What are the worst tech purchases you or your family have ever made?

I watched a video recently and wanted to know what other have bought over the years.

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[–] 131 points 6 months ago (15 children)

Easily 1000% my Samsung TV.

Each update somehow makes it slower, it always loads up whatever the Samsung TV app thing is before it will do anything with a menu so you can get out of it, I believe it requires a Samsung account before it will allows you to do anything, and every now and then it locks up so hard that I have to factory reset it to get it to work again.

I refuse to buy anything from Samsung ever again.

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  • [–] 24 points 6 months ago

    Every consumer TV is subsidized by the advertisements they (plan to) put on it and your data they'll sell. I bought a mid-range Samsung TV last year, used it for TV, movies, gaming, and I love it. But I haven't connected it to the internet, I use a separate device I can easily discard if need be. Not blaming you because it's counter-intuitive, but you can't update consumer TVs. They know it will live in your... living... room for several years and want to make money off displaying ads. Do you really think they'll update it to be less intrusive and show fewer ads so they make less money!?? Obviously, I just guessed right; I'm not a genius, nor do I have precognition. I've even heard stories about TVs connecting themselves to open networks, but I'm not sure sure I believe them...

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  • [–] 64 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    Ah, there’s the problem — you connected it to the internet. I’ve had decent experiences with Samsung TVs, but I just plug them into an apple tv and let the box do the work. I’ve had to see their UI on a couple occasions though and yeah it’s trash.

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  • [–] 27 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    same with my LG. I never connected it to the internet directly. I chose instead to plug in an rpi

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago

    Last TV I had (besides my current CRT for retro games) I used an RPi 4 (later upgraded to the 5) for a media center and a steam link (purchased for $1 during a bundle sale) so I could game off of it from my desktop. I did also have a Chromecast but honestly with a wireless keyboard I would have been fine with just the steam link.

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  • [–] 9 points 6 months ago

    If you haven't already done this: wipe all the apps and run the cache-cleaning or whatever it is in the system menu. That should get it back down to where the memory and storage aren't at 100% and fixes most of the problems. I've kept my 2017 Samsung usable that way. Also, if you have a pi-hole you can set it to use that as the DNS and block the advertising domains, retaining most of the smart functionality without all the crap.

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  • [–] 7 points 6 months ago

    I heard turning off Samsung live tv and removing the app helps the performance tremendously, I have yet to try it as my wife for some reason is willing to tolerate a menu that takes over a minute to navigate one click at a time so she can keep the live tv feature, it is unusable to me

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  • [–] 11 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    Not a shill, but I honestly love my Samsung TV. I took it out of the box, plugged in an HDMI cable to connect it to my PC, and use it as a monitor. I've never connected it to my wifi, so it has no internet access. I've never had to enter my Samsung account info to use it.

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  • [–] 13 points 6 months ago

    Similar experience here. Good panel, solid colours, good angles and handles sunny rooms well. However, TV OS’s are one of the most asinine things to exist though. Never connect that thing to the internet if you can help it and it’ll work great.

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago

    I love my Sony. Iirc, it wanted Internet for initial setup, but I unplugged the Ethernet cable soon after. It just works and displays what I want without issue.

    My girlfriend brought a tcl roku special when she moved in. That blinked a very bright white LED unless it was connected to the internet. And now whenever I turn it on, it screams and displayed a fucked up picture from my media device until I go and use the "restart tv" option.

    Fucking POS.

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago

    I got a Google TV box and disconnected my Samsung TV from the internet. A week later I got an email about how connecting them helps me because it sends the data and my preferences back to Samsung.

    ... It sends thousands of information pings each day.

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago

    We have one of the Samsung frame TVs, it's a nice TV, it fits a specific need for us in a bit of a weird spot in a bedroom where a regular TV would look out of place.

    But man is the software trash. It's laggy, a lot of the apps seem really poorly-optimized, and half the settings are just randomly unavailable for no apparent reason.

    And since I had to install a box in the wall to hide the one connect box behind it, I kind of don't want to use it with another streaming device, something about putting too much stuff in that box kind of rubs me the wrong way.

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  • [–] 2 points 6 months ago

    That's a software issue and user error. Don't use the "smart" features is rule one for a consumer television.

    I bought a Samsung for the display not the interface. I'm not sure if I've ever really even seen the built in interface, maybe when I initially set it up.

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  • [–] 72 points 6 months ago (13 children)

    I bought an HD DVD player as a youth. I don’t think I need to explain further

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  • [–] 25 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

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  • [–] 2 points 6 months ago (5 children)

    You have clearly not been to the library.

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  • [–] 7 points 6 months ago (4 children)

    Is... The library bookstore full of HD DVDs people have donated? O.o

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  • [–] 4 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    Well, true, maybe not HD, haha, but I was just referring to how to continue breathing life into a DVD player. But yeah, I didn't even know HD DVDs existed, given Blu-Ray...

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  • [–] 2 points 6 months ago*

    Haha yeah, I think HD-DVDs were a bit more budget friendly compared to Blurays, but they were the extremely short-lived "team red" in the format war, and ultimately they weren't a huge improvement to upgrade to, unlike Blu-rays when everybody was jumping to 1080p.

    But yeah! Absolutely! Hit up the library and enjoy those DVDs (and Blu-rays)!

    I was just having a discussion with a coworker who was wondering why one would keep a DVD player around, and I basically explained how not owning your media gets it ripped away from you sooner or later.

    Libraries sometimes even get DVD versions of streamed TV shows and movies that don't get a retail disc release.

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    I don't know about HD DVDs specifically but I do know they have plenty of movies usually in physical formats, depending on your specific location and whatnot.

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago

    Oh yeah! Totally! Big fan and advocate of the library. Mine's even got Blurays and videogames now!

    Haha yeah you probably won't find HD-DVDs in the collection as it lost the format wars to Blurays , but maybe in the library book stores sold from donations. XD

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  • [–] 55 points 6 months ago (5 children)

    I bought an after-market touchscreen entertainment/navigation unit for my 2008 car from some online place selling cheap Chinese gear.

    It was so slow it was nigh on useless. I'd be halfway home before the maps would finally start, and Spotify would just crash. I pulled it out after a few weeks and went back to the stock unit.

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  • [–] 14 points 6 months ago

    Hey I did the same! Thought hey I know tech, I know car audio, this will be great. It wasn't. Some bottom of the barrel android tablet that barely run a music player let alone navigation. Ended up putting back the stock and getting a 15 dollar phone mount instead. Worked way better.

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  • [–] 4 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    I bought one of these. It's a bit clunky, but it was the best option for my application because it uses the stock touchscreen from the infotainment system instead of the aftermarket stereo which would have 2 screens on top of each other and look shitty. It's not cheap, and I wish it was a little more polished, but it does everything I need it to.

    https://gromaudio.com/vline/?srsltid=AfmBOopqUVGKB-ToRqCqMa_JIbd041ZytmLBTFd-ZbM2vYJWTRPl3xm3

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  • [–] 48 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    Let's see... One that comes to mind that I guess is "tech" would be Substance Painter and Designer, back when it was independently owned and had an indie license.

    "This will really take my Blender work to the next level. I'm going to LEARN this. Let's freaking go." I said, and "invested" like $150 into it.

    I'm NORMALLY a FOSS nut, but this software was changing the game! Paint directly on 3d models with smart materials and layers and dynamics‽ AWESOME! Maybe it's worth paying a chunk of my meager part time income for quality software...

    Then comes the email:

    Subject: "Substance is joining the Adobe family!"

    Then the follow-up to all the pissed off customers:

    "Don't worry, it won't be subscription only."

    Maybe a month later it's part of the "cloud" and made subscription only.

    I don't care what's "iNdUsTry sTaNdArD." I refuse to engage with Adobe for any reason, and I'd rather put my hard earned money into supporting open source community tools than to ever get rug pulled by some shameless sellout ever again.

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  • [–] 4 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    I agree with your frustration and dislike of Adobe but you can still get a permanent license through Steam. It is unfortunately an industry standard, only toolbag comes close afaik but it's still a long way off

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  • [–] 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

    EDIT: Yeah, they did finally release a Steam version with a perpetual license. That's a step in the right direction but I've already gotten burnt so bad lol.

    You're right, when it comes to the industry's "cutting edge" unfortunately the likes of Autodesk and Adobe and their copycats seem to hold the hill.

    But know what? I've actually quite made peace with the idea that I'm probably never gonna work in the AAA(A?) space where that top of the line cutting edge stuff is absolutely required.

    In this case, Material Maker and Blender with some add-ons are providing some wonderfully intuitive materials workflows!

    Despite my ambitions, my life just didn't shake out that way and now people that are at least a decade my junior are far exceeding what I can do, with a lot better training and a back that can handle the long hours. :p (Honestly from some of the stories we've heard out of the industry, I feel I dodged a bullet sometimes.)

    But yeah...

    It's kinda like when I say I work in Godot and people wanna say "WeLL uNrEaL's GrApHiCs ThO...".

    They might be right but, ha! Am I, a little indie dev that might work alongside some other indie devs, REALLY gonna be making a project SO incredibly strenuous that it's gonna break anything less than the full might of Unreal?! Probably not. :p

    (Power to whatever tools people like using of course! The tools don't make the artist. :) )

    I've decided to dedicate my study and efforts towards empowering the Rest Of Us (TM). The FOSS tool users, the industry's rejected applicants, the amateurs, the little guys and gals; Especially the ones who are sick of being exploited by tools, employers, and corporations.

    And I hope something good comes of it one day. <3

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  • [–] 40 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    I got a cheap dash cam off Temu a few years ago. I’m sure I don’t have to explain beyond that.

    Yes. I’m an idiot. I know. I’ve always known.

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  • [–] 11 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    So just out of curiosity, did the dash cam not work for dash cam purposes?

    As in, did you end up getting into an accident and have no usable footage?

    Or was it just a piece of shit that didn't work?

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  • [–] 39 points 6 months ago* (6 children)

    I'm not sure if they count is a "tech purchase", but I bought all new Samsung appliances in my previous home (washer, dryer, refrigerator, and dishwasher). The washer and dryer failed catastrophically within 6 months, the dryer drum cracked and shredded a whole load of clothing into confetti and the washing flooded my kitchen and ruined my cabinets (it was a weird house layout). The refrigerator just had random parts dying over and over (water dispenser, lights, sensors, ice maker) until it finally died at the year mark. The dishwasher made it nearly to year two before the control panel died and the replacement part was more expensive than an entire new unit. Never again Samsung!

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  • [–] 17 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    I came in here expecting Samsung hate, and I am not disappointed. They're like 13% of South Korea's GDP, they should make shit that lasts longer than a year!!

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  • [–] 8 points 6 months ago

    You don't get rich by selling something people only buy once....

    That being said I have a Samsung oven that's about 12 years old now and still works perfect aside from one element doesn't trigger the "burner on" light, but the "hot surface" light still works, so I'm not overly concerned.

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  • [–] 6 points 6 months ago

    Samsung used to be awesome up until, say, 10-15 years ago? Then they just got so big and quality just went off a cliff

    I have a Samsung flat screen from 15 years ago, the thing is a tank and won't die. A new Samsung flat screen is lucky to make it 5 years tops

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  • [–] 0 points 6 months ago

    This is interesting to me... I've had two sets of Samsung wash and dryer, over the span of about 15 years now. Only replaced the first ones because I didn't want to move them across country.

    I found them easy to work on and get parts for general maintenance... maybe I'm just lucky?

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  • [–] 36 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    My brother and I saved up money for a few months and bought the Nintendo Virtual Boy.... We were not too happy with it so we thought we just needed to buy better games. That was not a viable solution for that POS.

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  • [–] [S] 33 points 6 months ago (8 children)

    I got an ouya.

    The controllers keys stuck.

    You had to give them your credit card in order to get an account.

    The games were ok if you could get over the 1/2 second of lag between button press and game.

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  • [–] 23 points 6 months ago

    One of my gaming buddies is in Thailand, but plays on the American server with us. His ping is regularly 2000-3000ms. When he hits a button, he doesn't actually "do the thing" for 2-3 seconds. But dude is a fucking genius, and he's mastered the timing. He regularly outperforms folks with a 28ms ping (It's me, I'm "folks").

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  • [–] 8 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    I'm one of the few.people.that really liked tbe Ouya. At the time it was the best living room retro gaming system out there. I bought 3 of them. And I had no problem with the controllers.

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  • [–] 32 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    Convinced my mum to splash out on an Amstrad Emailer. It looked really cool and could store your phonation, and had emails.

    3 months later, my Dad is checking the landline phone bill which is expensive for some reason. Turns out the Amstrad phones a premium rate phone lime every night. Managed to switch it off but then the whole thing stopped working saying it needs to do that to work.

    Nowhere did they mention this, or at least it was not clear to both of us. Absolutely dodgy fuckers.

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  • [–] 1 point 6 months ago

    There's also the fact they started showing adverts on the screen when it wasn't in use, and the adverts were usually for sex phone services - often showing nudity and with a quick-access button for the premium rate number, no less - right there in your hallway where everyone saw it.

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  • [+] 27 points 6 months ago* (9 children)
  • [–] 4 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    I used to go for Xiaomi phones but I stopped because I had too many issues with the OS. The amount of times it would close an app almost as soon as it leaves the screen was too much, tried every setting ever to fix until I just starting doing 2FA with a floating/split screen.

    8 years ago the OS was one of the best, 3 years ago it was one of the worst, not sure how it is now.

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  • [–] 2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    What happened about the bootloader? Afaik there's "only" a 7 days waiting time but that is to be done only once, if the serial number is tied to the Xiaomi account that makes the request, the next bootloader unlock has no waiting time.

    And devices that run a ROM for the Chinese market only accept a bootloader unlock request from a Chinese IP address

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