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HDTV as a computer monitor

Kalns

Kalns

macrumors regular
Original poster
I have a macbook currently and I was looking into buying an HDTV that I could use instead of an actual monitor. I just wanted to get some thoughts and opinions about how well this would work and any issues that might arise from it.

This is the specific one I'm looking at:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...UTF8&coliid=IJFAQGBMVWYGP&colid=3VE0EKCIREUGU

Also, in the future (though probably not for another two years) I intend to get a Macpro that will serve not only as my video editing machine, but as an archive for all of my DVD's (on a seperate hard drive of course). I was hoping to create a very integrated system where I could work, watch movies or play games all in one setup.
 
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The only real problem with using that thing as a monitor is the 1366x768 resolution... which is fairly low. Then again, if you are going to be sitting across the room, anything higher than 1366x768 will have you squinting.
 
So since the Macbook has a slightly higher vertical aspect ratio (16:10 vs 16:9), would it be pillar boxed?
 
Kalns said:
So since the Macbook has a slightly higher vertical aspect ratio (16:10 vs 16:9), would it be pillar boxed?
Click to expand...

Only if you mirror. You should end up running both screens at their native resolutions. Meaning that you will get a full-screen native MacBook res on the MacBook and a full-screen native TV res on the TV.

Gaaaah, I can't wait until the stupid adaptor gets here so I can cable my iMac to my LCD TV. 😀 Then I can put the wireless KB and mouse on the coffee table and my batta-bing will go batta-boom. 😀

Although, hmm, I will need something opaque to put under the mouse. 😱
 
no, it wouldn't be pillar boxed...the displays act independently of each other.

but, for a monitor i'd look into gettting an HDTV with a better resolution. Westinghouse makes an affordable 1080p television. With this the resolution is 1920x1080. This gets you roughly the same as the 23" Apple LCD instead of some more like a 2nd macbook screen.
 
FWIW I just got mine working over the past few minutes at 1360x768. It's gorgeous. I needed SwitchResX to get it to do the right resolution, and it took some tweaking, but watching iTunes videos on my TV is soooo worth it. 🙂
 
Kalns said:
I have a macbook currently and I was looking into buying an HDTV that I could use instead of an actual monitor. I just wanted to get some thoughts and opinions about how well this would work and any issues that might arise from it.

This is the specific one I'm looking at:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...UTF8&coliid=IJFAQGBMVWYGP&colid=3VE0EKCIREUGU

Also, in the future (though probably not for another two years) I intend to get a Macpro that will serve not only as my video editing machine, but as an archive for all of my DVD's (on a seperate hard drive of course). I was hoping to create a very integrated system where I could work, watch movies or play games all in one setup.
Click to expand...

if money isn't an issue, why not spend the extra $170 for the 32" model?
 
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mkrishnan said:
FWIW I just got mine working over the past few minutes at 1360x768. It's gorgeous. I needed SwitchResX to get it to do the right resolution, and it took some tweaking, but watching iTunes videos on my TV is soooo worth it. 🙂
Click to expand...

What kind of connection are you using? I tried using a S-video to RCA composite the other day and it looked pretty bad. Considering getting a DVI-HDMI cable though. Sadly my LCD doesn't have a DVI connection.
 
mfacey said:
What kind of connection are you using? I tried using a S-video to RCA composite the other day and it looked pretty bad. Considering getting a DVI-HDMI cable though. Sadly my LCD doesn't have a DVI connection.
Click to expand...

I'm using VGA -- and this is a PPC iMac so no DVI....

killmoms said:
No, DVI or HDMI would, since they're digital interfaces.
Click to expand...

Yes, these are the best options. It doesn't matter which you use. HDMI can include the audio stream, I think, so if you can find a DVI + line-out -> HDMI cable, that would be very nice.

The only one you can't really use is HDCP if you have it... because it has a copy protection scheme in it and as far as I know you must have HDCP on both ends....
 
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