PC monitor with TV tuner
Discussion
Any ideas if such a monitor exists?
I want a TV that will work well as a monitor, or a monitor that will work ok as a TV.
We have a computer/monitor in the front room that the in-laws often stay in, and if they want to watch the news, they can't seem to handle anything more than a simple TV (e.g. no TV cards in the PC, or set top boxes etc.). I want to just set it to 'TV' mode for them.
I'm more interested in the monitor spec with TV secondary, but only play Forza 4 so gaming performance isn't crucial.
I want a TV that will work well as a monitor, or a monitor that will work ok as a TV.
We have a computer/monitor in the front room that the in-laws often stay in, and if they want to watch the news, they can't seem to handle anything more than a simple TV (e.g. no TV cards in the PC, or set top boxes etc.). I want to just set it to 'TV' mode for them.
I'm more interested in the monitor spec with TV secondary, but only play Forza 4 so gaming performance isn't crucial.
I use a 10 year old LG 27" TV/monitor as a monitor at home, looks like they still sell them: https://www.lg.com/uk/tv-monitors
hucumber said:
Can't you just use a tv as a tv and a monitor? Rather than the other way round?
Yes, this is probably the best route. I've had issues with old tvs and strange scaling over VGA, but I guess I'll be ok with HDMI inputs now.Size would be about 28 ins. I've seen the LGs that are still made - this are only 1366x768, so I'll keep looking.
paulrockliffe said:
...might be as easy to teach them how to watch TV on their phone
No.
Just no.
No, no, no.
They couldn't turn on a computer, even with us describing where the power button was and what it looked like. I came home and pressed the button, and they looked at me with childlike wonder!
triumph-ant said:
paulrockliffe said:
...might be as easy to teach them how to watch TV on their phone
No.
Just no.
No, no, no.
They couldn't turn on a computer, even with us describing where the power button was and what it looked like. I came home and pressed the button, and they looked at me with childlike wonder!
I was just thinking if they have their own phone that they're familiar with it might be a simple route to let them use what they already know. I don't think that sounds much different to using a TV remote that they're not familiar with, though if you pay enough for a TV they often come with a cut-down remote with just a few buttons on.
I think using a TV as your monitor is going to be the best bet, as the few monitors with TV built in will not have had any money spent on the TV side so the remote will be cheap badly thought out rubbish. If they use the EPG, it'll be terrible and slow. And the HDMI computer connection will likely default it on power-on to the computer, leaving them looking for the []-> button. Or the bell.
Get a 32" 4K TV, it'll be good enough for your computing, really good, and is still a TV. Disconnect the PC when it's to be used as a TV to avoid the HDMI issue, if you can't change it int he Setup. Possibly a rubbish HDMI cable would have the same effect.
triumph-ant said:
No.
Just no.
No, no, no.
They couldn't turn on a computer, even with us describing where the power button was and what it looked like. I came home and pressed the button, and they looked at me with childlike wonder!
I use a TV as a monitor, it's fine. The only drawback in everyday use is the need to use the remote to turn it on and off (or grope around to the tiny physical buttons on the back) rather than let the PC do the sleep/wake of it. Your PC needs to put out HDMI but just about everything is capable of that now, either natively or a simple USB-C to HDMI adaptor.
If you want something along the lines of a typical office monitor, get a 22-24" 1080p TV - something like https://www.richersounds.com/tv-projectors/all-tvs...
If you want something bigger (like having dual or quad monitors), get the smallest end of 4K TVs. I use a 40" at home although they seem to start at 43" now. You don't ever need to maximise anything and get loads of screen space to play with.
Main thing with 4K ones is the need to do 4:4:4 chroma subsampling (without you won't get crisp, clear text when you're right next to it) and ideally only using PWM at low brightness (so you don't get flicker). https://www.rtings.com/ reviews are good for covering those and they give a score about suitability as a PC monitor as part of the reviews. Effectively avoid the really cheap and nasty stuff and you'll be fine.
If you want something along the lines of a typical office monitor, get a 22-24" 1080p TV - something like https://www.richersounds.com/tv-projectors/all-tvs...
If you want something bigger (like having dual or quad monitors), get the smallest end of 4K TVs. I use a 40" at home although they seem to start at 43" now. You don't ever need to maximise anything and get loads of screen space to play with.
Main thing with 4K ones is the need to do 4:4:4 chroma subsampling (without you won't get crisp, clear text when you're right next to it) and ideally only using PWM at low brightness (so you don't get flicker). https://www.rtings.com/ reviews are good for covering those and they give a score about suitability as a PC monitor as part of the reviews. Effectively avoid the really cheap and nasty stuff and you'll be fine.
Edited by sjg on Monday 11th May 17:23
Edited by sjg on Monday 11th May 17:23
megaphone said:
Pachydermus said:
megaphone said:
Probably fine for most PC stuff however you really want a UHD/4K TV 3840x2160.
Why?triumph-ant said:
they can't seem to handle anything more than a simple TV (e.g. no TV cards in the PC, or set top boxes etc.)
Broadcast tv is HD so there's no need for a UHD tv.
Pachydermus said:
megaphone said:
Pachydermus said:
megaphone said:
Probably fine for most PC stuff however you really want a UHD/4K TV 3840x2160.
Why?triumph-ant said:
they can't seem to handle anything more than a simple TV (e.g. no TV cards in the PC, or set top boxes etc.)
Broadcast tv is HD so there's no need for a UHD tv.
Pachydermus said:
megaphone said:
Read the OP, he want's to use it as a PC monitor.
at the size he wants, still rather pointless going for 4k (speaking as someone who has an assortment of hd, qhd, and uhd screens lying around the house).megaphone said:
Pachydermus said:
megaphone said:
Read the OP, he want's to use it as a PC monitor.
at the size he wants, still rather pointless going for 4k (speaking as someone who has an assortment of hd, qhd, and uhd screens lying around the house).
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