PC monitor & HDTV; can I kill two birds w/one stone?

[Harb]

Here's my situation: I'm going off to college soon, and because dorm space is limited and I don't like carrying a ton of stuff with me, I'm looking for somthing that will solve my computer monitor and TV issues at the same time.

The holy grail of this search would be a computer moniter that is a good moniter for PC applications, and that can run next-gen game consoles and watch cable television, by use of a PCI TV tuner card, just as well as any TV out there. Alternatively, a good HDTV that can function as a computer moniter, with a high resolution and definition as good as the 19" viewsonic I'm using at this moment would be good as well.

I began looking at computer monitors originally, and found this: Samsung 244t. As a computer monitor, it is superior to my current one in every way, and it also ~appears~ to have the right connections in the back to connect an xbox 360 (and presumeably a PS3 or Wii). However, I am unsure as to how good the game consoles will look on this screen. Would a 360 look as good on this monitor as it does a HDTV?

After discussing this with my friend, he showed me this Sony HDTV: Sony 32" BRAVIA™ XBR® LCD Flat Panel HDTV. This would obviously solve my television/game console issues without a hitch. However, I am unsure as to its quality as a PC monitor. The display resolution is only 1366 x 768, much lower than the Samsung monitor, and even lower than my 19" Viewsonic. Would this function well as both?


Which should I go with, a monitor that wants to be a TV or a TV that wishes it were a monitor? I'm leaning toward the monitor right now; the only thing holding me back is my uncertainty of how good a game console would run on it. If I did go with a monitor, that Samsung is quite nice, but I'd like to go bigger than 24" so I can sit back and watch a DVD from across the room. However, anything bigger than 24" has a low native resolution, much like that of the HDTV I linked to here. Are there any monitors bigger than 24" with a resolution of at least 1600x1200?


Thanks for reading!

 

[Cody_7]

Well, I just recieved an LG26LX1D and it's a 26" HDTV display with a native resolution just like the Sony 32" Bravia. I'm actually thinking about getting a 24" LCD to replace it also (The Dell 2407WFP because the HDTV, just like you said, has a low native resolution of 1366x768).

Personally, i'd lean towards the "monitor that wishes to be a TV" becuase monitors have much higer resolutions, and are sharper, and don't take as much space as those HDTV's. Plus, you have to make positive your HDTV has a DVI connector for your PC, becuase the one I got doesn't so i'm returning it.

I believe most next-gen consoles like the XBOX 360, and PS3, etc use the entry-level HD resolution (1280x720, a.k.a 720p) so no matter which monitor / HDTV you choose it will be scaling it up a little bit thus making it a little blurry.

I vote for the monitor, especially one like the Dell 2407WFP, because it has component and regular yellow Video inputs for HDTV and regular gaming, where as HDTVs often have what I call "odd" connectors and lack the common ones.

 

[Harb]

Thanks a ton for the info. I think I'm going to get the monitor too; I did more research and found some gizmos that'll give me the ability to play 480i console games on my monitor 'well enough', regardless of the monitors connectors and such.

 

[Cody_7]

I'm glad I could give info to make the "HD" world a little less confusing

With HDTV's they are often tailored more for DVD player connections, projector connections, etc so it makes it harder to get it working correctly with PC's; but consoles should be fine.

P.S. are you going to go for the Samsung 244t then?

 

[Harb]

Probablly; it seems to have the connections I want. I'm going to do more digging though; a 900$ish monitor purchase is nothing I'm going to take lightly

 

[Cody_7]

Very true. I'm trying to decide between a monitor like the Dell 2407WFP and the Acer AL2423Wdr because the Acer has 100% good reviews, said to be very bright (like many say about the dell monitor) but there are some mixed issues about the dell monitor, because of "color banding" issues, but I'm really leaning towards the Dell because it has every connector you can think of on the back.

 

[Hose]

Here's my situation: I'm going off to college soon, and because dorm space is limited and I don't like carrying a ton of stuff with me, I'm looking for somthing that will solve my computer monitor and TV issues at the same time.

The holy grail of this search would be a computer moniter that is a good moniter for PC applications, and that can run next-gen game consoles and watch cable television, by use of a PCI TV tuner card, just as well as any TV out there. Alternatively, a good HDTV that can function as a computer moniter, with a high resolution and definition as good as the 19" viewsonic I'm using at this moment would be good as well.

I began looking at computer monitors originally, and found this: Samsung 244t. As a computer monitor, it is superior to my current one in every way, and it also ~appears~ to have the right connections in the back to connect an xbox 360 (and presumeably a PS3 or Wii). However, I am unsure as to how good the game consoles will look on this screen. Would a 360 look as good on this monitor as it does a HDTV?

After discussing this with my friend, he showed me this Sony HDTV: Sony 32" BRAVIA™ XBR® LCD Flat Panel HDTV. This would obviously solve my television/game console issues without a hitch. However, I am unsure as to its quality as a PC monitor. The display resolution is only 1366 x 768, much lower than the Samsung monitor, and even lower than my 19" Viewsonic. Would this function well as both?


Which should I go with, a monitor that wants to be a TV or a TV that wishes it were a monitor? I'm leaning toward the monitor right now; the only thing holding me back is my uncertainty of how good a game console would run on it. If I did go with a monitor, that Samsung is quite nice, but I'd like to go bigger than 24" so I can sit back and watch a DVD from across the room. However, anything bigger than 24" has a low native resolution, much like that of the HDTV I linked to here. Are there any monitors bigger than 24" with a resolution of at least 1600x1200?


Thanks for reading!

Suggest you (1) Consider monitor functions as primary and get the one you like. (2) AFter you get to college and find out what kind of TV signal you are going to use, go buy a separate TV Tuner card or HD TV tuner card, whichever is appropriate.

Regular TV over a digital broadcast will play nicely on a cheapo PCI TV tuner card.... like the Hauppauge Win-TV GO... $40.