The salesperson conned my MiL into buying a smart TV, and/or it was the only one available. She doesn't have internet, she's just not into it.
I could imagine a TV refusing to operate until its connected to the internet to upload your viewing habits and download new ads... but the smart TVs from a year or two ago were not that aggressive.
I would never connect one to my LAN. How can I know its security holes and upgrades and issues, how do I unbrick it once it inevitably gets owned, how do I virus scan or otherwise clean it up, its just too difficult and complicated compared to my simpler system. As long as they still operate without ever having a wifi connection, I'll be OK.
Edited to add, "the tv asked for my wifi password so I told it, what could possibly go wrong?" is going to be the next decades "someone on the internet asked me for my bank account number so I told him, what could possibly go wrong?" Right up there with browser toolbar installers.
If you do all your shopping in brick-and-mortar stores that only carry expensive Samsung and LG TVs, I'd believe that. But there's a wealth of "dumb" TVs available online and even in big-box stores like Best Buy and Walmart.
I'd say if someone is savvy enough to know they don't want a "smart" TV, they will know where to look for a good deal.
That's at the budget end of the spectrum, but there are non-"smart" 4K TVs among the better brands as well. This site has reviews of several low to high-end 4K TVs:
The salesperson conned my MiL into buying a smart TV, and/or it was the only one available. She doesn't have internet, she's just not into it.
I could imagine a TV refusing to operate until its connected to the internet to upload your viewing habits and download new ads... but the smart TVs from a year or two ago were not that aggressive.
I would never connect one to my LAN. How can I know its security holes and upgrades and issues, how do I unbrick it once it inevitably gets owned, how do I virus scan or otherwise clean it up, its just too difficult and complicated compared to my simpler system. As long as they still operate without ever having a wifi connection, I'll be OK.
Edited to add, "the tv asked for my wifi password so I told it, what could possibly go wrong?" is going to be the next decades "someone on the internet asked me for my bank account number so I told him, what could possibly go wrong?" Right up there with browser toolbar installers.