Do You Still Own a TV Set? (retired, separate, movies)

[jazzcat22]

Since most of us are of the age where we grew up with TV sets, I was wondering if everyone still has one. I am considering getting rid of mine. I only have one, a 50 inch in the living room. Stopped watching broadcast or cable TV a number of years ago (was never a big TV watcher...it's kind of amazing how many of the classic shows I haven't seen). I watch 90 minutes a day of Netflix, Hulu, Prime, Acorn, and YouTube. Have a Roku that allows me to do this.

Watching the 90 minutes was the highlight of the evening when my husband was alive. It was a time to come together, have dessert, and watch some stuff we really loved. He died seven months ago. I have been keeping up the tradition of the evening schedule, but the Roku has started to act up. Yesterday after 45 minutes it said it was overheating! And I understand so little about troubleshooting.

I am having a guy from Best Buy come over in a few days to recommend what I might do, like get a tv with a Roku built in. But so much to learn about. I am not sure I get that much from sitting in the living room with the big screen. Not like I am watching sports, action stuff, major events. I watch mostly dramas and comedies and some cultural stuff like ballet and music performances. I was thinking I may be just as happy watching in the sunroom on my iPad or in the office on the desktop with what may be a 16 to 20 inch monitor. And that way I wouldn't have to deal with getting and learning a new tv system.

I know younger people don't watch actual broadcast or cable tv---neither do I. And I wouldn't be happy to just watching a show on a phone, like they do. Does anyone over 40 just watch stuff on a tablet or desktop and not a tv? I know most people watch more tv than I do and may be more into it. I do love my carefully selected shows, but for many reasons, it's only 90 minutes a day. I guess big screens have never mattered to me very much---stopped going to the theaters years ago, even back when there were still movies I wanted to see, to save money, not have people talking, not be bombarded by loudness. But I don't know if this is too much of giving up yet another aspect of my past life and I should try to preserve one of the last activities I used to do while married 43 years...

Any input will be much appreciated...

[Spuggy]

We have an oled tv and if we are not streaming Netflix or amazon prime in the evenings ( rarely ever watch anything any other time) then we have a rotating art gallery or a fish tank video on screen. When the family is around we might watch a photo slide show or do a movie night.

If my husband doesn’t want to watch a movie or a show then I just put my earphones on and watch it on my laptop or iPad.

I really think it depends on your circumstances. If it was just me and no family around I’m not sure I’d bother with a tv as I find streaming through my laptop or iPad just fine.

[DanBev]

We are retired and have 5 scattered around.

[Ellwood]

I have a TV which I only local news, Netflix, Amazon Prime and old series like Hogan's Heroes. The sitcoms now being offered do not interest meaner do the game shows. Half the time I can't understand what they are saying because they talk so fast. TV today is like a brainwashing machine. I don't watch TV during the day, instead read, or play word games on IPAD.

[ABQ2015]

I think I would prefer a TV set as I like to play on my laptop while I watch TV, play games, pay bills, read web forums or the news, etc. So I don't give the TV shows my undivided attention although I enjoy watching TV. Recently I missed some shows or the first part of the show and was able to find them on the internet and watch on my laptop - I do not have a smart TV. But my laptop screen is just 14-15" and I would prefer a larger screen for watching movies/shows. I also have some early macular degeneration and my eyesight is not that great. My previous laptop screen was 19" and that would have suited me better for watching movies or TV shows.

[jazzcat22]

Thanks, Spuggy. Sounds like we have some similar viewing habits and feelings about it.

Elwood, do you have a smart tv or a steaming device like Roku?

[Parnassia]

I have one moderately sized, wall mounted Roku TV. No separate device. It includes free access to quite a bit. Our only reception option here is satellite. Once the day winds down after dinner I enjoy a variety, so chose Amazon Prime for access to ad-free movies, Sling for a choice of daily news, educational, PBS, and TCM, and the TV is also connected to the DVD player. I've never been a multi-tasker or leave the TV on for background noise. I sit down planning to watch specific programs or turn the thing off. Watching on a laptop is irritating unless I happen to be traveling. Teensy tablet or phone screens? I often watch foreign language films with subtitles. Forget that!

[limpbrisket]

I have a smart TV so I can stream through netflix & amazon prime. I can't say I watch much of anything live with the exception of some sporting events, and even that I do through subscription services on my computer that I stream to the TV. There's not too much of a learning curve with smart TVs in my experience. The one I have only has a couple buttons and the ones need for the streaming services are labelled with the name of what they're for. It is somewhat of a pain to type stuff in one letter a time when searching, but it's not too bad. I don't know how people can watch anything on a phone - that's something I've just never been able to do. If I were less busy at work, I might consider it!

Edit: I should note that I'm not retired :0 Didn't notice what forum I was in.

[MI-Roger]

We have a single TV, 32-inch flat screen. Many computer monitors today are larger than our TV.

[bodog57]

Without a TV and commercials...how would I doze off for a nap?

Seems problematic...