I am dreading the eventual need to replace our two plasma TVs from 2009.
Since then, these manufacturer’s have shoved so much unnecessary garbage into them.
Yes, there is some shit on old plasmas, but even 16 years ago, when they were brand new, those media streaming apps were slow, buggy, and totally shit!
I’m a firm believer in having solid decent quality displays but NOT using any of the software features they try to shove at you.
These devices cannot have their storage upgraded, and hence, as time goes buy, those apps will take up more and more space, slowing down more and more to the point you need to replace the whole television.
I’m a fan of @Roku and we’ve used their products for many years on all of our televisions.
They offer very low cost ones and if you eventually have issues, you can just recycle the device and buy a new one.
The ROKU Ultra has been incredibly great for both my use as well as for more parents, who I set up with one 2 years ago.
Simple. Effective.
Of course, that means that no doubt in the near future the Enshittification Wave will hit ROKU and they’ll try to throw some bullshit AI crap onto their new devices. I’ll deal with that when it comes.
It they do, I can see myself abandoning ROKU as well.
And I think when that happens, I suspect we’ll just stop watching streaming television period.
The Corporate Overlords don’t realize that many of us out there will just stop using their products when they no longer meet OUR needs. (I pay them money for it. I don’t care about THEIR needs.)
I can very much see me abandoning mobile phones (other than 2 factor authentication needs) and just going back to reading books and sitting at coffee shops in the evenings being social.
It would not be too difficult for me to revert to what I was like in my 20s. (That’s the beauty of being a Gen Xr!)