The problem is that you think that would make the ‘just’ products cheaper. The reality is that the data and advertising subsidize the costs of the existing options and make them cheaper then what ‘just’ could sell for.
Damn that $2_000 fridge must be super awesome for it to have no competition. That explains the ads on it.
No, you’re wrong. You pay more and still get shafted. I’m not saying that all products are like that, but the number of products that still show you ads and gobble your data while also becoming prohibitively expensive is ever increasing.
We’re in that nice transition phase where you can spend $200 or $3000 on a TV but your privacy is gone either way.
I’m never going to buy a fridge with a tablet embedded in it, but I don’t really think they are making that much money from that. You can buy cheaper equivalent versions of appliances that don’t have the ability to display ads or collect/send data anywhere.
Almost every new TV is some form of a smart TV now because a huge number of people don’t subscribe to cable or use an antenna. That’s unavoidable. Most fridges do not have a tablet embedded inside because people need a thing to keep their food cold and want the cheapest option.
I bought a bunch of new appliances before selling my old condo 2 years ago. All of them (literally ALL) had some WiFi capabilities. Some were even starting to market some AI nonsense. I very recently bought several new large appliances for my home and none of them have any sort of WiFi connection. That thing sorta dropped off, no one wanted that or really used it.
The problem is that you think that would make the ‘just’ products cheaper. The reality is that the data and advertising subsidize the costs of the existing options and make them cheaper then what ‘just’ could sell for.
Case in point: Smeg already does this, and all their products are considered upmarket. They’re just really solid normal appliances.
That isn’t true anymore nowadays. You pay the full un-subsidized price AND get your data sold and ads displayed
Only if there’s a lack of competition in that market. For most devices, you’re just flat out wrong.
Damn that $2_000 fridge must be super awesome for it to have no competition. That explains the ads on it.
No, you’re wrong. You pay more and still get shafted. I’m not saying that all products are like that, but the number of products that still show you ads and gobble your data while also becoming prohibitively expensive is ever increasing.
We’re in that nice transition phase where you can spend $200 or $3000 on a TV but your privacy is gone either way.
Noone said it would be cheaper
I’m never going to buy a fridge with a tablet embedded in it, but I don’t really think they are making that much money from that. You can buy cheaper equivalent versions of appliances that don’t have the ability to display ads or collect/send data anywhere.
Not for TVs you can’t. And other appliances are following suit.
Almost every new TV is some form of a smart TV now because a huge number of people don’t subscribe to cable or use an antenna. That’s unavoidable. Most fridges do not have a tablet embedded inside because people need a thing to keep their food cold and want the cheapest option.
I bought a bunch of new appliances before selling my old condo 2 years ago. All of them (literally ALL) had some WiFi capabilities. Some were even starting to market some AI nonsense. I very recently bought several new large appliances for my home and none of them have any sort of WiFi connection. That thing sorta dropped off, no one wanted that or really used it.