The Lifespan of an e-ink e-reader

[John F]

Originally Posted by leebase

I don't think I've ever had a device die before I upgraded it

I'm mostly the opposite. All of my eink ereaders have lasted well, but I think the majority of my devices die before I want to upgrade (TV, phone, tablet, headphones, computer, ...)

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by leebase

I don't think I've ever had a device die before I upgraded it

Same here. Well, my fridge and washing machine died. But I usually upgrade my ereaders, phones and computers every few years, and my latest TV is still going strong after 7 years (I rarely use it, so no need to upgrade there). As to headsets, don't own or use any.

[tomsem]

It's been quite awhile since I've purchased a non-Amazon e-reader, and they don't release new models as frequently as they used to. I'm glad I got the latest Paperwhite; overall, it's the best ereader I've ever had. Mostly it lacks a couple of software features that I'd like to have (author grouping, TTS). But it might now be to the point where I won't buy another Kindle for years.

I am thinking about getting Pocketbook Era when it is available (TTS).

Our TV is probably a 10 year old model (42" LG plasma panel dumb TV, 720p). I'm interested in upgrading to another, slightly larger 4K dumb panel, but there aren't many choices, and they are all LED and not OLED. This looks interesting and quite affordable:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W68VFGL...ogi&th=1&psc=1

But how quality stacks up against other UHD / LED panels available in smart TVs is not clear.

[Quoth]

Make a smart model dumb by never connecting ethernet and not entering WIFi password. Works fine here.
Most LED are actually LCD, which for a TV is superior to OLED (shorter life than Plasma and uses phosphors that degrade. Seal can fail and moisture causes catastrophic failure).

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Make a smart model dumb by never connecting ethernet and not entering WIFi password. Works fine here.

Same here. I've seen no evidence that a "dumb" TV one will last any longer these days. I gave up looking for deals on non-smart TVs long ago. I just look for the deal. Then if I need "smart", I just add a much more easily updated device of my choosing to an hdmi port. I've got a Roku TV I've never even been into the Roku menu of. *shrug*

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

...if I need "smart", I just add a much more easily updated device of my choosing to an hdmi port. I've got a Roku TV I've never even been into the Roku menu of...

If it's already a smart TV, what are the advantages of using a different device?

I ask because I have two Samsung smart TVs and the experience is... fine. I think I'd prefer a Chromecast or whatever they are now called. But I haven't been able to convince myself the change is worth the $40 each. I guess I'm looking for someone to give me a push.

[tomsem]

I object to the idea of smart TVs on principal. I prefer having separate components which can be updated independently.

I realize you can just not enable the 'smart'. But it bothers me that it adds cost to the device, and I'm paying for something I won't use, and whose useful life is far less than the panel itself, and eventually you will just wind up needing a streaming box anyway.

I say this as someone who worked on automation for the earliest WebOS TVs at LG for a couple of years. The profit margins are incredibly small, they use the cheapest components possible, and they don't mind that the one they sell this year will not be able to get updates 2 or 3 years hence. And yes, they eventually laid off almost all of the developers in Santa Clara and moved it to India. It was a lot of fun while it lasted (even got to visit HQ in Seoul for 'cross training'), but I didn't like the product enough to want one myself.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

If it's already a smart TV, what are the advantages of using a different device?

I ask because I have two Samsung smart TVs and the experience is... fine. I think I'd prefer a Chromecast or whatever they are now called. But I haven't been able to convince myself the change is worth the $40 each. I guess I'm looking for someone to give me a push.

In my experience, the standard streaming apps on many smart TV's are not updated as often as they are on a dedicated device (Chromecast, Firestick, etc...)

It may have gotten better, but I've seen many a homeowner be stuck with buggy or non-working Netflix/Hulu apps because an upstream change that required an update hadn't yet trickled down to those red-headed step-child devices.

It's probably gotten somewhat better with Fire TVs and Roku TVs, but I still come across many older smart TVs (Samsung included) with dedicated streaming devices attached because the built-in smart apps on the TV weren't working any more.

I also don't care for the latency issues that wireless connections introduce RE streaming applications. So I tend to hardwire semi-permanent devices whenever possible. I have a much better chance of getting an ethernet plug on a dedicated streaming device (or an available separate adapter) than I do with a Smart TV.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by tomsem

But it bothers me that it adds cost to the device, and I'm paying for something I won't use, and whose useful life is far less than the panel itself, and eventually you will just wind up needing a streaming box anyway.

I'm not seeing much of a price difference (if any). Not when it comes to bargain shopping anyway. Comparing list prices, smart tvs may cost fractionally more. But I've found many a smart tv (with all the non-smart features I was looking for) on sale for less than a comparable (size, resolution, screen-technology) "dumb" tv. *shrug*

If had to pay more for a smart tv, I'd avoid them for many of the exact same reasons you mention, though.

[Quoth]

I don't even see ANY non-smart TVs here above 40", so price is irrelevant.
But Panasonic & Samsung UI are better than Android TV (or Amazon Fire derived version) because Android TV seems designed for someone at a desk using apps, not someone at normal distance watching TV channels, DVD/BD and streaming. Certainly our aged dumb Toshiba (10+ years?) and our new smart Samsung has a far better UI than the Sony Andriod TV which has just sort of died.

Also if you do want streaming a separate HDMI stick/box/laptop is better apart from the privacy issues of Smart TV (most report what TV channels & disc titles you watch as well as all the app and streaming activity).

[Apache]

I have a smart LG TV that the apps seem to update regularly. At least the ones I use. I am never asked to update the apps that I do not use. I also have Stupid TV's too.
Apache

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by tomsem

ut it bothers me that it adds cost to the device, and I'm paying for something I won't use...

TVs have gotten a lot cheaper in recent years. I don't doubt that the smart components add to the cost, but I'd rather be shopping for a TV now than five or ten years ago.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

In my experience, the standard streaming apps on many smart TV's are not updated as often as they are on a dedicated device (Chromecast, Firestick, etc...)

It may have gotten better, but I've seen many a homeowner be stuck with buggy or non-working Netflix/Hulu apps because an upstream change that required an update hadn't yet trickled down to those red-headed step-child devices.

Yeah, I had a Samsung smart blu-ray player that was wrecked by a buggy OTA update.

It's probably gotten somewhat better with Fire TVs and Roku TVs, but I still come across many older smart TVs (Samsung included) with dedicated streaming devices attached because the built-in smart apps on the TV weren't working any more.

How are those updates? I see Chromecast (what I am looking at) has gone through a couple of generations of hardware. Do the older generations keep getting updates?

I also don't care for the latency issues that wireless connections introduce RE streaming applications. So I tend to hardwire semi-permanent devices whenever possible. I have a much better chance of getting an ethernet plug on a dedicated streaming device (or an available separate adapter) than I do with a Smart TV.

I wouldn't wire mine. Maybe if Samsung stops supporting the apps and one breaks, it'll be a blessing in disguise, as it wil push me to buy that Chromecase.

Or maybe there will be a big Black Friday sale.

Right now, my want and my wallet are squabbling.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Quoth

...Panasonic & Samsung UI are better than Android TV (or Amazon Fire derived version) because Android TV seems designed for someone at a desk using apps, not someone at normal distance watching TV channels, DVD/BD and streaming.

From what I have seen, I prefer Google/Android TV to what my Samsung TVs have.

My main issue with Samsung is they pull the same crap on their TVs that they do on their phones. The TV comes with apps pre-installed that cannot be uninstalled, or even removed from the home screen. I don't have Apple TV or Vudu and never will. But I cannot uninstall them, remove them from the home screen or even shuffle them off to the end of the list. They sit squarely in the middle and have to be skipped every time. (I have two Samsung TVs. On the slightly older one, this isn't an issue, which is what prompted me to buy another.)

[Quoth]

I see loads of garbage apps on Android TV just hitting Menu. You have to scroll inputs or settings or channels. It's a big tablet that happens to be a TV. You can't get rid of most of them.

I didn't even notice any apps on the new Samsung. You'd have to go looking for them and they do nothing without internet connection. The GUI is better layout and size of text. You can put short cuts on the home bar. I don't think it has Apple TV. But no streaming app or other app appears by default on the menu.

Maybe it varies by country? Your Samsung description is like every Android and Fire TV I've seen in Ireland.

Just don't connect ANY "smart" TV to the Internet at all. Use separate devices. Even the sets with Satellite tuners are worse than a generic €45 satellite box. I'm only concerned that it has an Irish compatible Terrestrial tuner, optical out/pass through for audio, headphone socket, decent picture, correct size and more than one input. They are all rubbish on inputs, just 1, 2 or some 3 HDMI, no composite, SCART RGB (or any SCART), Component, S-Video. Our old 40" HD Toshiba has 4x HDMI, component, 2 x SCART (one does S-Video, one does RGB, both do composite), composite and VGA. Optical out, headphone jack. Also 2x USB. I hope it doesn't break! No WiFi, BT or ethernet, but I'll never need those on a TV.