TV or Plain Monitor?

Hey,

I am looking to buy a decent sized second monitor, but I was not sure whether to get a TV and use as a monitor and have the TV function as well, or whether to just get a plain monitor still fairly big-ish. and have to look good and have lots of inputs!

I am looking around the 24"-26" size and would have to be HD ready and have to look good and have lots of inputs!. (P.S I was told, although several TV's state they are HD ready they dont physically have enough pixels usually around 1366 X 768 when HD is 1920x1080 ?? And so just down grade the signal) Little confused!

Any help would be great,

Niall

Which is your intended primary function, computer monitor or television?

Personally, I would lean toward the monitor and see if I can get the television functions I need, but that's purely personal preference.

Well i barely watch TV that much, but it would be nice to have the option, but i guess i could just get a card? But really it seems like there are alot more TV's to choose from, and tbh its seems odd but i have seen TV cost less than a monitor of the same size? I guess i just need to know which one would have the best image/performance for Games and DVD's and I want to wall mount it! But i guess I could do this with either?

I'm lost! lol

It really depends on the resolution/contrast ratio/ms and your budget.

And if you plan to wall mount it weight might be considered, but you can always buy a bracket to suit.

Have you any products in mind?

Been there done that...

First of all, HD comes in two resolution flavors. 1080 and 720 (Check it out here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Vector_Video_Standards2.svg)

Most HD-TVs under 36 inches can only display 720i or 720p (i and p are for interlaced and progressive... when you hook up to a computer you will be using progressive). So the signal is not downgraded... you're just using the inferior of the two signals.

Only two TV manufacturers that I know of, Sharp and Panasonic make 32 inch Full 1080p TVs... and I own one and its very very pretty .

Also, most HD-TVs will have a maximum refresh rate of 60hz... 30hz for lower end models. Then there is the price point to think about... add a digital tuner and all the BS they have to throw in to make it legal with HDMI and HDCP and all that and you have a very expensive "computer monitor"... You'll also need to make sure your VGA card has a DVI output and then you'll need to buy yourself a DVI to HDMI cable ($20-$40).

I got my 32 inch LCD TV for free... so I can't complain about the price.... But, I have a feeling that you'll find a monitor the size you want that will have better resolution and better refresh rates at a lower price point than a comparable physical size TV.

If money is no object. Get the TV... its convenient! Saves space! But, do you need to save space? And do you want to be watching TV and using the computer at the same time? cuz thats a no-can-do.... Picture-in-Picture isn't compatable with my computer signal on my TV... and I doubt It would work on most other HD TV sets.

Get a screen and a TV-card.
Much better IQ, and probably even cheaper :-)

IQ? Intelligence Quotient doesn't exactly come into play here...

OK - maybe just the site I am using but there is this 26" monitor which does look like its pretty good:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142807

However, a TV of the same size is cheaper:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/136348

So, I guess my real question is are there considerably cheaper monitors for this size out there? Which will have better quality, card and monitor or TV? Which will future proof me the longest?

As for money £250-£280max ($500ish)

And graphics card wise I am running a HD2600XT atm but am waiting for the HD4850.

Sorry about this! I am just so split as to what to go for!

Niall

I have it's Big Brother , and must admit I only use it as a TV, but its great for the price.

For my PC I have a Samsung 22" monitor im fond of and wouldnt replace anytime soon.

Neither does yours, apparently