TV as a monitor - what should I consider?

[admin_exported]

Hi,

I want to buy a TV which will double as a monitor for my computer, and I'm wondering if there is anything in particular I should look out for when choosing one.

The obvious things I've already though of are: VGA input, LCD (for response time).

Is there anything else I should be looking for, what size limit would you put on a monitor (is 32" too big?). Are there any particular models that someone would recommend for this purpose?

As always, any help much appreciated.

Iain.

 

[xtsili]

you are looking for a TV-Monitor type of device. I have a SAMSUNG model, it may be that other manifacturers also make them, I don't know. So I would suggest you look around for tv-monitors, that is the key word

 

[professorhat]

My friend uses the current Samsung 26" WHF Best Buy as a monitor for his Mac and finds it works well. I have to say, for me, I'd want Full HD resolution when using as a monitor but this depends how you're going to use it. If you're going to be using it traditionally i.e. sitting about 1 or 2 feet from the screen, you'll benefit from the extra resolution when using a PC / Mac. I'd also say 32" would be far too big for this usage (for me personally anyway!). In these circumstances, something like the LG 22LU5000 would seem a good bet (hopefully your computer already has some external speakers to see off the sound issues noted about that TV!).

However, if you're going to use more as a TV than a monitor, or you're looking to use it for watching things like iPlayer on your computer i.e. sitting at a greater distance, than maybe Full HD won't be as important, and you could also afford to have a bigger set.

 

[Liam19]

professorhat:
My friend uses the current Samsung 26" WHF Best Buy as a monitor for his Mac and finds it works well. I have to say, for me, I'd want Full HD resolution when using as a monitor but this depends how you're going to use it. If you're going to be using it traditionally i.e. sitting about 1 or 2 feet from the screen, you'll benefit from the extra resolution when using a PC / Mac. I'd also say 32" would be far too big for this usage (for me personally anyway!). In these circumstances, something like the LG 22LU5000 would seem a good bet (hopefully your computer already has some external speakers to see off the sound issues noted about that TV!).

However, if you're going to use more as a TV than a monitor, or you're looking to use it for watching things like iPlayer on your computer i.e. sitting at a greater distance, than maybe Full HD won't be as important, and you could also afford to have a bigger set.

I've just bought a Samsung 32-inch LED Full HD set for use as both a TV (for Freeview HD, PS3 & Blu-ray) and a PC monitor. Granted, it's on the big side for the latter purpose, but it fits very nicely on my desk, which is pretty deep and has a pull-out keyboard/mouse tray, so I can sit a decent distance away.

While Full HD was important to me for Blu-ray, I was also concerned how good my Windows desktop would look at such a larger size. I wasn't disappointed - after setting display output to 1920x1080, it looked pretty damn good!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi.I've used a 32inch HD screen { Evesham} for some 3yrs now as my PC.I view from approx. 2.5/3mtrs,wirelessly.No problem-very happy working in Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom. Tonypen