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External
Since: Feb 08, 2004
Posts: 115
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(Msg. 1) Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:52 pm
Post subject: Use HDTV as monitor?
Archived from groups: alt>comp>hardware>pc-homebuilt (more info?)
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I can't decide between getting a big 24" or so computer
monitor and using that for TV watching (install tuner
card in desktop) and computing vs getting a 26" HDTV
and using THAT for TV watching and computing?
Is it a wash? Or is there some fundamental diff that
makes one better over the other?
By using an HDTV I feel like I can just turn the TV
itself on for light TV only watching since it will have
built in tuner and speakers.... and wont need to power
up the entire PC system.
But I'm unsure if a computer monitor and TV tuner card
may actually give me better contrast, etc.
Advice? |
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External
Since: Mar 04, 2006
Posts: 151
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(Msg. 2) Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:30 pm
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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<me.DeleteThis@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:vskjr31djmn7u4osc0edh3lu54lo3ciq9d@4ax.com...
>I can't decide between getting a big 24" or so computer
> monitor and using that for TV watching (install tuner
> card in desktop) and computing vs getting a 26" HDTV
> and using THAT for TV watching and computing?
>
> Is it a wash? Or is there some fundamental diff that
> makes one better over the other?
>
Yeah, there is a fundamental difference. It boils down to, HDTV monitors
typically do not run at the extreme resolutions of computer monitors. Even
if they are capable of doing so (in terms of number of pixels anyway), they
are often crippled by internal electronics from actually doing so. Unless
you buy a really high-end HDTV, the actual resolution that you will see from
the computer will be less than ideal. This assumes that you can even find a
resolution in your video card software that closely matches what the HDTV is
looking for! This might involve a bit of manual tweaking, if it's possible
at all.
In contrast, the computer monitor is made to be run at extreme resolutions
to begin with. So when you try to display HDTV content on a PC monitor,
this is actually (usually) a lower resolution than the monitor is made to
handle. No problem! Like squeezing two small adults into an eight
passenger minivan. Works quite well.
Or to put it simply...
You can pour a quart of water into a liter jug, but doing the opposite
doesn't work so smoothly. Using an HDTV as a computer monitor is like
pouring a liter of water into a quart jar. Are you willing to lose a bit of
resolution and put up with text that might be a bit blurry? It can be done,
but it's not suggested. It's better to have a computer monitor BE a
computer monitor. If it's also used an HDTV monitor, that's cool. -Dave |
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External
Since: Feb 16, 2008
Posts: 6
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(Msg. 3) Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:02 pm
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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"Dave" <noway.DeleteThis@nohow.not> wrote in message
news:fpcmba$388$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>
> <me.DeleteThis@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:vskjr31djmn7u4osc0edh3lu54lo3ciq9d@4ax.com...
>>I can't decide between getting a big 24" or so computer
>> monitor and using that for TV watching (install tuner
>> card in desktop) and computing vs getting a 26" HDTV
>> and using THAT for TV watching and computing?
>>
>> Is it a wash? Or is there some fundamental diff that
>> makes one better over the other?
>>
>
> Yeah, there is a fundamental difference. It boils down to, HDTV monitors
> typically do not run at the extreme resolutions of computer monitors.
> Even if they are capable of doing so (in terms of number of pixels
> anyway), they are often crippled by internal electronics from actually
> doing so. Unless you buy a really high-end HDTV, the actual resolution
> that you will see from the computer will be less than ideal. This assumes
> that you can even find a resolution in your video card software that
> closely matches what the HDTV is looking for! This might involve a bit of
> manual tweaking, if it's possible at all.
>
> In contrast, the computer monitor is made to be run at extreme resolutions
> to begin with. So when you try to display HDTV content on a PC monitor,
> this is actually (usually) a lower resolution than the monitor is made to
> handle. No problem! Like squeezing two small adults into an eight
> passenger minivan. Works quite well.
>
> Or to put it simply...
>
> You can pour a quart of water into a liter jug, but doing the opposite
> doesn't work so smoothly. Using an HDTV as a computer monitor is like
> pouring a liter of water into a quart jar. Are you willing to lose a bit
> of resolution and put up with text that might be a bit blurry? It can be
> done, but it's not suggested. It's better to have a computer monitor BE a
I've recently learned many of the HDTV devices are now being sold with PC
interfaces. I don't know how that may or may not be pertinent to what Dave
has explained as his comments made sense and may be why the weasels at
Circuit City will not demo an HDTV with a PC connection as I've asked them
to do when recently shopping for a new HDTV.
It may be more cost efficient --for the time being-- to buy a large format
LCD computer monitor and a high quality TV card. The WinTV card that came
with the HP Media Center m8200n PC I'm now using is nothing to brag about.
The quality of the TV picture is very very poor when watching live TV. >> Stay informed about: Use HDTV as monitor? |
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External
Since: Feb 08, 2004
Posts: 115
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(Msg. 4) Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:59 pm
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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"Dave" <noway.DeleteThis@nohow.not> wrote:
>It's better to have a computer monitor BE a
>computer monitor. If it's also used an HDTV monitor, that's cool. -Dave
Ok thanks that's just the laymen's explanation I
needed!!
Now..... if I go ahead and get say a 24" computer
monitor..... is there any harm in getting the cheaper
analog ones vs the digital ones? Dell has two lines of
LCD monitors.... one analog and another higher priced
one digital. What to get and why? >> Stay informed about: Use HDTV as monitor? |
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External
Since: Feb 08, 2004
Posts: 115
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(Msg. 5) Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:00 pm
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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"HP Really Sucks" <nobody DeleteThis @nowhere.com> wrote:
>I've recently learned many of the HDTV devices are now being sold with PC
>interfaces. I don't know how that may or may not be pertinent to what Dave
>has explained as his comments made sense and may be why the weasels at
>Circuit City will not demo an HDTV with a PC connection as I've asked them
>to do when recently shopping for a new HDTV.
Have noticed the above as well.... that most all HDTV's
have a "computer input" whatever that means.... and
exactly why I posted the question
>It may be more cost efficient --for the time being-- to buy a large format
>LCD computer monitor and a high quality TV card. The WinTV card that came
>with the HP Media Center m8200n PC I'm now using is nothing to brag about.
>The quality of the TV picture is very very poor when watching live TV.
Hmm..... what do you think is wrong with your TV card
that it performs so poor? >> Stay informed about: Use HDTV as monitor? |
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External
Since: Mar 04, 2006
Posts: 151
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(Msg. 6) Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:26 pm
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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<me DeleteThis @privacy.net> wrote in message
news:mqvjr3tdu9t5bp2j4uid3rl1uhphs89s07@4ax.com...
> "Dave" <noway DeleteThis @nohow.not> wrote:
>
>>It's better to have a computer monitor BE a
>>computer monitor. If it's also used an HDTV monitor, that's cool. -Dave
>
> Ok thanks that's just the laymen's explanation I
> needed!!
>
> Now..... if I go ahead and get say a 24" computer
> monitor..... is there any harm in getting the cheaper
> analog ones vs the digital ones? Dell has two lines of
> LCD monitors.... one analog and another higher priced
> one digital. What to get and why?
Haven't looked at them. BUT, if you are buying a computer monitor today,
you want both DVI and VGA (D-Sub) inputs on it. If you can't have both, go
for DVI. Any other connections (such as HDMI) are optional, and bonus
connectors. -Dave >> Stay informed about: Use HDTV as monitor? |
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External
Since: Feb 26, 2004
Posts: 16
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(Msg. 7) Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:39 pm
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Imported from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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External
Since: Feb 18, 2008
Posts: 1
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(Msg. 8) Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:01 pm
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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<me DeleteThis @privacy.net> wrote in message
news:5uvjr3d31q8dd8qv5hh33bk5i8tlr1gqk7@4ax.com...
> "HP Really Sucks" <nobody DeleteThis @nowhere.com> wrote:
>
>>I've recently learned many of the HDTV devices are now being sold with PC
>>interfaces. I don't know how that may or may not be pertinent to what Dave
>>has explained as his comments made sense and may be why the weasels at
>>Circuit City will not demo an HDTV with a PC connection as I've asked them
>>to do when recently shopping for a new HDTV.
>
> Have noticed the above as well.... that most all HDTV's
> have a "computer input" whatever that means.... and
> exactly why I posted the question
>
>>It may be more cost efficient --for the time being-- to buy a large format
>>LCD computer monitor and a high quality TV card. The WinTV card that came
>>with the HP Media Center m8200n PC I'm now using is nothing to brag about.
>>The quality of the TV picture is very very poor when watching live TV.
>
> Hmm..... what do you think is wrong with your TV card
> that it performs so poor?
Don't know. I don't have the time for it at the moment. >> Stay informed about: Use HDTV as monitor? |
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External
Since: Apr 28, 2004
Posts: 88
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(Msg. 9) Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:47 am
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Dave wrote:
> <me.DeleteThis@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:vskjr31djmn7u4osc0edh3lu54lo3ciq9d@4ax.com...
>> I can't decide between getting a big 24" or so computer
>> monitor and using that for TV watching (install tuner
>> card in desktop) and computing vs getting a 26" HDTV
>> and using THAT for TV watching and computing?
>>
>> Is it a wash? Or is there some fundamental diff that
>> makes one better over the other?
>>
>
> Yeah, there is a fundamental difference. It boils down to, HDTV
> monitors typically do not run at the extreme resolutions of computer
> monitors. Even if they are capable of doing so (in terms of number
> of pixels anyway), they are often crippled by internal electronics
> from actually doing so. Unless you buy a really high-end HDTV, the
> actual resolution that you will see from the computer will be less
> than ideal. This assumes that you can even find a resolution in your
> video card software that closely matches what the HDTV is looking
> for! This might involve a bit of manual tweaking, if it's possible
> at all.
Powerstrip should solve the resolution matching problems, but as stated, the
HDTV normally does not have as high resolution as a dedicated computer
monitor.
> In contrast, the computer monitor is made to be run at extreme
> resolutions to begin with. So when you try to display HDTV content
> on a PC monitor, this is actually (usually) a lower resolution than
> the monitor is made to handle. No problem! Like squeezing two small
> adults into an eight passenger minivan. Works quite well.
>
> Or to put it simply...
>
> You can pour a quart of water into a liter jug, but doing the opposite
> doesn't work so smoothly. Using an HDTV as a computer monitor is like
> pouring a liter of water into a quart jar. Are you willing to lose a
> bit of resolution and put up with text that might be a bit blurry? It can
> be done, but it's not suggested. It's better to have a
> computer monitor BE a computer monitor. If it's also used an HDTV
> monitor, that's cool. -Dave
--
sbb78247
resident redneck alt.os.windows-xp
you aint frum 'round here are ya boy! >> Stay informed about: Use HDTV as monitor? |
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External
Since: Feb 08, 2004
Posts: 115
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(Msg. 10) Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:05 pm
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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"sbb78247" <sbb78247 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
> but as stated, the
>HDTV normally does not have as high resolution as a dedicated computer
>monitor.
Still tho I read a lot of reviews in NewEgg on HDTV's
that people are using as computer monitors for their
laptop and desktops and they seem to be happy and it
works.
So what gives? What am I missing? >> Stay informed about: Use HDTV as monitor? |
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External
Since: Apr 28, 2004
Posts: 88
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(Msg. 11) Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:14 pm
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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me DeleteThis @privacy.net wrote:
> "sbb78247" <sbb78247 DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> but as stated, the
>> HDTV normally does not have as high resolution as a dedicated
>> computer monitor.
>
> Still tho I read a lot of reviews in NewEgg on HDTV's
> that people are using as computer monitors for their
> laptop and desktops and they seem to be happy and it
> works.
>
> So what gives? What am I missing?
pixel density - pcworld had a good write up about it in the February or
January issues if i remember correctly. take a look at it and you will see
it has to do with the native resolution of the screen and the viewing
distance as dave said.
--
sbb78247
resident redneck alt.os.windows-xp
you aint frum 'round here are ya boy! >> Stay informed about: Use HDTV as monitor? |
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External
Since: Feb 08, 2004
Posts: 115
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(Msg. 12) Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:40 am
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Larc <larc-news.DeleteThis@saturnlink.net> wrote:
>I'll admit I'm guessing here, but I suspect this HDTV with its
>resolution would work fine as a computer monitor. I have a 32" LCD
>HDTV with less progressive resolution than this 19" Viewsonic has.
OK..... but I guess what I'm trying to learn is...why
do the BIGGER HDTV sets have less resolution than this
smaller 19" HDTV set? >> Stay informed about: Use HDTV as monitor? |
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External
Since: Nov 28, 2007
Posts: 51
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(Msg. 13) Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:40 am
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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<me.DeleteThis@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:bulor3p5o78r7o4kj0e0u04gpl611jdoon@4ax.com...
> Larc <larc-news.DeleteThis@saturnlink.net> wrote:
>
>>I'll admit I'm guessing here, but I suspect this HDTV with its
>>resolution would work fine as a computer monitor. I have a 32" LCD
>>HDTV with less progressive resolution than this 19" Viewsonic has.
>
> OK..... but I guess what I'm trying to learn is...why
> do the BIGGER HDTV sets have less resolution than this
> smaller 19" HDTV set?
'cuz you're normally 7 to 10 feet away from the screen when viewing an HDTV
display.
You're typical viewing a 19" display from 14" to 20" away. >> Stay informed about: Use HDTV as monitor? |
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External
Since: Apr 13, 2004
Posts: 244
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(Msg. 14) Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:26 pm
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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In article <bulor3p5o78r7o4kj0e0u04gpl611jdoon.DeleteThis@4ax.com>, says...
> Larc <larc-news.DeleteThis@saturnlink.net> wrote:
>
> >I'll admit I'm guessing here, but I suspect this HDTV with its
> >resolution would work fine as a computer monitor. I have a 32" LCD
> >HDTV with less progressive resolution than this 19" Viewsonic has.
>
> OK..... but I guess what I'm trying to learn is...why
> do the BIGGER HDTV sets have less resolution than this
> smaller 19" HDTV set?
>
Cheaper to produce the panels. The proper 1080p panels have a far
higher resolution than the 19's.
--
Conor
As a Brit I'd like to thank the Americans for their help in the war
against terror because if they'd not funded the IRA for 30 years, we
wouldn't know how to deal with terrorists. >> Stay informed about: Use HDTV as monitor? |
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External
Since: Nov 28, 2007
Posts: 51
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(Msg. 15) Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:26 pm
Post subject: Re: Use HDTV as monitor? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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"Conor" <conor_turton.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:623d6mF21tejqU2@mid.individual.net...
> In article <bulor3p5o78r7o4kj0e0u04gpl611jdoon.DeleteThis@4ax.com>, says...
>> Larc <larc-news.DeleteThis@saturnlink.net> wrote:
>>
>> >I'll admit I'm guessing here, but I suspect this HDTV with its
>> >resolution would work fine as a computer monitor. I have a 32" LCD
>> >HDTV with less progressive resolution than this 19" Viewsonic has.
>>
>> OK..... but I guess what I'm trying to learn is...why
>> do the BIGGER HDTV sets have less resolution than this
>> smaller 19" HDTV set?
>>
> Cheaper to produce the panels. The proper 1080p panels have a far
> higher resolution than the 19's.
Huh? A typical 1080p panel is 1920 x 1080 while a typical 19" WS LCD is
1440 x 900. I wouldn't consider that "far higher resolution".
And even though a 1080p has 60% more pixels, it has far fewer pixels per
square inch: 4734 p/si vs. about 8000 p/si for a 19" widescreen. >> Stay informed about: Use HDTV as monitor? |
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