Television or Monitor?

Hey guys,

I just built a computer with a tv tuner. I run my cable through it and watch everything using Media Center. The picture is great and I love it but there's one problem. I have a 27" CRT tv and when I try to do something else on the computer besides watching tv (like browse the internet) I can hardly see anything. The type is too small to see. Would buying a 27"+ lcd monitor be better or should i just buy a lcd tv? I would probably have more control over the dimensions and aspect ratios with a monitor. I know nothing about lcd tv's since I've never had one.

Any thoughts?

#499671

I'm actually in the situation of having a 27" (might be 26, can't remember...) HD LCD TV which runs perfectly at a resolution of 1920x1080 when I plug my MacBook Pro into it. It does depend on how you're hooking the computer up though, I run it through a DVI to HDMI cable for the video and then pipe the audio through a separate home cinema system. (2.1 only I'm sad to say)

Anyway, the text is perfectly legible as it's essentially a big computer monitor. If you've only got a CRT tv then you're only going to get less than VGA quality which is pretty naff.

#499685

I recommend you pick up a 32" Sharp Aquos HD LCD TV. Beautiful 720p quality for an affordable (at least here in canada) 1099$. I have one in my room and sometimes i hook up my Macbook, which displays at 1366 x 768px.

I know Phantom_Lord will reply to this post with something negative.

#499689

I've got a similar one to this one: http://tinyurl.com/6xxorn in 1080p, can't find a 1080p one in that small though, kinda weird.

#499692

So, Narfmaster, I guess I can be indifferent between the two. I recently looked at a 28" monitor from Hanns-G http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16824254026. The reviews are overwhelmingly positive and its pretty cheap.

Thanks for your recommendation, BapeStar. And about Phantom_Lord, he can kiss my... er...um... Phantom_Lord's opinion is welcome any day!

#499694

I recommend you pick up a 32" Sharp Aquos HD LCD TV. Beautiful 720p quality for an affordable (at least here in canada) 1099$. I have one in my room and sometimes i hook up my Macbook, which displays at 1366 x 768px.

I know Phantom_Lord will reply to this post with something negative.

Thanks for your recommendation, BapeStar. And about Phantom_Lord, he can kiss my... er...um... Phantom_Lord's opinion is welcome any day!

*flips the two of you off*

(It's scary you know me that well , Bapestar... >_>)

rofl, anyway...

720p is trash (sooo 2003). If you're going to go the TV way, get a 1080p (~34-40") LCD with DVI input. Then get a decent graphics card with DVI output. Then hook it up that way, at a beautiful 1080p resolution.

I highly recommend this, especially if you have no plans on using a monitor with said computer. You can use the Tv as a really nice monitor, at a really nice resolution. This way, you got the TV, and the computer, all in your entertainment center, with your media center PC (I assume this would be the purpose you want it to be) as exhibit one. In the long run, you'll be really glad you did this.

Now you got everything you need, all in one.

#499697

@aquamarinealien: That looks like a pretty sweet deal. :] Personally that would be far too pig ugly to go in my front room but I it would work well. Agree on the 1080p though, 720 is a bit low these days.

Mind, with the way "High Definition" tv is going these days broadcasts will be so interlaced you might as well only have 720. At least it'll look good with a Blu-Ray film.

#499699

Also, as far as i know, SHARP is the only LCD TV on the market with a replaceable backlight for the TV. After 60 000 hours of viewing time, the bulb burns out, and the image is affected.

#499702

In general you should consider the viewing distance. TVs have large pixels and are designed to be viewed from across the room, so this is your best choice for this purpose. TVs are not suitable to use on your desk because they will look very pixelated that close up, and smaller fonts will be hard to read.

Computer monitors, however, have much smaller pixels and are much sharper when used in front of your face on a desk, as they are designed to be. Text on a computer monitor may be too small to see from across the room.

So basically, physical screen size alone has no effect on legibility, dot pitch (the size of the pixels) does. The lower the dot pitch, the closer you should sit to the screen to see text and other images clearly.

#499711

Dot pitch and pixel density, key vocabulary here.

How far would you be looking at your future screen here? A couch in the living room? Or your desk 3 feet from?

#499716

@Don Mateo: thanks for the thorough explanation. it makes sense.

@Phantom: It will be in my living room as part of my entertainment system.

#499717

Perfect! My 1st post is your key to happiness.

Enjoy your happiness. .