Comp LCDs: TV vs Monitor!!!

[Dr. V]

my friend needs a new montior for his compter badly and is greatly considering some products, but is completely unsure, and frankly i don't know how to answer him.

there is an AWESOME deal for $499.93 plus tax (CAD) from Wal Mart for a 27" HD (720p/1080i) 27" Widescreen 16:9 (1366x768 native) TV. has all the computer/component inputs etc, and he really wants to buy it to have cable going into it and use it as his computer monitor. at under $570 including tax, it's hard to blame him.

then, as an alternative (reluctantly) he's looking at a 22-24" comp LCD monitor solution (either the same one i have [check sig] or a dell/benq 24")

im telling him its his decision, but obviously he wants to hear more. he's roughly 4-5 feet away from the monitor, and maybe 5.5 if he mounts it flat on the wall (which he is most likely going to do). my guess is that the TV would be most efficient, with the comp monitory (24") maybe having too small of a DPI calculation for him being 5.5' away (possibly further away in the near future.

1366x768 doesnt seem like a bad res for being that far away, and im sure would look adequately clear for various applications (yes, including gaming) and he has no problem with letterboxing (through the nVidia control panel) for games if he cant find a crack on widescreengamingforum.com

any thoughts?

[gvblake22]

First, you just have to remember that 1366x768 really isn't much screen space. For gaming, he would really be better off having the larger field of view (FOV) with the 22" or 24" screens instead of the larger screen of the 27" LCD TV. I'm on a 15" 1024x768 monitor right now and I can tell you it is really small and not ideal for gaming or general useage as there just isn't enough pixel real-estate available.

The other thing you have to remember about the cheapo LCD TV's is that although they have a large physical screen size, they might not really have very good specifications to make the screen actually look good (like contrast ratio, response rate, viewing angle, etc).

Finally, the overscan thing with the TV's is something you have to make sure you compensate for. Not a huge issue, but something to remember.

I've have thought about and researched a lot of LCD's lately and I have finally just come to the conclusion that trying to get one thing to do two tasks will only do OK at both (like getting an LCD HD TV to be a TV and computer monitor) instead of getting a product and using it to do its designed task very well. What I'm trying to say is that if he is going to be using it as a computer monitor most of the time, then just get a computer monitor because you will get better compatability, easier use, and probably a better image. But if he wants to get a TV for use as a TV and maybe as the computer monitor sometimes too, then (obviously) the HDTV would be the way to go.

[Dr. V]

hmm

he's mostly computer-oriented...only thing he's worried about is the price. comparing a 27" TV and a 24" monitor (in this case) is more than $300 difference. is it really worth it?

i think i can find him some 24" monitors for around $700-750..but still in any case im not sure which to tell him is best suited for him and his price range. if price wasn't an issue, then i'd tell him to get a computer monitor right away. however in this situation, im in a bit of a snag.

btw good write up blake.

[JazzyJake]

i would still suggest the monitor.
my buddy uses his TV as a monitor, and things just don't look quite right.
the res is also notably lower.
1600 x 1200 or 1366 x 768
monitor^ tv^
get the dell or samsung or benq

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail

[Dr. V]

considering the 22" 1680x1050 is kind of noticeably a difference, but 24" @ 1920x1200 is HUUUGGEEEEELLLYYY noticeable!!!

thats what i told him, and he understands it now (finally) and he's ready for a 24" comp monitor a lil more now.

ive seen them go for $650 (CAD) some BNIB, some LNIB, etc..so i dont think its that hard to find them cheaper...hey i may upgrade to one! not that this samsung isn't awesome, but i might sell it and go bigger. it's time (yes, after not even a month ok).