Thread

1. diskzero · 1790171248 · focus · HN ↗

   We ended up with a Samsung fridge in our new home. It has no external display or any other indication that it is a "smart" fridge. I only found out when a friend visited who has a Samsung phone and the phone offered to connect to the fridge. We spent the next 30 minutes removing panels from the fridge and found the wifi/bluetooth antenna on a small board under the top-right hinge cover. The board was disconnected and the fridge continues to operate normally.

   I am now eyeing my dishwasher very suspiciously.

   1. cogman10 · 1790171586 · focus · HN ↗

      Samsung has made garbage appliances for my entire life. A family member went through about 3 different samsung fridges before they swore them off for good. The compressor would routinely break after only a year or 2 of service.

      I will never own a Samsung or LG appliance. They are built almost explicitly to force you to get a new one in a couple of years.

      Then couple that with both companies trying to use weaselly legal maneuvers like putting the EULA that agrees to arbitration on the outside of a box and saying "If you open this box you agree to the EULA".

      1. martin_a · 1790173228 · focus · HN ↗

         > Samsung has made garbage appliances for my entire life.

         When I moved into my first own flat, family, friends and colleagues pressured me to buy good appliances. They will last longer they said.

         Buy Miele for a washing machine, nothing else, they said. I didn't had the money for that, so I bought a washing machine for 250 Euro. It has been going for 11 years, moved two times and doesn't show any signs of going out.

         Another friend told me he only buys Samsung fridges. Best machines, one shouldn't buy anything else. I bought a fridge for 200 Euro because I liked the retro look and its red color. Also going strong for 10 years and moving two times. He has got the third Samsung fridge in 10 years now.

         Yeah, that's anecdotal but I haven't really found the part where buying something more expensive really helped with expanding its lifespan, rather the contrary where "high tech" broke earlier or more often.

         1. serf · 1790176271 · focus · HN ↗

            >Yeah, that's anecdotal but I haven't really found the part where buying something more expensive really helped with expanding its lifespan, rather the contrary where "high tech" broke earlier or more often.

            buy professional stuff that's expensive, not consumer gadgetry expensive.

            a samsung fridge is expensive because of the gimmicks and high tech integrations.

            a sub zero fridge is expensive because of the build quality and manufacturer network , part re-use and larger consumer part availability and market.

            1. bbatha · 1790179071 · focus · HN ↗

               Funnily sub-zero fridges are considered the samsung of the semi-commercial brands. They prioritize things like customizable doors and easy to break but consumer loved features like ice makers and water dispensers. You will never see sub-zero in actual commercial kitchens.

               1. diskzero · 1790185570 · focus · HN ↗

                  Yes, I could have done without the ice maker. It never broke, but it did have a tendency to turn the ice cubes into a solid block.
            2. diskzero · 1790185500 · focus · HN ↗

               The previous house I moved from had a Subzero fridge in it from 1990. It was serviced in 2012 and was still running strong when I left. One thing that pleased me was the easy access to a parts catalog and the ability to easily order replacement parts. Some of the tray slides had cracked and I just ordered them online after consulting the catalog. I know the unit cost a fortune in 1990, but decades of service and the ease of ordering parts was certainly nice.

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.