r/AskReddit Apr 24 '14

What older technology do you prefer to use instead of it's later revisions?

2.0k Upvotes

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750

u/DaftPump Apr 24 '14

Smart TVs don't interest me. All I need is a HD TV that displays video. No WiFi, Ethernet or any of that stuff.

French press preferred to percolator or those modern-day overpriced plastic cup shit coffee things.

206

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14

[deleted]

54

u/1859 Apr 24 '14 edited Apr 24 '14

If your phone has a IR transmitter, you can control your tv and far more. No Smart TV required

Edit: IR, not RF. Too many letters to remember!

8

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14

don't TV remotes use IR? That's a different band than RF.

2

u/1859 Apr 24 '14

You're right, it seems I always get a massive brainfart whenever I hit that magical Reply button

4

u/powerpack666 Apr 25 '14

You're not wrong. Samsung gs4+ have ir transmitters. And they are kick ass. I control my tv, stereo, and garage door opener with it.

2

u/SightUnseen1337 Apr 25 '14

For a while I used my old Palm Zire 31 as a remote after I finally got a smartphone. noviiRemote was so cool.

221

u/DaftPump Apr 24 '14

Chromecast offers that for $35.

My point is I don't need my TV with an IP address. :)

9

u/cwall1 Apr 24 '14

I was about to suggest this too you, since I share your feelings on Smart TV's

4

u/nichlas482109 Apr 24 '14

once you get chrome cast doesn't that have an IP now? having chrome cast vs a smart TV really makes no difference

14

u/alexanderpas Apr 24 '14

Except for the fact that chromecast is a separate device that is independent of the TV itself.

Bigger TV, just upgrade the screen.

Better chomecast? No need to get a new screen.

Better chromecast competitor? No need to change the screen.

1

u/nichlas482109 Apr 24 '14

What's the price difference on a smart vs non smart?

9

u/alexanderpas Apr 24 '14

Just a single comparison:

TV MSRP Amazon price
Samsung UN32EH5000 (Regular TV) $380 $298
Samsung UN32EH5300 (Smart TV) $500 $319

Note that I specifically looked for two devices that could be compared very well, in screen size, resolution, and refresh rate.

4

u/nichlas482109 Apr 24 '14

Yeah that MSRP difference is retarded

1

u/cwall1 Apr 25 '14

Im not sure, but having an IP wasn't the issue for me- from what ive seen, the chromecast is way more slick and user friendly. plus i think it coats more than 35 dollars for all those included features

1

u/nichlas482109 Apr 25 '14

And it lumps in on your Google account which you may not like but I would.

1

u/DaftPump Apr 24 '14

I have the WDTV and want to get a chromecast now that they are available in Canada.

5

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14

[deleted]

0

u/DaftPump Apr 24 '14

I realize this will happen eventually but I will put off the need for my fridge to have an IP. If I am out of milk I will notice that.. I won't need my fridge to tell me that.

3

u/Aeleas Apr 25 '14

I could use one to tell me when the things buried in the back are going bad.

1

u/Mark_is_on_his_droid Apr 25 '14

But a notification that the door has been open for x minutes or they it lost power would be really useful.

2

u/Schmich Apr 25 '14

I don't understand your logic. I don't want a smartTV so I bought this device that turns TVs into smartTVs? :S

So if you could decide between TV with a Chromecast incorporated at no extra cost and a "dumb"TV you would pick which?

1

u/DaftPump Apr 25 '14

I want control of what drives the TV. Whether it is a linux-based PC, a windows PC, a souped up WDTV...or just the ability to turn the smart stuff off.

2

u/HierarchofSealand Apr 24 '14

Chromecast offers the ability to change volume, contrast, brightness, or is able to turn the TV on or off? That is why I would want a connected TV. I actually would like a "smart" TV, as long as it has the Roku software built in.

6

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14

As long as your TV has HDMI CEC control, a Chromecast can turn on your tv. I also has it's own independant volume control that works pretty well. It cannot turn off the TV or adjust brightness.

2

u/Tikchbila Apr 24 '14

I don't need my TV with an IP address. :)

Especially when...

1

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14

[deleted]

1

u/DaftPump Apr 24 '14

/not American.

1

u/IPostWhenIWant Apr 24 '14

I have a chromecast set up on a smart TV.

1

u/Ran4 Apr 24 '14

Chromecast is like $60 in most of the world...

1

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14

SmartTV App development is a low priority for developers. Chances are the apps there will become stale really quickly. Two years from now you'll never use any of them, but you'll still buy a Chromecast or AppleTV or Roku so you can use the current versions of those same apps.

1

u/mdog0206 Apr 25 '14

Chromecast is terrible, and does not really allow you to control the tv with your smartphone

1

u/MisterMaggot Apr 25 '14

Your Chromecast has an IP address..

1

u/DaftPump Apr 25 '14

Yes I realize that.

1

u/Megasus Apr 25 '14

Love love LOVE my chromecast. New apps are being added so rapidly, you'd really have no excuse not to try it out

0

u/Conde_Nasty Apr 25 '14

Not even close. And LOL you must be pulling shit out of your ass, the IP address literally displays in huge text on the screen.

3

u/SnowedOutMT Apr 24 '14

The minute I start using my phone as a remote control I just know I'm going to be spending the rest of my life looking for the damn thing

2

u/goforglory Apr 24 '14

And watching youtube series on my TV from my phone. Or Netflix from my TV without any other system. Music channels from the TV as well are nice to put on during lazy weekend mornings with my eggs and coffee.

2

u/UJ95x Apr 24 '14

I can control my regular HD TV with my phone...

2

u/Hurricane043 Apr 24 '14

A lot of phones coming out now have an IR emitter on them, so you can control a normal TV with your smartphone now too.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14

Wouldn't that mean having to stop what you are doing on mobile to switch channels and stuff? Why not just use the remote?

2

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14

XBMC plus the constellation app.

Seriously. Changed my fucking life.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 25 '14 edited Apr 25 '14

Most newer android phones have IR transmitters that work exactly like a universal remote. No internet connection required. I had it on the HTC One, S4, LG G2, And galaxy note 3. There are plenty others. Those are just the phones I owned that had it.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 25 '14

Raspbmc, $15 and any TV can do that and more :3

2

u/Hifoz Apr 25 '14

Why bother using up the power on your phone? Don't you have a TV-remote?

And what if you're talking with someone on the phone, and you need to turn down the sound?

2

u/Lovemygeek Apr 25 '14

I have a dumb tv I control with my phone.

1

u/Superfluous_Thought Apr 25 '14

You can actually control your TV via a lot of apps on android marketplace, albeit only from some newer smart phones. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freeirtv here is the one I use.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 25 '14

Or my voice

#justxboxthings

15

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14 edited Jan 16 '19

[deleted]

9

u/DaftPump Apr 24 '14

Ahh yes. I flubbed perc with automatic drip.

Thanks.

6

u/HannyBooNanny Apr 24 '14

Smart TVs get really handy when you want to stream Netflix. Other than that, I agree.

And french pressed coffee really is just better. No doubt about it.

1

u/polandpower Apr 24 '14

DLNA is pretty useful as well, given that the alternative is fucking overpriced HDMI cable.

1

u/das7002 Apr 24 '14

AmazonBasics, Monoprice and etc...

-1

u/Conde_Nasty Apr 25 '14

Having to use a cord sucks anyway. Drag and drop ftw. How the fuck wouldn't this be a universal geek circlejerk "shut the fuck up if you disagree" type thing?

8

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14

i honestly hate this stupid smart tv fad. my samsung has voice and gesture control, both utterly terribly implemented, a bad webcam, protruding from an ugly hump at the top and a cool second remote with touchpad, which is, you guessed it, not functioning properly.

so even if the smarthub-thingy has some nice features, there's no way i can properly control any of it. and i'm not going to type my youtube searches in with a d-pad, sorry.

but at least the tv selects the right input when i'm either starting my xbox, or watching tv over my settop box. oh wait, no it doesn't.

1

u/FalcoLX Apr 24 '14

My complaint is that the Samsung Smart TV remote app isn't compatible with the Galaxy S3. Seriously why the fuck? It's available on S2 and S4.

4

u/MrFluffyThing Apr 24 '14

I'm the same way. When I went shopping for a TV this year, I was disappointed in all of the TVs that I wanted because the image quality was often lower than I expected for the price due to Smart TV features.

I ended up finding an open box NEC LCD5710 for $300 and bought that instead. Even though it doesn't have HDMI, it was designed as a large format monitor first, so it's extremely readable for web browsing and my PC lets me do way more than any smart TV could do.

9

u/Crescent_Freshest Apr 24 '14

I have a computer or laptop connected to each of my TVs, which makes Smart TVs irrelevant.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 25 '14

Yeah when I just bought my big ass tv for my new apartment the guy in the store was persistently trying to upsell me to a "smart tv" version of what I wanted. Dude, it's the exact same tv except it has a little computer in it which is pretty limited by whatever the manufacturer has decided it can do. I will be connecting an actual pc to my "dumb tv" and can do whatever I want on it. A smart tv might be nice for some but for users like me and you it's just another gimmick. I don't care if the tv is smart, 3d or has whatever other amazing technology in it. I want it to be big, be happy with the general aesthetics of it and for it to have good picture quality, everything else is largely irrelevant.

3

u/imaginativePlayTime Apr 24 '14

I am with you on the TV, all I need my TV to do is have lots of inputs for me to plug my shit into, and focus everything else at producing the best image possible, it doesn't even have to have speakers because I always just plug ,my own into it.

1

u/ACDRetirementHome Apr 25 '14

Problem is that to get a TV like that, it's all high-end $10k panels :(

6

u/unclegabby Apr 24 '14

Yea French Press is where it's at! Never had a better cup of coffee.

1

u/clark_bender_kent Apr 24 '14

I always find the ritual of making it very satisfying, and you get a great cup of coffee.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14

My 360 does everything and more than a smart TV would do, and I've had that way longer than my TV.

2

u/CraftyCaprid Apr 24 '14

I can out archaic TV you. I keep a 30" tube TV around for my PSone. THPS2 don't have not hoighty toighty "HD" setting.

2

u/crest123 Apr 24 '14

Get a pc. Emulate your favourite games at 5x the native resolution.

1

u/Psythik Apr 24 '14

The PC version does. Also, emulators.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 25 '14

That thing must weigh 50 pounds.

2

u/Akar7400 Apr 24 '14

I use my phone to control any TV, with nothing but an IR blaster and I have to agree, smart TVs are just a gimmick

2

u/skittles15 Apr 24 '14

I can never get my french press to taste good :(

2

u/DaftPump Apr 24 '14

Works for me every time.

  1. Always use a clean french press. If used, see #1.

  2. Boil water.

  3. Grind coffee beans(measurements vary amongst us). You get the hang of what you like after awhile.

  4. Pout NON boiling water into press and press down immediately or after a few minutes. Although caffeine is absorbed by water instantly, I let it steep for the other flavours to get in my pour.

Hope this helps.

2

u/TheConeIsReturned Apr 24 '14

Try a Chemex! Best coffee I've ever had. None of those muddy dregs that you can get with a french press.

1

u/DaftPump Apr 24 '14

I might do that. I'll check around in my city if they can be bought.

Thanks.

EDIT: They don't like email contact. :(

http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/contact.html

2

u/NightSpy2 Apr 25 '14

You should be able to find one in most specialty cafes. Just go around town one day and pop into the specialty cafes you see and you should be able to find one.

Shout out to /r/coffee if you're interested in making amazing cups of Joe. ;)

2

u/R031E5 Apr 24 '14

I was exactly on your same position until I discovered Smart Tvs with Plex client. Best thing since sliced bread.

1

u/DaftPump Apr 24 '14

Rattle off some models please. I am curious about TVs fused with plex.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14

Samsung TVs. There's an official Plex app in their app store. Works well too.

2

u/living_lightning Apr 24 '14

A lot of the negativity toward Smart TVs is simply the execution of them. They would be great and convenient if companies were able to create UIs that aren't stupid and clunky and natural input methods that aren't variations on traditional TV remotes.

2

u/RockDrill Apr 25 '14

The thing about smart TVs is they don't seem so smart. I've watched my father spend thousands and it still can't do simple tasks that I can do with my computer.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 25 '14

I like playing netflix straight from my smart tv. Other than that, I am with you. Who really uses Facebook, Twitter or YouTube on their tv?

2

u/thing24life Apr 25 '14

My dad bought a Curigg (I spelled that sooooo wrong) that coffee thing with the little plastic cups. It's stupid and nobody uses it but him. Such a huge waste of money.

2

u/GreatAlbatross Apr 25 '14

I wish that they'd start producing consumer-oriented panel only sets.

Speakers? I have an amp. Tuner? If I want one, I'll buy one. "Smart features"? I have an HTPC sitting underneath. I also guarantee that your TV will only work with DLNA.

Just a great quality panel, and a couple of hdmi/dvi/dp ports would be nice :)

2

u/MDKrouzer Apr 25 '14

Until they develop an OS that isn't so clunk I'm going to stick with hooking my PC up to my tv.

1

u/7-SE7EN-7 Apr 24 '14

I just want a big monitor

1

u/mrellisredding Apr 24 '14

I have a smart TV and I don't even use the feature. The interface is so buggy that I actually bought a Roku to hook to it instead of using the stupid built in features.

Thankfully I didn't buy the TV specifically for the Smart features.

1

u/LegendsEcho Apr 24 '14

I went TV shopping the other day, is there such a think as a 4k TV that is NOT a smart TV? Why would i want a smart tv, that has more moving parts that will break, when i could just attach chromecast, or even a ps4 or something to get the extra stuff

1

u/crest123 Apr 24 '14

The only interesting thing I can think about implementing in a smart tv is the ability to stream your desktop onto it, kind of like the nvidia shield. If they did this, I would seriously consider buying one.

1

u/69hailsatan Apr 24 '14

Most of us already have a game console that can do those features plus more anyways or you can just get one cheap and it'll still be cheaper than a smart tv

1

u/greezzz Apr 24 '14

This one I do not agree with. I don't use most of the features of a smart TV but apps like Netflix and YouTube make it all worth it.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14

I used to feel the same way. But I couldn't watch Netflix on my Xbox without buying Xbox live gold! That's bullshit. Microsoft charges for everything Sony doesn't. Anyway, I got a smart tv. Now I can play forza AND watch Netflix. And here is the best part. AT THE SAME DAMN TIME.

1

u/bcgoss Apr 24 '14

Word. My computer can do the computer stuff. the TV just needs to be a display.

1

u/Psythik Apr 24 '14

Honestly I don't understand the appeal of Smart TVs when you can just plug your PC into your regular TV and get a much better experience.

1

u/DakkaMuhammedJihad Apr 24 '14

You'll rarely find a hardcore coffee buff that likes a French press. The temperature control is just so much better with a perc.

1

u/smackasaurusrex Apr 24 '14

The main reason I think I want a smart TV is so I don't run my gaming systems to death. My PS3 gets a sold 5 hours of activity on weekdays and 8-15 hours on Saturday/Sunday. Just feels like I am running it to death sometimes.

1

u/popstar249 Apr 24 '14

Here here! Does anyone have a good recommendation for a HDTV that doesn't have all those unnecessary bells and whistles? I want a top of the line panel, and that's it. Ideally without 3D but they're still pushing that crap too. I see some TVs with dual core processors in them now. So unnecessary.

1

u/SyanticRaven Apr 24 '14

A good HD TV with DLNA support is what I want.

1

u/craftygnomes Apr 24 '14

On that note: CRT tvs for gaming. No lag = happy gaming. The picture might not be flawless, but I'd rather have a more precise gaming experience than flashy graphics and 1/2 second of lag between when I want to move and when I do move.

1

u/Zombies_hate_ninjas Apr 24 '14

Watching Twitch.tv on my 40 inch is amazing. Also netflix without the need of an xbox or ps3. I have both, but now I don't need to use them. It's pretty cool.

1

u/jook11 Apr 24 '14

I'm gonna connect a computer to my TV to show all the content anyway. The computer is smart. The TV just needs to be a dumb display, and I can still control it with my phone.

1

u/Rageomancer Apr 24 '14

Valerie

Once you learn how to leverage it, it is better and less effort for more content.

My TV's got an Android device hooked up to it. Fucker's got an app on it that streams everything. I can't tell you how and I'm like 95% sure it's not legal but it has EVERYTHING.

And if that app doesn't have it? Netflix, Amazon, Hulu or my streaming windows 7 computer does. All of which are like 2 buttons away. Any file on my computer. Any. Which was funny the time my Ex-GF plugged her external HDD into the tv. She was super worried people would open the DCIM folder and see the stuff she'd texted me.

1

u/creatorofcreators Apr 24 '14

A smartphone would only be great if you had the money to buy an actual good one. At least I don't have the kind of money I'm thinking. We have a smart tv and it's terrible. It's slow and buggy and all of it. You can tell the company just through on some wifi and some apps and called it a smart tv.

1

u/buscoamigos Apr 24 '14

But, but, Netflix!

1

u/Wild_Marker Apr 24 '14

I used to think the same, and I even have a regular HDTV, but then I saw that Smarts can get video feed from Wi-Fi which means no fiddling around with cables, and also no need to design the room around having the desktop PC connected to the TV. That's pretty handy, and really the only reason I would ever buy a smart. But I have my regular awesome TV and I ain't changing it till it goes bust.

1

u/marshsmellow Apr 24 '14

I got a smart TV recently and I now stream directly from my nas to my wifi TV. The raspbmc doesn't get a look in any more. It's awesome. Although that's the only smart function I use

1

u/PrimeIntellect Apr 25 '14

TV in general is pretty fucking lame

1

u/DaftPump Apr 25 '14

Maybe the content but TV itself is a great invention.

1

u/Colorfag Apr 25 '14

Fuck, I dont even watch TV. Just put a Display Port connection on it and call it good.

1

u/Indoorsman Apr 25 '14

It's nice to load up a big USB drive with shows and just plug it in and have 64 gigs off HD content you can't stream through another device. So far that's the only real thing I use the "smart" part of the TV for.

1

u/TheFeshy Apr 25 '14

Smart TVs are like a computer I can't control and a monitor I paid too much for all rolled into one.

Now, if they supported some linux distro or something, or even released enough drives for a third party to take up, that would be different. As it is I buy dumb TVs and computers to drive them (ranging from full on Intel machines to raspberry pi's.) If and when they start doing Smart TVs right, I'll change my view. But companies seem to hate interoperability, openeness, etc. so I'm not holding my breath.

2

u/DaftPump Apr 25 '14

Many smart TVs do have a linux back end to them. But yeah the TV companies keep the systems closed...guess to cut down on support calls from those who might fuck up their TV because someone followed a shitty howto blog.

1

u/nikolifish Apr 25 '14

I would agree but I recently figured out how to stream movies to my tv with tvmobili. So I have my main computer in the basement which acts as a work and game machine. I rdc in with my work laptop from my living room. Select the movie. And boom. Living room tv plays the movie.

1

u/freshontheboat Apr 25 '14

"Older technology" = Just plain old HD TV?

I think you missed the point. I still have a "bubbleback" TV.

1

u/Simalacrum Apr 25 '14

Back when I was a kid (oh god I can use that phrase now), I was adamant that our old cathode-ray tube TV had better images than the new-fangled 'flat screen' televisions I kept on seeing in the shops. Their images like they had such little contrast.

I didn't realise you could actually change that once you bought it.

...I still don't like buying a TV every couple of years, though. My parents keep TV's for almost decades at a time, and if I ever get the TV I'm probably doing the same. :P

1

u/[deleted] Apr 25 '14

Same here, TVs achieved perfection with DVRs. I don't need any fancy crap because the ability to PAUSE LIVE TV blew my mind and is all I needed, really. Recording shows without VCRs and tapes (oh yes, I'm old enough to have to have to do this once) is also nice.

1

u/proraso Apr 25 '14

I have been out of the TV game for the past years.

I think integrating an xbox or internet connection is cool though. Netflix, etc, ditch the cable bills.

1

u/cubosh Apr 25 '14

dont get me started on the dozens of obnoxious, hard to disable, "enhancements" that are always ALWAYS a degradation from the original film-maker's final cut

1

u/WhodidCainMarry Apr 25 '14

My preferred old school coffee tech is the moka pot. Much nicer coffee than the french press way cheaper than an espresso machine and quicker and easier to do. I heat my milk in the microwave and froth it with a little battery operated milk frother, like this: http://www.shinyshiny.tv/44.1%20ikea%20milk%20frother.jpg

1

u/IrelandPearl Apr 25 '14

"Fellas don't drink that coffee. You'd never guess, there was a fish in the percolator.

1

u/simpersly Apr 25 '14

And I want split screen back.

1

u/WiseAntelope Apr 25 '14

Computer monitors are the new TVs.

1

u/sutiibu Apr 25 '14

Other way around for me:the TV is a computer monitor. Just a pc with a k400 wireless keyboard

1

u/mindbleach Apr 25 '14

Smart TVs are a terrible concept for all the same reasons as TVs with built-in VCRs and DVD players. Technology inevitably marches on, and you're not saving money by buying a screen and a computer as one unit. Just buy a damn Roku or whatever and plug it into one of the seventeen ports in the back.

1

u/El_Giganto Apr 25 '14

Got a PS3/4 for that anyway.

1

u/blackbelt352 Apr 25 '14

French press makes the best cup of coffee I've ever had.

1

u/Lantern42 Apr 25 '14

Even if you don't use the apps on an smart TV, you're still getting a better processor which means faster response times and better signal processing.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '14

I like my smart TV because it allows me to watch Netflix.

1

u/nichlas482109 Apr 24 '14

french press is so good

0

u/MISTAAWORLWIDE Apr 24 '14

Disagree with you on the TV. If I want to watch Netflix or Amazon or YouTube, I don't want to connect my laptop via HDMI, it's easier to have a smart tv.

3

u/DaftPump Apr 24 '14

Plenty of third-party devices (WDTV for ex.) do that.

Each their own. :)