Ask HN: Any resources for finding non-smart appliances?

Do you mean no networking capabilities? My Zug is modern and advanced (even intelligent?) but no networking. Super expensive though.

Try searching Reddit, I just found some lists. I’ve given up and instead just don’t allow things on my network. My “smart” TV begs me to see the network but I just use a Roku instead. I fear it’s come to this where we have to circumvent our own devices desperate need for connectivity.

Tempted to just buy a golfcart motor and some nesting buckets to build the thing myself. It's not a terribly complex device.

My kingdom for a reliable 40yo washing machine and dryer.

So tired of replacing my appliances every 4 years

Part of the issue I found is that it's their lowest quality + shortest warranty models that are 'dumb'.

I (UK) bought this (https://ao.com/product/wnc25410gb-bosch-series-8-idos-washer...) Bosch one a few months ago and it is perfectly usable without enabling any of the smart capabilities though. I haven't connected mine to wi-fi at all.

We need a better word than non-smart. Maybe “sans iot enshittification”?

Not useful for Ireland, but I really like my local habitat for humanity thrift store for perfectly serviceable used or recovered building materials and appliances. Maybe search for a model prior to the iot insanity wars?

Great tip for finding no/minimal-BS appliances is to download their user manuals and check how they actually work instead of their marketing material.

Most appliances like washing machines are "smart-optional" at most, and can just be used as a regular appliance if you don't want all the "smart" stuff. There are also many without any "smart" features. It's different for TVs and such, but for household appliances all of this is not really a big deal.

Repair your current device? If that is really not possible get a "smart" one and dumb it down - don't allow any network access or - if it insists on being connected or you want to get some use out of its "smart" functions - put it on a separate network which has no access to the internet. Of and when I'm "forced" to get a new "smart" piece of equipment this is what I do if I can not change the firmware on the thing to something under my own control. I never let any "smart" device access the internet because of a host of reasons ranging from security and privacy to the risks of the thing "upgrading" itself without my approval.

The current one may be repairable! Repairing it would satisfy the requirement and be probably much cheaper.

What is the problem exactly?

(Or, buy a used one from a reputable brand.)

"Smart" and "Intelligent" could have multiple meanings here. Sometimes a washer that uses a dirt sensor is labeled smart. In US I've found anything above the lowest end has wifi capability, unfortunately. My $100 printer had some suspicious notes about sending data to google (!!!). I never connect any of these gadgets to wifi.

Is this so hard in your locale? When I browse the top three recommended washing machines on a popular Dutch appliances seller, only the third (Samsung) actually has some app functionality. The other two (Bosch, AEG) are just normal washing machines.

(The division there is currently 64 with app, 43 without. The models without appear to score higher in the reviews.)

Maytag commercial makes old-school washers + dryers with no PCBs. The control boards are through-hole components only and a schematic is included inside the panels. https://www.maytagcommerciallaundry.com/mclstorefront/mcl/en...

Samsung sells commercial monitors that are just TVs without all the smart crap. You can even opt out of a wifi card

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1828914-REG/samsung_q...

I'm not aware of any lists, and the market is thin, but they're out there.

I’ve got an Electrolux (AEG) since 2015 and it recently needed its heating element replaced because I never bothered to use any water softeners. It took the serviceman 10 minutes and cost less than 100 euros.

I also have friends with Samsung washing machines. Let’s just say get an AEG.

I bought Whirlpool washer/dryer combo, washer is top load, both non-smart, I think it was like $600ish for both from HomeDepot. "Smart" really isn't as innovative as like improving product longevity, reducing lint clog, safety, etc. I used a smart fridge once, it won't dispense water without updating to the latest firmware. I was just glad it wasn't in my house.

Smart also comes with bugs!

I have a washing machine without wifi fortunately. It has this steam function where you can set it to steam your clothing regularly at the end of the wash cycle, in case you forget to take them out in time.

Half the time if i turn that on it takes the button press to stop but does not unlock the door :)

I have to run an extra dry cycle manually to get at my laundry. Which kind of defeats the point of the 'fire and forget' option.

Speedqueen.

Do you want brand new? Reason I ask is there's typically resale appliance stores that have good quality non smart devices.

[dead]

I bought a speed queen which is more geared to commercial usage, but you can buy without coin slots. Has two knobs and one button!

For consumers in India, we have a crowdsourced wiki for such products: https://www.isfixable.com/

Used appliance store? We have those where I am

BTW, if you want to partially "smartify" your nice, dumb machine, using a Tasmota-enabled power socket which is capable of measuring the current in order to create yourself a notification system for when the washing machine is done, or when the microwave stopped cooking, can be a good solution.

It's easy finding dumb washing machines. I'd bet that most of the current washing machines on the market are dumb.

[dead]

[dead]