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LCD TV to double as monitor

ieani

ieani

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 3, 2006
827
0
the states for now
I will be a college student next year and will be getting an apple laptop(which one? I have no idea) for school. I was then looking at pairing it with an LCD TV. I found this one I really liked. The picture quality looked amazing at the store. Based on specs, can I do better? Should I just get a monitor since I already have speakers? thanks!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...s&Q=&sku=375299&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

[EDIT] or this one

http://www.fotoconnection.com/viewitem.php?IndexID=20608&RefTag=froogle
 
OK, pretty much any LCD TV is going to have a resolution of something like 1366 x 768. (Some are higher, but let's pretend for a second that you don't want to spend THAT much.) That's pretty low resolution for a computer monitor... for example, my 23" Sony LCD monitor has a resolution of 1920 x 1200. So, if you get an LCD TV for a computer monitor, it will have a bigger PICTURE than most dedicated monitors, but the overall resolution (i.e., how much stuff you can put on the screen at once) will be LOWER than if you spent the same amount of money on a dedicated monitor.

Since you're apparently going to be in a dorm room, the idea of having one screen for TV and computer use makes sense, so the LCD TV as computer monitor idea is OK. Given that, I would recommend that you make sure whatever LCD TV you buy has the following options:

- VGA input and/or DVI input
- 1366 x 768 resolution or higher
- Additional inputs for any other gear you might have (DVD player, etc.)... this includes component video inputs and S-video inputs
- If you can get it, headphone jack so you can connect headphones (for times when your roommate is trying to sleep)... you can hook headphones into your computer easily, but listening to TV will require a headphone jack on the TV itself or extra hardware

Hope this helps.
 
I've seen HP tvs at Circuit City. It wasn't this model though. It's probably going to be easier finding the Sharp Aquos D5U set to view in a store. Since the HP is rumored to be using the same panel, you should be able to get a good idea what the picture is going to be like. I've seen the D5U at Circuit City, Best Buy and CompUSA. Hope this helps.
 
Jayrcee said:
I've seen HP tvs at Circuit City. It wasn't this model though. It's probably going to be easier finding the Sharp Aquos D5U set to view in a store. Since the HP is rumored to be using the same panel, you should be able to get a good idea what the picture is going to be like. I've seen the D5U at Circuit City, Best Buy and CompUSA. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

Also, if I already have 5.1 speakers would I be better off getting a monitor for the higher resolution? I dont watch TV. I just torrent the shows I want to watch to skip the commercials. Ill need to connect and xbox and DVD player.
 
ieani said:
Thanks!

Also, if I already have 5.1 speakers would I be better off getting a monitor for the higher resolution? I dont watch TV. I just torrent the shows I want to watch to skip the commercials. Ill need to connect and xbox and DVD player.
Click to expand...
Well, if you don't watch TV, it doesn't make a whole of sense to me to buy a TV. In that case, the main reason to buy a TV (as opposed to a monitor) would be if you were interested in trading higher resolution for larger picture size. For $899, you could get either a 26" TV with 1366 x 768 resolution, or you could get a smaller monitor (21", maybe a touch larger) with 1600 x 1200 or 1920 x 1200 resolution.

In that case, just make sure whatever you buy has all the connections you'd want. Dell's LCD monitors seem to come with virtually every possible connector. Apple's come only with DVI-D most of the time.
 
clayj said:
Well, if you don't watch TV, it doesn't make a whole of sense to me to buy a TV. In that case, the main reason to buy a TV (as opposed to a monitor) would be if you were interested in trading higher resolution for larger picture size. For $899, you could get either a 26" TV with 1366 x 768 resolution, or you could get a smaller monitor (21", maybe a touch larger) with 1600 x 1200 or 1920 x 1200 resolution.

In that case, just make sure whatever you buy has all the connections you'd want. Dell's LCD monitors seem to come with virtually every possible connector. Apple's come only with DVI-D most of the time.
Click to expand...

So monitors are more expensive than TVs? And would the high resolution be much of a benefit if I was to just be using an ibook and since DVDs can only go to 720p? Ive been looking at the mbpros but I dont think I should spend that much.
 
ieani said:
So monitors are more expensive than TVs? And would the high resolution be much of a benefit if I was to just be using an ibook and since DVDs can only go to 720p? Ive been looking at the mbpros but I dont think I should spend that much.
Click to expand...
Yes, a monitor is typically going to cost more than a TV of the same size... mostly because of the extra resolution. I don't know what the maximum resolution is that your iBook can drive, so getting a very-high-resolution LCD monitor could be overkill.
 
Platform said:
Go HD, 720p and 1080p ;)

You will thank yourself for the space
Click to expand...

I dont think have a lot use for extremely high resolution though. And I will be buying a new ibook most likely so I have no idea either what the capabilities are. Why do they not offer TVs in smaller sizes capable of 1080p?
 
JasonElise1983 said:
yes, you have to buy the VESA adapter i think, but as long as you get the VESA adapter and a VESA wall mount, you are good.
Click to expand...

All you need is the VESA wall mount. The monitor already has VESA mounting holes integrated into it. I use them with an Ergotron arm on my 2405FPW.
 
ieani said:
Why do they not offer TVs in smaller sizes capable of 1080p?
Click to expand...

Samsung SyncMaster 242MP. 1920x1200, TV/monitor, PAL/SECAM/NTSC, HDCP. But the speakers seem to be crummy.
 
cube said:
Samsung SyncMaster 242MP. 1920x1200, TV/monitor, PAL/SECAM/NTSC, HDCP. But the speakers seem to be crummy.
Click to expand...

A monitor is definitely looking to be a better deal then considering that one is over $1500. Are third-party tuners for monitors of good quality in case I would ever want to watch tv?
 
ieani said:
A monitor is definitely looking to be a better deal then considering that one is over $1500. Are third-party tuners for monitors of good quality?
Click to expand...
Well, don't forget that you may be using cable TV or satellite TV... in which case, you'll be using THEIR tuner box, and the quality will almost certainly be very good.

As long as your monitor has the right inputs (HDMI, DVI, component video, etc.), you should be able to display a high-definition TV picture on it. All you'd need then is speakers, which I believe you said you had already.
 
ieani said:
A monitor is definitely looking to be a better deal then considering that one is over $1500. Are third-party tuners for monitors of good quality?
Click to expand...

If you buy a 24" Dell you won't be able to watch HD from a Blu-Ray, HD-DVD player, or Vista. The 30" does have HDCP, but it only has 1 input: DVI (dual-link), so it also sucks.
 
cube said:
If you buy a 24" Dell you won't be able to watch HD from a Blu-Ray, HD-DVD player, or Vista. The 30" does have HDCP, but it only has 1 input: DVI (dual-link), so it also sucks.
Click to expand...

Is there anything you could recommend in the Dells price range then? Around $1000?

I found some LG monitors I loved but the prices are worse than Apple Cinema Displays. Too bad Dell cannot adopt some improved aesthetics.
 
ieani said:
Is there anything you could recommend in the Dells price range then? Around $1000?
Click to expand...

Everybody is waiting for a new 24" Dell. Rumor keyword: 2407FPW.
 
ieani said:
I dont think have a lot use for extremely high resolution though. And I will be buying a new ibook most likely so I have no idea either what the capabilities are. Why do they not offer TVs in smaller sizes capable of 1080p?
Click to expand...

Becasue 1080p is creme de la creme for the moment ;)

If not..buy a 23" ACD with eyeTV or something.
 
Your getting a big screen LCD TV for your Dorm room? And a Powerbook??
Damn...

I was happy with a 12" VCR in one TV when I was in the dorms. Why not just save your money and settle with a smaller LCD screen. You have to realize those rooms are not big, no matter how prestigous of a school you are going to.
 
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