Using a nice 32" TV instead of a monitor

[Azzin]

Hi gurus,

My Wife currently has her 2012 MBPc hooked up to a 24" screen and has decided that it's a bit small for her, so she's like something larger.

I'm currently looking at this 32" Samsung TV for her.

What do you all think?

Just to complicate matters slightly, ahe actually uses a Dell laptop for work too when she works from home.

The two laptops are currently connected to the 24" screen via a Belkin VGA KVM switch, but I know she'll have to move to an HDMI KVM Switch to use the new screen (her work Dell laptop has a Display Port, but presumably I can just buy an HDMI adaptor for that?).

Thanks everyone.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Hi gurus,

My Wife currently has her 2012 MBPc hooked up to a 24" screen and has decided that it's a bit small for her, so she's like something larger.

I'm currently looking at this 32" Samsung TV for her.

What do you all think?

Just to complicate matters slightly, ahe actually uses a Dell laptop for work too when she works from home.

The two laptops are currently connected to the 24" screen via a Belkin VGA KVM switch, but I know she'll have to move to an HDMI KVM Switch to use the new screen (her work Dell laptop has a Display Port, but presumably I can just buy an HDMI adaptor for that?).

Thanks everyone.

I don't recommend anything over 24" for a monitor at 1080p what looks sharp at TV watching distance is blurry as all hell at desktop working distance, a 1440p 27" monitor will be fine though or a 4kTV but her laptops probably won't run that. Maybe 30-32 inch 1600p monitor if you can find one.

 

[Azzin]

Thank you.

I think the issue is the (AOC) monitor she has isn't capable of any decent resolutions.

With the Samsung I linked to above, presumably I could set a 1600 (or thereabouts) resolution?

 

[snaky69]

Thank you.

I think the issue is the (AOC) monitor she has isn't capable of any decent resolutions.

With the Samsung I linked to above, presumably I could set a 1600 (or thereabouts) resolution?

LCD screens look like crap on anything but their native resolution, and a TV'd be even worst. I wouldn't recommend it.

Is her 24" small in terms of screen size or small in terms of how much information she can display at one time? What model is it?

 

[JackieInCo]

Last year, I got a 32" Samsung smart TV as a gift from my job and I tried using it with my Mac Mini. The picture quality was not good no matter what settings I tried. I finally gave up and just used it as a spare TV upstairs.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Thank you.

I think the issue is the (AOC) monitor she has isn't capable of any decent resolutions.

With the Samsung I linked to above, presumably I could set a 1600 (or thereabouts) resolution?

No that screen tops out at 1080p you can't create pixels.

You want something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-VX24AH...&qid=1447332344&sr=8-1&keywords=1440p+monitor

or this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-U2515H...&qid=1447332344&sr=8-4&keywords=1440p+monitor

or this for 1600p

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenovo-Thin...&qid=1447332474&sr=8-1&keywords=1600p+monitor

 

[Azzin]

LCD screens look like crap on anything but their native resolution, and a TV'd be even worst. I wouldn't recommend it.

Is her 24" small in terms of screen size or small in terms of how much information she can display at one time? What model is it?

I've actually just checked and it's a Samsung. I think she's had it 2 or 3 years.

I guess the issue is that the MMP doesn't seem to be able to scale beyond 1280 x 800?

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I've actually just checked and it's a Samsung. I think she's had it 2 or 3 years.

I guess the issue is that the MMP doesn't seem to be able to scale beyond 1280 x 800?

Try downloading and using switchres X it'll scale the external screen for you.

 

[Meister]

I use a 46" 1080p samsung with my mac mini.
From the right distance it works perfectly fine.

 

[Azzin]

No that screen tops out at 1080p you can't create pixels.

You want something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-VX24AH...&qid=1447332344&sr=8-1&keywords=1440p+monitor

or this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-U2515H...&qid=1447332344&sr=8-4&keywords=1440p+monitor

or this for 1600p

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenovo-Thin...&qid=1447332474&sr=8-1&keywords=1600p+monitor

The Samsung she has already is a 24", so our logic is we're going to replace it for her, we may as well go a bit bigger, but that 30" Lenovo is a lot of cash to drop (as nice as it is!).

 

[Azzin]

I use a 46" 1080p samsung with my mac mini.
From the right distance it works perfectly fine.

Good to know, thanks.

Are you using it at a "normal" distance"?

Her Samsung is wall mounted in front of her and there's a desk's depth (approx 30") between her and the screen.

Also, what resolution are you using and how are you connected?

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Meister]

Good to know, thanks.

Are you using it at a "normal" distance"?

Her Samsung is wall mounted in front of her and there's a desk's depth (approx 30") between her and the screen.

Also, what resolution are you using and how are you connected?

Thanks again everyone.

I use it from approx. 3 feet away.
1080p via hdmi.

 

[Azzin]

I'm wondering if a nice 27" Samsung 1920x1080 panel, running at 1600 would be a decent idea?

 

[Meister]

I'm wondering if a nice 27" Samsung 1920x1080 panel, running at 1600 would be a decent idea?

I have absolutely no idea why you would run it at 1600.

 

[majkom]

Using 32inch tv hooked to my mac mini, no problem at all...

 

[Azzin]

Using 32inch tv hooked to my mac mini, no problem at all...

Thank.

What resolution?

The thing is, I need to find a nice res for my wife.

She's not a lover of small, high res text (especially when connected to her work laptop, due to lots of spreadsheets and documents).

 

[snaky69]

Thank.

What resolution?

The thing is, I need to find a nice res for my wife.

She's not a lover of small, high res text (especially when connected to her work laptop, due to lots of spreadsheets and documents).

1080p at 32" will have pretty large text as it is.

I can sit on my couch nearly 8 feet away from my 1080p 50" TV and read text just fine. 32" at less than 3 feet will look huge, and pixely, and ugly, but whatever floats your boat.