Monitor or HDTV for smaller set up? Opinions needed...

[JoeFrost]

As above really, I have a small room that will, eventually, have a small multimedia set up in it with a Mac mini and/or Apple TV doing the work but to what screen? I had an idea that a computer monitor might be a bargain way to get a 1080p (or more) capable screen at a lesser price than a new TV?

I'm thinking of around the 30" size for the screen (Apple can fk off with what they're asking for a screen that size; O/T I hate the so called Apple tax yet still pay it when I feel it's justified). What do you think? Good idea or just stupid as a lack of AV inputs will make the idea pointless/useless, which has been my only concern so far...?

Thoughts anyone?

Cheers.

[Digby]

I would have thought that any decent 30" PC monitor is going to cost the same, or a lot more, than a reasonable 1080p 32" TV?

I did the exact opposite.I got a second hand 32" LG 1080p TV just to try it as a PC monitor due to it being a cheap way to a big screen with a decent resolution.I have never looked back!

[MrP80]

A 30" monitor is generally a high end offering so there will be little in the way of cheap ones, the resolution will be far greater than you would get from a TV though. The dell equivalent to the Apple Cinema display is in a similar ball park spec and price wise.

If you are just running at TV resolution then get a TV, more bang for your buck. And if you are running from a mac mini the HDMI will mean little faffing about with connections, just run it all through the single cable