Sony Full HD TV as Monitor

[drpje2000]

I plan to purchase a 2011 Mac Mini server. I was thinking of purchasing a Sony
32 EX 523 TV. The TV is 32" Full HD, HDMI inputs, and is LED. How would this work for web browsing. The idea is to use the TV as a monitor as well as serve for HTPC. Thanks

 

[gigaguy]

I've used HDTVs as mac mini monitors for years, all Sonys. work great, currently I'm on a 52" but I had a 46 and a 40" before that.
no problems.

 

[Mr.C]

I plan to purchase a 2011 Mac Mini server. I was thinking of purchasing a Sony
32 EX 523 TV. The TV is 32" Full HD, HDMI inputs, and is LED. How would this work for web browsing. The idea is to use the TV as a monitor as well as serve for HTPC. Thanks

Technically it should work just fine. Currently I use a 32" Sony Bravia Full HD LCD along with an Onkyo TX-SR707 surround sound receiver connected to my 2011 Mini using HDMI. The Mini is connected to the Onkyo which in turn is connected to the Sony TV. It works fine however it all depends how far away you sit regards the web browsing.

I find web browsing difficult as I sit about 8-9 feet away. Of course you can zoom in on browsers like Safari and Firefox but it's not as good as viewing the screen at normal size level especially as some of the onscreen images and text can get messed up.

 

[Vermifuge]

Technically it should work just fine. Currently I use a 32" Sony Bravia Full HD LCD along with an Onkyo TX-SR707 surround sound receiver connected to my 2011 Mini using HDMI. The Mini is connected to the Onkyo which in turn is connected to the Sony TV. It works fine however it all depends how far away you sit regards the web browsing.

I find web browsing difficult as I sit about 8-9 feet away. Of course you can zoom in on browsers like Safari and Firefox but it's not as good as viewing the screen at normal size level especially as some of the onscreen images and text can get messed up.

Have you tried it with and without LCD font smoothing? Just curious. I was thinking of putting my old mini in the living room attached to my 55" Samsung LED

 

[drpje2000]

Thanks for the replies. I plan to sit about 2-3 feet from the TV when using the computer. Are there any disadvantages in using a 32" TV versus a 24" monitor? Do you have the TV mounted on the stand or mounted to the wall. How do you like the Onkyo 707. Do you have problems with the receiver getting hot. Thanks again for the replies

 

[alust2013]

It will work but TVs don't provide the sharpest picture when used for stuff other than video/pics/presentations, etc.

 

[indg]

text will look better on a monitor since hdtv's have high dot pitch. fine for video and video games, but not great for text. that's why text may seem blocky on a hdtv if you sit too close, but look perfectly fine on a 24" monitor at the same distance. at least that's what google tells me.

 

[Mr.C]

Have you tried it with and without LCD font smoothing? Just curious. I was thinking of putting my old mini in the living room attached to my 55" Samsung LED

I've tried both and to be honest I couldn't really notice any difference.

 

[Mr.C]

Thanks for the replies. I plan to sit about 2-3 feet from the TV when using the computer. Are there any disadvantages in using a 32" TV versus a 24" monitor? Do you have the TV mounted on the stand or mounted to the wall. How do you like the Onkyo 707. Do you have problems with the receiver getting hot. Thanks again for the replies

I've never used my Mini with anything but my HDTV so I don't know how it would differ. A 24" monitor is likely to give you sharper more defined text but images and video will probably be the same as already mentioned.

I have the TV mounted on the wall and generally view it from my bed as my setup is in my bedroom.

Regards the Onkyo 707 I'm happy with as far as fetures and sound quality go. It works without ant problems with my PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Sky Box, Mac Mini, iPad and iPhone 4. I have a special Onkyo dock for my iPhone that connects to the reciever and allows me to both charge it and also play video and music from my phone on the TV. The reciever does get hot but no more then any other comprable model.

I have had a minor issue on and off recently where when I turn the reciever back on after being off all day I get no sound. I have to unplug it from the mains and plug it back sometimes several times for the sound to come back. I'm not sure why it's happening or how to fix it. Onkyo in general is a good brand so I don't think it's indicitive of the brand's quality.