Same here, I probably still have some sealed spindles of black discs hiding on boxes.

Now it’s extra tragic. They should have just made a meal at home and stopped crypto.

I hereby revoke my permission.

Don’t tease us, Satya.

His was a 42" he got for around $100, ludicrously cheap, but after using it he saw why.

Amazon does have a patent specifically for that sort of mesh-like communication, so it is possible. The TCLs I have/had were Roku based, but kept getting worse and worse until I gave one away and reset and disconnected the other. I also refuse to see ads, but that wasn’t really an issue because I didn’t use any services that showed ads. Then the TVs themselves started to and I was done. I think many of the manufacturers are getting wise to the “never connecting” trend and making it more and more obnoxious. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if most TVs started becoming unbearably naggy until you connect it to an internet connection. A friend of mine also recently got another TCL TV, this one being Amazon Fire based. Apparently, it was so bad he just gave it away within the first couple of months (it was a really cheap TV).

The higher end TCL have very good specs, but my issue is only with the software. At this point I’ve been leaning towards “dumb” TVs. My most recent TV is not a smart TV and can’t be retroactively ruined with ads or additional spyware. I just wish there were high end models available for when my larger living TV bites the dust.

They actually do still make some nigher end/niche displays I believe, but they spun their main LCD panel group off and it merged with another company. That all being said, the displays weren’t the big point here. I wouldn’t use a TCL or Samsung if they had the best displays because they load them bullshit software and I don’t trust them.

We have/had two, the entry level one was full on crappy as you alluded to, but the higher end TV, while it had a decent panel was a shitshow due to the software. I ended up having to factory reset it and just never connect it to the internet to get it usable again after a series of terrible “enhancements”. This is my main problem with where I see Sony TVs going. If having great panels/displays was all that mattered, higher end Samsung and LG TVs would still be good choices too.

Every friend or acquaintance that has asked me “What TV should I get if I want a really nice LCD TV?” was always told Sony, so I know lots of people with them. I guess I have no good answer for these people now, every brand other than Sony had become enshittified.

You sound like a person that hasn’t had the pleasure of owning a TCL TV (hint: it sucks).

This is Sony checking out and letting the remaining good will of one of their few reputable product be wrung out for cash. As another commenter said, this is Sony becoming the new RCA.

What a bunch of bullshit. He is “helping” thier profits and nothing more while directly fucking over consumers. Micron was the best/safest company to get memory from for picky devices, especially since their site could confirm direct compatibility. Now everyone loses except them and the AI companies.