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sjsdaiuasgdiayesterday at 3:34 PM3 repliesview on HN

A manufacturer can target multiple markets and make different choices for different markets.

The Samsung S90D (a 65" 4K model) you bought appears to sell for about $1000. Looking at Best Buy's site, you can also buy a Samsung 65" 4K TV for as little as $180 (model DU6900).

Yes, there's other differences. LED vs OLED etc. But at a glance they seem equivalent to a consumer...and one costs 5x more. The $1000 TV is targeting a market that expects more from their purchase and would potentially grate at a persistent sign-in notification. The <$200 TV is targeting a market that wants a big TV and hasn't thought much past that.

There's definitely a chance that on some models Samsung would be more aggressive about enabling smart features, because those models are expected to be subsidized by ads.


Replies

jvolkmanyesterday at 3:57 PM

While all of that is certainly true, even the DU6900 has the "Start with Smart Hub Home" option that defaults to enabled but can be disabled according to its manual. I assume that's what OP is seeing; it's a common thing to want to disable on Samsung TVs.

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m463yesterday at 5:18 PM

It's like poor people living in the crowded business district with little peace and giant billboards shining in the bedroom window.

jerlamyesterday at 3:43 PM

There are free TVs now that are completely subsidized by ads: https://www.telly.com/

But don't think people who can afford the more expensive TV are also more tech-savvy. Some just want a nicer TV. Also, they are a much more lucrative target market than people who cannot afford the nicer TV.

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