Is a computer monitor with HDMI input usable for HD TV without PC?

[admin_exported]

I have a cheapy Freesat HD box from Argos (Bush). It works straight out of the box with a satellite dish left by the previous house occupant.

Trouble is, my NVidea card in my Medion PC only has a HDMI output, so I can't view HD content from the box, only the SD from the SCART sockets.

Can I bypass the PC altogether by buying a HD capable monitor, such as this: VIEWSONIC VX2260WM 22" TFT MONITOR. The sellers are at pains to point out 'this is not a tv' and 'you'll need a computer, of course'. But surely I can go direct to the monitor via a HDMI cable and it should just work. Am I right?

 

[ElectroMan]

According to the Viewsonic website it can accept input from a console or DVD player, so it may work (I don't know anything about Freesat or satellite in general).

They also have a live online support service, so you could ask them direct.

 

[Anonymous]

cant see why it wouldnt work , the freesat box would be doing most of the processing , the monitor is just displaying it , id make sure the freesat box is doing the upscaling though , set it to 1080i...

 

[Anonymous]

It's a grey area it would seem - the Viewsonic online help was completely baffled by my question "can I plug a HDMI cable direct from my Freesat box and use the VIEWSONIC VX2260WM 22" TFT MONITOR as a stand-alone tv display, i.e. without switching the computer on at all?"

I'd have thought this was a question many, many people would like to be advised on: in essence, rather than buying an HDTV you can have the benefit of a bigger and better computer monitor as well the tv. Or am I just ahead of the market trend?