32" TV as a primary monitor

[mistasparkaru]

Hello All,

I was using an old LG 32" LCD TV with my windows PC but since switching to a Mac I cant get it to work at 1080p the image is either squashed up or pixelated.

So i figure I will put the LG in my son's room and buy myself a nice new monitor/TV.

Apple/Dell 30" screens are way too expensive even second hand.

What 32" television would you recommend? and know that works well at 1080p without any faffing about 🙂

 

[GermanyChris]

I don't necessarily think it's a good idea from a pixel density perspective but I have no issues hooking any of my Mac's to my 37" 1080P Panasonic.

 

[mistasparkaru]

What model is the panasonic?

 

[GermanyChris]

What model is the panasonic?

I haven't a clue and it's 186KM away. It's not new we bought it I believe in '09/'10

 

[DPUser]

You just may have to do some faffing about.

 

[ColdCase]

Although I hate TVs as computer monitors as they are fuzzy and give me eye strain, my recent LG worked OK displaying photos and movies in 1080p.

My larger plasma screens are better.

 

[ActionableMango]

This is a common complaint that a TV will work fine in Windows but on the exact same Mac running OS X it won't look right, particularly when using HDMI.

Getting a new TV won't necessarily fix the problem.

What 32" television would you recommend? and know that works well at 1080p without any faffing about 🙂

Faffing about is exactly what you have to do. In OS X you have to ensure the resolution is set to 1920x1080. This setting is in System Preferences, Displays. If the automatic setting is set to something else, you'll have to override it.

Next ensure the TV is set to a mode with no overscan or underscan. On my TV this is called 1:1 mode, but every brand is different. For example, I've also seen it called Dot-by-Dot.

If you can't set your TV to a pixel perfect mode, turn on Overscan in OS X. This setting is in System Preferences, Displays, Options.

 

[Macsonic]

Before I tried hooking up a 32" Sony TV to my Mac. For watching movies it was fine. But for using it for my design work up close for long hours, colors, fonts and images aren't as fine as a computer monitor I switched back to a monitor. Maybe this may depend on the model and specs of the TV. Might work well for other brands.