The EMMC on my PC-TV finally broke down and I’d like to replace it with something that doesn’t run an OS or will predictably fail with a countdown. But dumb TVs are hard to come by and monitors come at a premium at that size. I want to run a PC (DP/HDMI) and an SBC (HDMI) with it. I also have an S2 satellite cable, but that’s secondary. I’d like to have ~43", 16:9, 4K but without an embedded smart-hub, ideally running of eeprom-firmware, or just anything independent of write-cycles. But I can’t find any good options online. Are there companies for this. Comments and recommendations welcome.

Edit: I’m EU, hence the DVB-S2 cable. Scepter would be great, but doesn’t run on EU power.

Edit: I’ve pretty much settled on a philips 439P1/00. I’ll give it another day, but it seems good. The PC over DP is my main focus and I can connect my own SBC for streaming. It lacks freesync but has adaptive sync and basic HDR. Being an office-monitor, it has no smarts and at ~600 bucks with consumer warranty and support it fits what I’m asking for well. Industry-signage wasn’t really an option.

  • davel@lemmy.mlEnglish
    452·
    3 days ago

    I don’t know, but if good smart TVs are cheaper than good dumb ones, you might consider ignoring/disabling the smart bits. I might go so far as to sever the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth antennas.

    Tom’s Guide: Dumb TVs — here’s why you can’t find them anymore

    That’s because, for a number of reasons, it’s cheaper and more profitable for TV makers to simply include a smart platform with every TV they ship out. It’s actually a major reason why TVs have become so much cheaper in the last decade — with a smart platform, TV makers can sell the hardware at cost or even take a small loss, but in the end make money through the advertising that shows up on the homescreen.

    • BertramDitore@lemm.eeEnglish
      35·
      3 days ago

      This is the advice I usually give. I hate the concept of smart TVs, but I’m not willing to spend more when I can just ensure my Hisense U8K never connects to the internet. It’s a gorgeous and completely affordable display for the quality it provides, and there are no relevant features that are unavailable because it’s offline.

  • Zerush@lemmy.ml
    4·
    2 days ago

    Currently it’s nearly impossible to find good and big dumb TV, but as mencioned, it’s only smart conected to the internet. Instead of this conect it to an Satelite decoder and a Parabolic outside (not very expensive (<€100) and you have access to hundreds of channels from every country for free. and anonymous.

    • Nicro@discuss.tchncs.deOP
      2·
      2 days ago

      As stated in OP, I have an S2 dish already. Agreed that it’s better than cable. But not everyone lives in a place they can set up a dish on. Rentals and such. My point was that I wanted to use the display without relying on some buggy vendor-locked OS.

      • Zerush@lemmy.ml
        1·
        2 days ago

        Not much options, there are mainly only two OS in the smart TV, Android and LG with WebOS. In both is always better to connect a dish or cable, than going online.

  • Fusty@lemmy.mlEnglish
    367·
    3 days ago

    Are people aware that they can buy a smart TV and never conntect it to wi-fi and never plug in the ethernet? There is no risk if TV never gets an IP.

    • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
      27·
      3 days ago

      It’s possible a smart TV will use its wifi to connect to another device of the same brand on its own. I’d read an article about it a couple years ago.

      If I’m reading about it, that means a company has been working on it, and frankly it makes sense. If I were in their shoes I’d look into making it happen. It’s pretty trivial to do when you think about it.

      Not that I think it’s happening in the wild, just an idea to keep in mind.

      Also, those devices are always capturing data. So if/when they ever connect, that data will get uploaded.

        • undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch
          10·
          3 days ago

          I think what they were talking about is the TV actively scanning for similar models and connecting to those to reach the internet. I’ve read similar articles showing how smart TVs will even connect to an open WiFi network to try to get online.

          All this would bypass your LAN restrictions of course.

      • Fusty@lemmy.mlEnglish
        59·
        3 days ago

        There is no meaningful data for the OS to capture if it used as a display for externally connected devices.

        The only way to have 100% privacy on all devices is not have internet service.

          • Fusty@lemmy.mlEnglish
            221·
            3 days ago

            I guess that you cannot read well so I will say it plainly, when a TV has no access to the outside internet over the lifespan of the TV, zero information or files will ever be uploaded and will stay on TV with no external copy existing anymore.

            • Otter@lemmy.caEnglish
              10·
              3 days ago

              Also, those devices are always capturing data. So if/when they ever connect, that data will get uploaded.

              This seems to be the key bit of the comment.

              Outside of the examples listed, a more reasonable possibility is if someone else in your home (ex. A family member) connects it to the network. Also even if it doesn’t automatically connect to a public network, well placed popups can also lead to mistakes.

              • Fusty@lemmy.mlEnglish
                219·
                3 days ago

                Yoy can dream up every fantasy scenerio you want until you are butt stupid, it does not make it plausible.

                • undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch
                  5·
                  3 days ago

                  Have you missed the other comments? It’s pretty well documented that the TV will either find a similar brand TV to connect to (and reach the internet) or as I’ve read, it’ll find an open WiFi network to do so.

          • lone_faerie@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
            24·
            3 days ago

            Username checks out. Your own article you linked dispels this.

            the opt-out mechanisms implemented on LG and Samsung smart TVs are working

            A better solution is to disconnect your Smart TV from the internet entirely… Smart TVs cannot utilize ACR when they are offline.

    • culpritus [any]@hexbear.netEnglish
      41·
      3 days ago

      This. I have a nice 4k 120hz ‘smart TV’ that is not connected to anything. I use it only as a display for PC with external speakers. I’m pretty sure you can even do firmware updates without connecting anything but USB drive. Even if you have to connect to get updates, you can just disconnect it afterwards.

      • Nicro@discuss.tchncs.deOP
        5·
        3 days ago

        I might resort to this. It’s mainly just the e-waste potential that has me bothered. The OS will inevitable break after EOL, and the hardware becomes inoperable without the “hdmi-app”. The computer parts are usually dirt cheap and eventually break themselves even on minimal use.

      • Fusty@lemmy.mlEnglish
        3·
        3 days ago

        Yes, plugin ethernet, install updates, unplug ethernet, never connect it to wi-fi, there is no risk to privacy.

    • xia@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
      4·
      2 days ago

      I do recall there being tvs with baked-in ads that play on startup even without internet service, but i was unable to easily find the reference. Also, many smart tv interfaces are much slower than dumb tv on-screen menus, so there is that.

      • Doxatek@mander.xyz
        3·
        2 days ago

        Yeah this is true. The TCL TV I have has an ad for Deadpool when I turn it on. It’s a dumb TV in the sense of it’s not connected to the Internet but it still has these from the brief period of time where it wasn’t during setup. The ROKU tvs are even worse imo it has like weird scrolling banner ads as a TV screensaver. We have a Roku TV as well.

        Honestly fuck all the manufacturers I don’t even want a damn ‘smart’ TV and I’m also pissed at everyone else that enables this by not caring. I guess I helped perpetrate it also but I had no choice I would have bought differently if I could. A lot of people don’t mind having non-stop ads jammed down their throats though even by objects they own. The only time I think my TV should be showing me ads is if it’s literally free.

      • JovialMicrobial@lemm.ee
        1·
        1 day ago

        Ours had a really sluggish menu with ads until we disconnected it from the internet. Now it has zero ads and the menu to switch sources is as fast as it should be.

        I wish I had never connected it to begin with though. I didn’t know better. It used to default to whatever console was on, but it updated and no longer does that for some shitty reason. So I have to go through the menu and manually switch sources now. Probably to make sure I saw all the ads before using my playstation. Assholes.

  • Steve@communick.newsEnglish
    15·
    3 days ago

    They’re called Signage Displays.
    Most major names you know make them.
    They do cost more, but not prohibitively so.

    • elucubra@sopuli.xyz
      6·
      2 days ago

      The display specs tend to be shit, and they are often more expensive. Their design is tuned for 24/7 operation, not fidelity.

      • Steve@communick.newsEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        I suppose that depends on what you mean by “shit”. They’re the same displays as in retail units. Maybe a generation older. But that’s it. Samsung doesn’t have special lines making different screens for a niche market like this. LG even has OLED Signage Displays.

      • Steve@communick.newsEnglish
        3·
        2 days ago

        Most still have the computer built in. But the software is complety different. They have some different features that would make sense for an always on screen in a shop, office, or airport. You can load up a thumb drive with images for the screen to rotate through. Upload new images through WiFi or Ethernet. Use that same network connection to setup, synchronize, and controll dozens of screens, making a video wall. Pretty cool stuff really.

        Just none of the spyware. Since there is no individual or household to tie the data to, that part becomes pretty useless.

      • Nicro@discuss.tchncs.deOP
        2·
        2 days ago

        When scaled to mass production, the SBCs become dirt cheap. Then they can subsidise with sponsored/preloaded content, ads and usage data.

  • LazerDickMcCheese@sh.itjust.works
    7·
    3 days ago

    I’d like to know too. I’ve never used my TV as a traditional TV, and I hate the “smart” features. Ideally, I’d like a modern 16:9 CRT under 80lbs, but they don’t exist

  • mlfh@lemmy.sdf.org
    6·
    3 days ago

    I have a 43-inch Insignia N10 that works great in exactly that role. Dumb TV with HDMI inputs, audio outputs, and that’s about it. Best Buy’s in-house brand, it was like 120 bucks about a year ago, when my Vizio TV from 2003 finally died in a way I couldn’t fix :(

    The built-in speakers aren’t great, definitely recommend hooking it up to something else.

    • Nicro@discuss.tchncs.deOP
      3·
      2 days ago

      I was eyeing Scepter, but I just saw that their stuff is made with exclusively US standards and EU power and broadcasting is different. Didn’t notice that would matter.

    • toastal@lemmy.ml
      4·
      3 days ago

      Big compromises. Only 90% sRGB? Last decade has been making shifts towards DCI-P3 & they can’t even cover sRGB?

      • youmaynotknow@lemmy.ml
        2·
        2 days ago

        I’ve never paid attention to that, and at those prices, while keeping more stuff from mining data, it’s a steal.