but gets much less use. If the room temperature drops below 70, it won't always come on, or may take a few tries. And if gets into the low 60's, forget it. lol

 

[Koolau]

I suspect the issue is the 3 to 5 months that they sit idle. They fail when I return.

 

[Midpack]

I've never "retired" a flat screen. They've all just died (quit). I get 3 to 4 years from a flat screen. I don't recall a Tube TV ever dying. What gives?

That’s not normal at all, you must buy really cheap TVs. We have 4 flat screens, 2 Sony LCD’s, Samsung LED, LG OLED, they’ve all run several hours a day when new and none of them have died yet. The oldest is almost 18 years old. We haven’t had one die yet…

LED TVs have the longest life span (11-16 years) with low brightness settings applied.
Plasma TVs last only 5-7 years, while LCD screens last 5-10 years.
Keep your new TV longer using its Energy Saving mode and a surge protector.

 

[Qs Laptop]

You haven't had very good luck. My main TV, which is on quite a bit, was new in 2008. Sony W4100 46". I have one finicky HDTV in my bedroom that is from that same time period but gets much less use. If the room temperature drops below 70, it won't always come on, or may take a few tries. And if gets into the low 60's, forget it. lol

I don't know what to do with your statement. You seem to be saying that since your 17 year old HDTV has a quirky problem then currently made HDTVs will have them too.

 

[jim584672]

I had a LG that would flash on and off on startup at various times. I found cutting off the power entirely (with a smart power outlet) seemed to fix the problem.

Someone put out a 32" Samsung to the curb. Amazingly good 720p picture, just needed the AC power brick and remote which I got online.

 

[Qs Laptop]

I had a LG that would flash on and off on startup at various times. I found cutting off the power entirely (with a smart power outlet) seemed to fix the problem.

Unplugging a TV from the wall outlet for 30 seconds or so and plugging back in solves a lot of weird problems. I suspect your disabling the outlet accomplished the same thing.

 

[GenXguy]

I don't know what to do with your statement. You seem to be saying that since your 17 year old HDTV has a quirky problem then currently made HDTVs will have them too.

I recommend just re-reading it. You will notice I didn't say anything about currently made HDTVs having quirks or not, so you were imagining that. It was the poster I responded to who said he gets only 3 or 4 years from an HDTV, which I said is bad luck. Also, it was my less used TV that developed the quirk after quite a number of years, not when it was new. Of course unplugging and plugging back in doesn't magically fix it, lol, but sometimes retrying a few times might work or just warming up the room always resolves it. If I sell it, I might have to bundle it with a heater.

 

[Qs Laptop]

I recommend just re-reading it. You will notice I didn't say anything about currently made HDTVs having quirks or not, so you were imagining that.

I said:

"I don't know what to do with your statement"
and
"You seem to be saying..."

Whatever, you win.

 

[Music Lover]

When it comes to the sweet spot for the size of TV screen you need, there are many online calculators to help with this. My chair is 8 feet from my TV so my main TV is a 55".

We sit 9' away from a 75" 4K tv, no blurring. I actually wanted an 85" but couldn't justify almost double the price at the time.

We also have good tower speakers, a center channel, and a subwoofer so it's close to a movie theatre experience.

 

[Koolau]

I thought 42" was huge when I bought it. Now, I wish I'd bought a 50" or bigger.

...Too late smart!

 

[GenXguy]

I said:

"I don't know what to do with your statement"
and
"You seem to be saying..."

Whatever, you win.

Oh, I was just confused about your interpretation. Not trying to win anything. Hopefully I clarified it. I have nothing against new TVs based on your response about the Smart TV earlier.

 

[aja8888]

An interesting side comment. The 4K Firestick on my TV crapped out today, Would not accept my wireless password (lost ability to connect to my wireless). Replaced it with an old spare and all is good. The Firestick was 1.5 years old.