TV or Monitor

The_Wolfman

Not sure if this is the right place for this. I'm after a 37-42 HD TV, but seeing as everything comes through Sky do I need a TV or would a Screen be better. Had a look round but can't find the pro's and con's.

Cheers

Wig

You seem to be asking should I get a 'TV' with an "RF in" (co-ax aerial) and freeview built in. I'd have thought there would be no cons to getting one with an 'RF in', I can't see that it will make any difference to the price. And freeview built in (or HD freeview if there is such a thing), I'd have thought was a must to give you flexibility in the future without the need to have another box under the telly.

The pros of 'built in' are that it looks good, the cons, are that it might go wrong and you may or may not be able to get round the fault by buying a freeview box.

I'd just want one with the right connections at the back, to accomodate your existing equipment, and the equipment you think you might get in the future

2 or 3 HDMI
2 Scart
2 composite video in

BTW it is the right place to ask, and maybe someone will come soon who knows more than me.

Percy1983

The lines are blurred between the 2 really, TV usually wil have HDMI's/scart/component/tuner maybe vga and dvi.

A monitor will usually be vga/dvi and some have hdmi but you can't tune anything.

I have a 40" Tv which has a freeview PVR on a scart, PC on hdmi, wii on component and 360 on vga.

timbim_2

You can freely convert DVI to HDMI, but obviously DVI has no sound capabilities.

Percy1983

timbim wrote: »

You can freely convert DVI to HDMI, but obviously DVI has no sound capabilities.

Very true, they are the same thing as you say, my PC is using a DVI to HDMI cable to my TV.

Nenen

Hi
Despite my signature I have a complete mental blank when it comes to using PC/TV jargon language ... so please talk in words the average two year old could understand!

I'm looking to get a large screen monitor (I have sight problems) and have been quoted around £350 for a 24" (smallest one I could go for). I've just seen this TV advertised (32" TV for £270) Hitachi UT32MH70 (32" Ultra Thin LCD screen - HD Ready - With at home warranty)


http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=HITA-UT32MH70.

It says under the list of features:
"Can a computer can be plugged in? Yes"

Does this mean it would this work as a computer monitor? Would I be able to watch TV on it as well? Are there any downsides of buying a TV rather than a dedicated monitor to use with a PC?

Percy1983

It that case yes you could use it as a monitor, look at it as just another device plugged in, so you may select scart and get one thing etc then select PC and get your PC.

The only really downside is that TV resolutions can be lower, in this case the screen is 1366x768 on 32" where a 22" monitor will probably have 1680x1050.

My brother has a PC plugged into 32" TV with the sme resolution and it looks fine, but I would recommend sitting too close to it.

bobby-boy_2

Hi Ninen as Percy said you can use the TV as a computer monitor.
My son does this as he uses it as a TV /comp monitor/ Screen for his x-box 360/Wii and the display is OK (Not using HDMI)


The main advantage for him is its one screeen for many boxes saving space in his room.

Percy1983

I did built a PC for by future brother in law and instead of buying a monitor we s-pent a little bit more and bought a 19" TV with PC input so we upgraded his TV at the same time.

You will find that the smaller LSD TV's are pretty much PC monitors in terms of resolutions etc (basically monitors with extra inputs) and once you get to 26" you are on to TV's which usually have PC input (not all do).

mr_fishbulb

Nenen wrote: »

I'm looking to get a large screen monitor (I have sight problems) and have been quoted around £350 for a 24" (smallest one I could go for).

Take a look here http://ebuyer.com/search?page=1&&store=5&cat=12&subcat=2097

Nenen

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

Take a look here http://ebuyer.com/search?page=1&&store=5&cat=12&subcat=2097

Wow! These are MUCH cheaper! Thank you so much. If someone could just explain the following comment (cut and pasted from a review of one of the cheaper monitors) for me I'd be really grateful:
"One thing to note, which might not be obvious, is that it is VGA only (I assumed a monitor of this size would have DVI, but it doesn't). This isn't a huge deal, as the image quality is so good DVI wouldn't make a huge amount of difference."