TV as PC Monitor - Anyone use one?

[Zingari]

I'm thinking of going large for my PC monitor and given the prices of TVs now they seem good value.

Currently have a Samsung Syncmaster T220HD with built in freeview and have to say for a monitor and TV its great - but I want bigger!

This is on Amazon @£249 -Toshiba 32BV500B 32-inch Widescreen HD Ready LCD TV with Freeview.

Any thoughts and what should I look out for. BTW I dont play video games.

[Stu R]

I've got my old windows laptop and a mac mini running through my panasonic G20, and before that a cheapy 32 inch something-or-other. Works a treat. Only thing I tend to be weary of is leaving static images on the screen for too long, things like desktop icons etc - could be me being overcautious though.

[Road2Ruin]

HD ready would suggest a resolution of only 1366 x 768 on the screen (if it's widescreen). Try and go for a full HD one for a higher resolution.

[FlossyThePig]

How far away do you sit from the TV when using it as a PC monitor?

Windows runs at a logical dpi of 96, a monitor with resolution of 1366x768 and a physical 96dpi measures about 16.5". A standard 19" 4:3 (1280x1024) office monitor is about 86dpi.

A 32" TV with 1366x768 is about 49dpi, 1920x1080 ia about 69dpi. I personally wouldn't like to use either as a PC monitor for standard PC use (office type applications, code development, internet, etc.)

A 32" monitor at about 96dpi is more like 2560x1600

[Cock Womble 7]

I run my PC (via VGA) through my 37" LCD "HD Ready" TV and it works pretty well.



My PC does have HDMI out, but connecting it to the TV this way does seem to bring resolution problems.

I need a new TV.

[Ross1988]

I do, I use my 32 inch TV as a monitor, I bought it for this purpose so I did a bit of research, its full HD and has 1920x1080 resolution so it's still pretty sharp

Similar to this

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/244920

ETA: Nice setup CW7. Looks like your speaker is in the way though? Sacrificing convenience for a decent set up?

[Cock Womble 7]

Ross1988 said:

ETA: Nice setup CW7. Looks like your speaker is in the way though? Sacrificing convenience for a decent set up?

Quite possibly, although it's not quite as "in the way" as it looks in that photo. I once knocked it over (in a drunken state) but now it's on the radar, I avoid it.