Need a TV/LCD for College

[poppe]

Hello.

I really don't know much about LCD monitors and LCD TV's and what the difference is besides the ratio, but I'm wondering if you all could help.

I will be recieving a MBP soon, and would like to have the 17" screen and another montitor working together. To save space, but to be able to play my games/watch movies I'd like a TV to. So my question is this: Is there any LCD monitors/LCD TV's that could do both act as a monitor to use for dual monitoring and to use seperatly as a TV that is under or around 500 (under better).

[poppe]

Or even LCD computer monitors that I could hook my Gamecube/Xbox to and maybe satelite. Anyone know of anything out there?

[tedrjr03]

well i say someone recenyly make a post about about the new samsung lcd tvs. the look realy nice, i would suggest one of these.


hold on here is what it looks like: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7678104&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat95100050039&id=1134702499500


eccept the one im talking about is all white

[poppe]

well i say someone recenyly make a post about about the new samsung lcd tvs. the look realy nice, i would suggest one of these.


hold on here is what it looks like: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7678104&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat95100050039&id=1134702499500


eccept the one im talking about is all white
OH that'd be awesome except its 1699... I'm trying to stay at around 500 if not less...

[balamw]

I've got the 40" black version of that LCD HDTV hooked up to my iMac and it isn't in the OP's $400 price range. ;)

A Dell 2007FPW seems like a pretty good compromise. They are ~$400 and with DVI/VGA, composite and S-video inputs it should perform very nicely and have much higher resolution when used with a computer than any LCD sold primarliy as a TV.

B

[poppe]

I've got the 40" black version of that LCD HDTV hooked up to my iMac and it isn't in the OP's $400 price range. ;)

A Dell 2007FPW seems like a pretty good compromise. They are ~$400 and with DVI/VGA, composite and S-video inputs it should perform very nicely and have much higher resolution when used with a computer than any LCD sold primarliy as a TV.

B

Ooo awesome. I'll check it out. Will the images look ok? I''ve read a few people hooking up comps/satelites/games to LCD's and one or the other not working well (like not fitting on the screen).

[balamw]

Ooo awesome. I'll check it out. Will the images look ok? I''ve read a few people hooking up comps/satelites/games to LCD's and one or the other not working well (like not fitting on the screen).
You'll always have a problem when the source and screen resolution don't match, but the flipside is that when you get an LCD that's optimized for TV you end up with a resolution won't be very useful for use with a computer. (Resolutions of ~640x480 to 800x600 and similar are common in smaller <20" screens).

This effect is less noticeable when the resolutions are close, or at least close to a multiple. The Dell 2007 is 1680x1050 pixels so it's a pretty good fit to 720x480 video from a DVD with a 2x2 pixel, and most satellite programming is 480x480 native, so again not a bad fit at 2x2.

Two downsides: 1680x1050 isn't full 1080p HDTV compatible, but then again neither is my 1360x768 HDTV. No speakers, you'd have to add your own.

B

[poppe]

You'll always have a problem when the source and screen resolution don't match, but the flipside is that when you get an LCD that's optimized for TV you end up with a resolution won't be very useful for use with a computer. (Resolutions of ~640x480 to 800x600 and similar are common in smaller <20" screens).

This effect is less noticeable when the resolutions are close, or at least close to a multiple. The Dell 2007 is 1680x1050 pixels so it's a pretty good fit to 720x480 video from a DVD with a 2x2 pixel, and most satellite programming is 480x480 native, so again not a bad fit at 2x2.

Two downsides: 1680x1050 isn't full 1080p HDTV compatible, but then again neither is my 1360x768 HDTV. No speakers, you'd have to add your own.

B

Ah.. wise one of the LCD's...

Well HDTV isn't in demand, and I don't mind if watching the TV if the show is a square, but the LCD screen itself is a box. I just dont want to be trying to play smash bros and can't see parts, or emailing/whatever and can't see my finder or something...

[balamw]

Ah.. wise one of the LCD's...

Well HDTV isn't in demand, and I don't mind if watching the TV if the show is a square, but the LCD screen itself is a box. I just dont want to be trying to play smash bros and can't see parts, or emailing/whatever and can't see my finder or something...
Scratch everything I said.

See if you can find/afford the $500 Samsung LN-S1952W it's the new 19" version of the TV I have and since it sports a 1440x900 screen it'll be fine. I have no issues watching satellite TV on my 40" with lower resolution from the composite inputs.

http://www.samsung.com/Products/TV/LCDTV/LNS1952WXXAA.asp

B

[poppe]

Scratch everything I said.

See if you can find/afford the $500 Samsung LN-S1952W it's the new 19" version of the TV I have and since it sports a 1440x900 screen it'll be fine. I have no issues watching satellite TV on my 40" with lower resolution.

B

How will OS X look on it? Thats about the same res as the MB no?

[balamw]

How will OS X look on it? Thats about the same res as the MB no?
It's the same resolution as my 17" iMac, and higher resolution tham my 40", on which OS X looks fine too.

B

[Over Achiever]

How will OS X look on it? Thats about the same res as the MB no?
OS X looks fine on any monitor, I doubt there'll be cropping as the display automatically adjusts. It looks fine on my Dell 2005FPW at 1680x1050.

[balamw]

OS X looks fine on any monitor, I doubt there'll be cropping as the display automatically adjusts. It looks fine on my Dell 2005FPW at 1680x1050.
I find it a bit cramped on my iBook at 1024x768 which is in part why I was trying to steep poppe away from lower resolution screens. (The extra width on the HDTV almost makes up for it.)

B

[adk]

Save your money, don't be spending it on fancy LCDs. You'll be finding that even Milwaukee's Best gets expensive in the quantities you'll be drinking it ;)

[poppe]

Save your money, don't be spending it on fancy LCDs. You'll be finding that even Milwaukee's Best gets expensive in the quantities you'll be drinking it ;)

haha yeah... specially since I'm more of a hard drinker... I was thinking about saving my money... but then how will I play drunk Smash bros? How I ask you?...