Computer for my 34" Sharp Aquos

[Northernsong]

I recently bought a 34" Sharp Aquos LCD TV and would love to use it as a computer display as well. I am not in desperate need of a new computer. I currently have a five year old ibook. It's not great, but I've had it this long and can probably squeeze another year out of it. I do basic word processing and web browsing. I would like to do more video/music/photo and will once I have a new computer, but I can wait.

So my options are this, buy something now, either power book or mac mini (though I'm starting to get the impression that the mac mini just won't cut it on such a big screen) or wait until the intel switch happens and buy something then.

I'm not a total idiot about computers, but I'm not exactly tech savvy. I don't even know exactly what the switch to intel will mean from a practical viewpoint. I'm not looking to break the bank, but I also uderstand that it's stupid to buy the cheaper product if that product isn't going to do the job I need it to do.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[revisionA]

IIRC, that screen displays 1388 x 768, which is full widescreen.

Any mac on the market can display 1028x768, which would appear as 4:3 regular tv shape on that screen.

The awesome size works fine for using a wireless keyboard and mouse on the coffee table too, because it will be very very easy to read text. The only dissappointment you might have is that even though it is physically larger than an Apple Cinema Display, all of the displays from the 20 inch up have much greater resolution.

You will still love it, but you can get a mac mini with blue tooth and set it up right under or next to your tv.

Thats my 2 cents plus my lust for a larger screen making an lcd g33k.

Scott

 

[Northernsong]

Thanks for the advice. That was my thought, get the wireless keyboard and work from my couch.

 

[Makosuke]

Your situation sounds like it's just screaming for a Mini--it should have no trouble driving a screen of that resolution (keep in mind that, since it's a TV, it has lower resolution than even Apple's 20" monitors so is no biggie for a computer). Combined with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and you've got an awesome setup for your living room.

Plus, it's not going to break the bank, so if you feel the need for more power you can put whatever you will have saved versus a faster computer toward either an iMac whenever or a Powerbook once they switch to Intel (if you don't need one now, you'll probably do better waiting until next year on a laptop purchase; desktops will likely be fine either way).

That said, if you really want to get into photo and video editing, the Mini is capable, but isn't exactly a screaming fast computer, so you'd do better to look into iMacs, Powerbooks, or even a PowerMac, though none are prime candidates for putting beside your living room TV. I still like the idea of going Mini and then seeing what the future holds to get something more powerful when necessary.

 

[Xeem]

The Mac Mini would be perfect for your situation! It looks great, is powerful enough for basic video and music editing, and there is no reason that it "wouldn't cut it" on a big screen (only the resolution really matters, and like Makosuke says, LCD TVs aren't going to have a high enough native res to bog down a mini). I'd wait until you'd be sure you were getting one of the newer minis that Apple is shipping though.