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Should I buy a new LCD TV to double as my monitor?

2A Batterie

2A Batterie

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 9, 2004
622
0
Out of a Suitcase, USA
I just moved and am setting up my new project studio for audio. I am in need of a new monitor for my setup, but am thinking of saving some space and getting an LCD TV that I could use as both my monitor and TV. My budget is $500 and under. Would it be wise to try and set up my monitor for both my computer and cable box? I don't do much photo editing or anything where I need a killer display. Anyone have any advice? Thanks!
 
Most LCD TVs under $500 are low res. You can get a higher-res 20 or 21" widescreen computer LCD for less than that.

Heck, even most 19" widescreen computer LCDs (at 1440 x 900) are higher res than all non-1080p LCD TVs (which are mostly 1280 x 720 or 1366 x 768). And those are even LESS expensive than 20 and 21" LCD computer monitors.
 
What is it with all these threads recently.

With an HDTV you get easy hookup to TV sources (HD or not), speakers, and usually a tuner.

With a monitor you get, higher resolution & brightness, typically more adjustability in the stand, more PC oriented hookups.

What's more important to you. The TV aspects or the monitor aspects.

That said. Samsung has a 19" TV in your price range that seems to offer a decent medium between the two, as it's 1440x900 and has both TV and PC inputs.

B
 
2A Batterie said:
Sorry if I sound like a n00b, but could I just get a nice Dell display and have that double as my TV? This whole area is foreign to me.
Click to expand...

You could hook up most DVD players, game consoles, satellite receivers etc.. directly to a Dell, or other monitor, but you'd need to supply speakers, and if you wanted over the air reception or cable you might need a separate tuner.

B
 
balamw said:
You could hook up most DVD players, game consoles, satellite receivers etc.. directly to a Dell, or other monitor, but you'd need to supply speakers, and if you wanted over the air reception or cable you might need a separate tuner.

B
Click to expand...

I have a cable box from Insight (my provider) and I have tons of audio speakers, cables, mixers, etc. Would a Dell work with a cable box or do I need to get some sort of convertor?
 
2A Batterie said:
I have a cable box from Insight (my provider) and I have tons of audio speakers, cables, mixers, etc. Would a Dell work with a cable box or do I need to get some sort of convertor?
Click to expand...
What outputs does the cable box have? Composite(yellow)/component(red/green/blue)/HDMI? Or does it look like the input cable.

B
 
2A Batterie said:
It has RCA's out (red/white/yellow), in's (red/white) and it also has a cable out.
Click to expand...

That's composite, so yes it should work, but you'll get some scaling artifacts that may make the picture look worse on an LCD than on your standard TV of the same size.

2A Batterie said:
Do you know the specific model number?
Click to expand...

http://www.samsung.com/Products/TV/LCDTV/LNS1951WXXAA.asp

Reaver said:
why not buy one of the new Gateway HD displays and you can use it as a tv monitor and monitor for your MBP.

Gateway HD monitor
Click to expand...
Your link is broken, I fixed it in the quote.

Same resolution and slightly larger than the Dell 2007FPW, but the Dell can often be had much cheaper with coupons and discounts. Just got some at work for $299.

B
 
Most LCD TVs will look cr@ptacular for computer work

I have a Dell Ultrasharp 2405 I use attached to a DVD player (via component video) and a stereo, and I use it for watching movies (no broadcast TV or cable in our house). It's brillant for movies. No remote controls or speakers, of course, but my DVD and Receiver have those. Picture is better than my Dell 23" LCD TV.
 
I think the Gateway FPD2275W looks like it could be a possible fit. 22" widescreen (good real esate for working with DAW's like Pro Tools and Live!, which have multiple windows) and $400 work for me. Although I'm going over the specs at it has a 700:1 contrast ratio as compared to the 800:1 on the Dell 2007FPW. The Gateway has a 5ms response time compared to 16ms for the Dell. Both have a resolution of 1680 x 1050. I did a quick froogle search for the Dell and I can get if for 378. I'm thinking Gateway. What do you guys think?
 
Wow, I went to school in Bexley at Capital University. Small world. To get back on topic, I'm thinking of going with the Gateway since it has a quicker refresh time and is a bit bigger (2" although they both have the same resolution of 1680 x 1050). Does anyone think this it is/isn't a good idea to get the Gateway to use as both my monitor and TV?
 
The majority of the LCD TVs available for less then $500 are going to be very low resolution and with the exception of actually watching TV/DVDs on them- would be a waste of money.
 
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