Which to buy 30" LCD TV or 30" LCD Monitor with TV

[mrbossman]

I am setting up "The Mens PLAYROOM". I want to set up 1 monitor for the computer and the HDTV. Which to buy 30" LCD TV or 30" LCD Monitor with TV Tuner? I really want to spend the smallest amount of money, but have fairly good Video from both tv and the computer.
I am also looking at a AIW HDTV card.

Thanks
MrBossman

[doppletwo]

Which everone you go with check the repsonse time.

My biggest pet peeve with LCD TV's and monitors is that they leave trails with fast motion if the response time isan't fast enough.

Probably best to go model by model, of lumping them all into those two categories.

[edDV]

You can't do both well. So optimize either for TV& Games or quality computer display.

With the TV route, you will most likely be using the DVI to component Y, Pb, Pr adapter from ATI. Make sure the card supports the adapter.
http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvadapter/specs.html

PS, you will need a second computer monitor to set up the HDTV out. See ATI instructions, sort of a catch 22. So best to buy a dual head ATI card.

[mrbossman]

No games just quality computer display and watching TV. Which model should I be looking at?

Thanks
MrBossman

[edDV]

Can you get over the air HDTV? Or are you looking at Cable or Satt?

If all your HDTV will be from DTV antenna, the ATI HD Wonder will tune that.
Then just buy the largest computer monitor you can afford.

This Viewsonic has adaquate resolution for full 1920x1080.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=415293&CatId=172

[mrbossman]

Would it work if I bought the "ViewSonic 30" LCD TV" and used it as the computer mon. ?

Thanks
MrBossman

[edDV]

That would be inconsistant with your statement above

"No games just quality computer display and watching TV."

The ViewSonic 30" LCD TV will be a TV first and be a compromised computer monitor. Is this the model?

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_techspecs_full.php/masterid=2498741
http://www.viewsonic.com/products/desktopdisplays/lcdtv/n3000w/

Connection Issues:
-Its native resolution is 720p (1280x768)
-It will only be usable with TV scan rates.
-DVI input has HDCP encryption and may not work at all with a computer.
-VGA input would require setting up custom scan rates with a program like Powerstrip. Incorrect scan rates may damage the set. The only standard computer rate that the HDTV will take is 640x480.
-You may need a dual monitor setup to get Powerstrip programmed properly. (Note Powerstrip is a hack not supported by the TV set manufacturer.)
-Alternative is to go in the component analog ports with the ATI card as described above. This is the only supported connection method by ATI.

Note: I just looked at the Viewsonic detailed specs. This particular set will support 1280x1024 "compatible from VGA up to 1280x1024 non-interlaced, 1280x768 preferred". That makes the job easier. The above statements still hold for a typical HDTV.

Viewing issues
-Max native resolution is 720p (1280x768)
-Pixels will be large, monitor must be moved back for distant viewing. Not the best for word processing/spreadsheets, etc.
-TV gamma is different, computer display may be overly bright. You will need to find the best compromise settings for video vs computer display.
-After everything is set up and adjusted it will make an OK but not ideal computer monitor.
-As a HDTV, this LCD has limited contrast (400:1) This will result in compressed gray scale vs a CRT or Plasma which are an order of magnitude better.

HDTV Issues.
- TV has standard tuners and will directly connect to cable to satellite HDTV tuners
- Using ATI HD wonder in the computer is limited to DTV and requires the full graphics card solution to feed the TV.
- With that TV, better to get an external DTV tuner like this one.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2598451&cat=115061&type=19&dept=...A3996%3A179886
It will work much better with that TV.

Read this site for basic issues connecting a computer to a HDTV.
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/DVI_monitor_cables.html
Scroll down.

[handyguy]

There is a 30" lcd computer monitor? That's news.

A Viewsonic vga box (about $125) can turn any lcd monitor into a tv with lots of features.

[Billf2099]

How about neither? Big LCD monitors are expensive. How about trying a DLP system instead? They are cheap, look great , you can mount them on the ceiling if you want. I'd get a small LCD monitor with the 'change' and use that for user access, setting things up etc. But if you go wireless and all of that you could surf to your hearts content with a DLP system. Not to mention play games watch DVD's, HDTV, etc. You'll still need tuners and all of that stuff (excellent suggestions by the way from the other people on this post)

[edDV]

Well all that is good if you want a TV first.
mrbossman wants computer monitor first, TV second.

[Gritz]

I just had an Infocus LP70 projector in the shop for a customer inquiry (turned out to be operator error) and had it for a few days so I hooked it up to a desktop system first, a laptop second, and a feed off my DirecTv third. It has 3 inupt ports. I thought all the projected images were very good, sharp, and quite large (about 60" wide with the projector at about 12 feet) I played Open Range (a DivX) from the desktop, then "Tombstone" from the Toshiba laptop DVD, and Fox News (mostly) from the satellite. All I had was a white bed sheet for the screen since I was just checking it out, and in every instance the projected image was huge .... and sharp. I used a $40 speaker system from one of my computers for the sound. Of course a clean white wall or the appropriate screen would have produced a better image I'm sure. I caught myself wondering .... why don't more people use projectors for home use? Maybe it's the cost of the bulbs (projected 3,000 hours on this model). And the cost of the projector? .... $1,399 from the manufacturers site! Now that's cheaper than a plasma, and probably a LCD also (not sure on that though). This in my estimate .... is the perfect setup for the "Men's Room". And the unit is only about 9" square! And I can easily read my computer's Desktop. Maybe I'm missing something?

[GeekFunk]

I have a Syntax Olevia 30" hd-ready LCD TV connected via DVI-to-DVI to a Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 box.

The Olevia has a analog standard defintion TV dual-tuner, which means you can have two TV OTA channels running simulatneously as in split screen or PIP. It could be the same local station. Syntax said they will release a ASTC tuner card sometime in late Q2 2005.

An ATI HDTV Wonder tuner card in the pc provides local OTA HDTV brilliantly.

I have the following conneccted to the Olevia: (1) WMCE pc to DVI; (2) antenna to tuner terminal; (3) XBox to YPrPb component using the special XBox cable; (4) Sony VCR to composite; and (5) DirecTV box to s-video.

Viewing and computing is from 6 to 7 feet away. Of course, I'm using a wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as the WMCE remote control.

Issues: standard definition TV ain't too hot, which is inherent with LCD TVs. But, local broadcasts of standard definition over the HD transmitter is pretty damn good in most case, and better than DirecTV's PQ of local station programs.

I have an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro graphics card, and HalfLife2, Doom3, Far Cry, and Call of Duty are fantastic in widescreen. Only HalfLife2 and Far Cry support wide screen of 1280 x 720 resolution.

[edDV]

cool that the DVI port keeps the HDCP out of the way when using the Radeon 9800 Pro output at 1280x720.

http://www.anandtech.com/displays/showdoc.aspx?i=2099

[GeekFunk]

edDV

That's my LCD TV, all right.

I purchased the Syntax Olevia based in part on Anandtech's review. ExtremeTech.com also reviewed it, as well as a few other.

Syntax just came out with a 32" model, and ExtremeTech.com has a review of it. They said that it was a good value considering its price and performance.

I'd say that the Olevia 30" is an excellent value at $1200 or less, and the Olevia 32" is an excellent value at $1500 or less.

[MCLARK]

I thought that the native resolution of the Olevia 30" was 760 not 720. I thought that the 720 is the native resolution of the 27" screen, not the 30"

I have a problem in that 1280x760 my text is difficult to read "Well" looks like "Weil" The problem is not the text but the vertical raster. Anywhere veticcally of the first l of well, it looks blurry, but if I move it horizontally, I can see the L again, but whatever lands on that raster becomes blurry.

[hsugawar]

Computer monitors and TVs usually have different color spaces that may disappoint you if you expect high quality color reproduction. TV programs played back on a computer monitor tend to look dull while JPEC photos shown on a TV may appear to be too intense in color.

hiro

[edDV]

Spec says it is 1280x768. The computer driver needs to match that resolution exactly or text detail will suffer. Video can be more easily scaled since the resolution detail requirements are less. Sharpest video image would be 1280x720 with padding added (black top and bottom) to fill out the 768 vertical.

[MCLARK]

I got my text fixed with powerstrip. Do I need to do anything with the video? Do I need it to be 1280 x 720 to be at its sharpest. If so, how do I do that? Do I need to change setting between video and text?

[dj4monie]

I have heard nothing but good things by the people that have bought the Synatx than the people reviewing it.

They have just come out with a black 32" but I think the 27" or 30" would be fine for small room viewing and the multi outputs are golden in my book.

Why would you want to look at standard dif OTA on an LCD anyway is beyond me. You have a LCD ready screen watch Hi Def programs or digital programing geez.. lol

That's on my shopping list this summer!

[Gritz]

Bought the Olevia 26" after comparing it to the 27" and 30" at RcWilleys for $849 after rebate. By comparision at the store the picture was sharper on the 26" in my opinion. I'm using it as the monitor for system #1 and am very pleased with the sharpness and readability in Windows apps. Sytem #2 sits adjacent to my main pc and is using a HD card (MyHD MDP-130) to pickup local HD OTA and send the capture to both systems (#2 has a Sony G420 monitor and #1 the Syntax Olevia). The antenna input on the MDP-130 is cabled by RG-6 from my old antenna in the attic, and it brings in all 6 local HD stations, plus a host of analog stations! Fortunately they all broadcast from the same mountain at the same azimuth at 31 miles away and lowest signal is about 50%, and the highest is 93% (HD). I'm using component cables from the MPD-130 dongle to the Olevia. Hi Def is definitely nice ... but regular digital no better that the analog it also picks up (so it seems to me). I'm still working out the captures (.ts) and trying to breakout the streams I want ... with limited success. TS files ARE HUGE .... so I'm going to need more hard drives. I also have a Pioneer DVR-220S hooked up by component cables (setup for progressive output) which is also very nice. This is just a temporary location for checking it out. Even though the Olevia states 12 ms I'm seeing some pixelation in OTA where there is fast motion, which I didn't see with DVD movies coming in from the Pioneer 220. Not sure why there would be a difference .... perhaps 512 MB of ram is insufficient in System #2. In any case ... I am very happy with the TV/Monitor .... and I no longer use my glasses in Windows. :P

[Epicurus8a]

My biggest pet peeve with LCD TV's and monitors is that they leave trails with fast motion if the response time isan't fast enough.

Agree 100%. IMO, DLP TVs are a much wiser investment.

[richdvd]

I am setting up "The Mens PLAYROOM". I want to set up 1 monitor for the computer and the HDTV. Which to buy 30" LCD TV or 30" LCD Monitor with TV Tuner? I really want to spend the smallest amount of money, but have fairly good Video from both tv and the computer.
I am also looking at a AIW HDTV card.

Thanks
MrBossman

Choose from one or the other (or buy both).
A Computer monitor and a TV are 2 entirely different things.

[GeekFunk]

My biggest pet peeve with LCD TV's and monitors is that they leave trails with fast motion if the response time isan't fast enough.

Agree 100%. IMO, DLP TVs are a much wiser investment.

Trails? What trails? I don't see no stinking trials on my LCD TV.

It's a false tale, told too often, at least when it comes to large screen LCD TVs. The so-called "trails" are sometimes caused by the slow response rates of pc LCDs when fast pc games are played.

Check out Tomshardware's review of 27" LCD TVs. It will show that nearly all of the screens reviewed has faster response rates (latency) than the best 17" pc monitor that Tom's had reviewed.

I play HalfLife2, Doom3, Far Cry, Call of Duty, among others, on my 30" Olevia, and I don't see no stinking "trails".

[mrbossman]

Thanks for all the input.

I think I am going with the 30 inch HDTV-ready LCD Syntax Olevia for $890 shipped.

http://www.axiontech.com/prdt.php?item=71766

[richdvd]

It's a false tale, told too often, at least when it comes to large screen LCD TVs. The so-called "trails" are sometimes caused by the slow response rates of pc LCDs when fast pc games are played.

I have see "trails" on a few different LCD TV's.
That is what turned me off of them also.
Personally, I think the DLP's are much better.

[mrbossman]

What are DLP's ?


Thanks
MrBossman

[Gritz]

Digital Light Processors ..... (micro-mirrors I remember reading somewhere)

[Epicurus8a]

http://www.dlp.com/dlp_technology/dlp_technology_overview.asp


DLP™ technology is a revolutionary display solution that uses an optical semiconductor to manipulate light digitally. It is a highly reliable, all-digital display technology that delivers the best picture across a broad range of products, including large screen digital TVs, and projectors for business, home, professional venue and digital cinema (DLP Cinema™). It's also a dependable technology preferred by leading display electronics companies worldwide, with more than 5 million systems shipped to more than 75 manufacturers since 1996.

DLP™ technology is in use wherever visual excellence is in demand. It is also a highly versatile display technology. It is the only display technology on the market that can enable the world's smallest projectors under 2-lbs., and light up the largest movie screens up to 75 feet.

The result is maximum fidelity: a picture whose clarity, brilliance and color must be seen to be believed.

[mrbossman]

I have a Syntax Olevia 30" hd-ready LCD TV connected via DVI-to-DVI to a Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 box.

The Olevia has a analog standard defintion TV dual-tuner, which means you can have two TV OTA channels running simulatneously as in split screen or PIP. It could be the same local station. Syntax said they will release a ASTC tuner card sometime in late Q2 2005.

An ATI HDTV Wonder tuner card in the pc provides local OTA HDTV brilliantly.

I have the following conneccted to the Olevia: (1) WMCE pc to DVI; (2) antenna to tuner terminal; (3) XBox to YPrPb component using the special XBox cable; (4) Sony VCR to composite; and (5) DirecTV box to s-video.

Viewing and computing is from 6 to 7 feet away. Of course, I'm using a wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as the WMCE remote control.

Issues: standard definition TV ain't too hot, which is inherent with LCD TVs. But, local broadcasts of standard definition over the HD transmitter is pretty damn good in most case, and better than DirecTV's PQ of local station programs.

I have an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro graphics card, and HalfLife2, Doom3, Far Cry, and Call of Duty are fantastic in widescreen. Only HalfLife2 and Far Cry support wide screen of 1280 x 720 resolution.

I have not bought the TV yet. What is "ASTC" tuner card ? Is it a big differents ?

Thanks
MrBossman

[Gritz]

Should be ATSC ..... Check the glossary in this forum.

(Advanced Television Systems Committee)