37" LCD TV as Monitor?

[samuel77]

Can you use a regular LCD TV as a monitor? I have found several that are 30" and above that are in the $500 range, whereas a 24" monitor runs $750 and up. What's the difference between a monitor and an LCD HDTV?

Thanks

[swiftaw]

LCD TV's are usually lower resolution than similar sized monitors. For example, my 32 inch LCD TV is 1366x768 whereas my 20" Dell Monitor is 1680x1050

[rogersmj]

Yeah, what swiftaw said. Using a TV as a monitor generally sucks. TVs aren't designed for you to sit 18 inches away from them; the picture quality at that range is not good, because the pixels are so large. Computer monitors have a much higher resolution for their size, will allow you to have more on the screen at once, and will be less likely to cause eye strain.

[mkrishnan]

On the other hand, if you get a mini or somesuch, connect it to a 720P or 1080P television, and use a BT keyboard and mouse, you can just convert from sitting at the desk to sitting on the sofa. :)

But yeah, if you were sitting as close as you would to a monitor, it'd stink.

[mrgreen4242]

Just as everyone said, the resolution on an LCD TV isn't going to be as good as on a monitor... on the other hand, if you go smaller it's going to make less difference.

For example, a 37" LCD isn't going to look very good at 18" away, but a 26" might be acceptable. (22" LCDs are 1680x1050 and look great, to most people. 1366x768 at 26" might be alright if you like big buttons/text anyways which lots of people do for various reasons).

Make sure you get a TV with DVI or HDMI (which you can connect to your computer via a DVI->HDMI adaptor) input though, as anything else is going to look awful at that size/resolution/viewing distance.

[Cybergypsy]

Had my mini hooked up to a 42 inch LCD, did not like it :)

[twoodcc]

well you can get a 37" tv with 1080P resolution....

[mkrishnan]

well you can get a 37" tv with 1080P resolution....

Albeit probably not for $500, right?

[Father Jack]

A TV will usually be crap as a computer monitor. Use your 37" TV for watching TV programs and movies.

FJ

[mrgreen4242]

well you can get a 37" tv with 1080P resolution....

Again, the 24" monitors have, roughly, the same resolution as a 1080p TV... you're adding something like 160 sq. inches of display and no extra pixels... won't be pretty.

If you are dead set on having the largest screen for the lowest price, you're best bet would be a small 720p display. Won't look amazing, but would be usable.

[MisterMe]

well you can get a 37" tv with 1080P resolution....From whom? I have seen a 1080p 37" Sharp Aquos on some retailer's website, but it is listed as out of stock. It is not listed at all on the Sharp website.

[synth3tik]

37"! are you sitting like 5 feet away from it. I have a 23" and I have to lean back.

[Joony]

Make sure you find one that can do 1360x768 for the "PC" input, to get nice 1:1 pixel mapping.