# TV-buying advice **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 8, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-buying-advice/1015296 "2025-03-08T15:07:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-buying-advice/1015296/41 "2025-03-08T20:46:02Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > I use Roku or Nvidia Shield for all. MUCH better performance and no ads. Isn’t there [advertising on Roku boxes](https://advertising.roku.com/) as well? ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-buying-advice/1015296/42 "2025-03-08T20:54:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Isn’t there [advertising on Roku boxes](https://advertising.roku.com/) as well? Static ads only. Simply one more thumbnail button next to the app buttons. Not really an ad at all to me. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-buying-advice/1015296/43 "2025-03-09T00:51:18Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > All of my televisions are “Smart” TVs, but I never enable WIFI on them. I use Roku or Nvidia Shield for all. MUCH better performance and no ads. If you’ve never enabled or used the native system, how do you know it’s inferior? ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-buying-advice/1015296/44 "2025-03-09T01:02:24Z")
I’ve used other systems on other televisions. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2025, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-buying-advice/1015296/45 "2025-03-09T01:48:22Z")
I can see someone saying they hate the Sony/Samsung/etc. OS, and prefer to just plug in an external streaming box. But I don’t understand how it would be any faster. I have a TCL Series 6 with a Roku interface - it’s markedly faster than any of my external Rokus on other sets in the house. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2025, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-buying-advice/1015296/46 "2025-03-09T02:02:29Z")
The [Roku City screensaver](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roku_City) includes ads on the billboards and sometimes the buildings themselves seen scrolling by are obvious sponsor placements. Lots of fun easter eggs to watch for in that one. I bet the artist had a ball creating it. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2025, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-buying-advice/1015296/47 "2025-03-09T07:23:14Z")
I use Google Chromecast on my TVs now; no ads at all, just a slideshow with clock when it isn’t actively streaming anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-buying-advice/1015296.md?page=2)