Computer monitor to double as blu-ray display

[Muse]

My desktop doubles as an HTPC, insofar as it has an HDTV card -- a MyHD 130 PCI card and PCI daughterboard that outputs DVI. Without the daughterboard, the MyHD card provides VGA output.

I'd like to upgrade my desktop monitor to a 16x9 display, having presently a 4x3 Planar PX191 19" LCD display, that chops off the sides of the HDTV image. I watch DVD's/Blu-ray from a 16x9 projector onto a large white screen.

I'd like the 16x9 display I want to get to display computer stuff, the HDTV image, but also the occasional DVD or blu-ray without having to run the desktop computer (i.e. the source would be a blu-ray player).

I was looking at the Samsung S23a350h 23" monitor, which has HDMI and VGA inputs and figured I'd get a switch to select a source for the Samsung monitor's HDMI input port. However, someone told me that most modern displays would need different sets of settings to support computer vs. blu-ray. I assume that's probably true for DVD too (?). Should I instead be looking at monitors with 2 HDMI inputs? Presumably, I'd be able to have each HDMI input have it's own saved settings, right?

 

[NutBucket]

Not sure about separate settings but it would have to be HDCP compliant to properly use a stand-alone blu-ray player. I'm sure most are these days but it doesn't hurt to check.

 

[Muse]

Not sure about separate settings but it would have to be HDCP compliant to properly use a stand-alone blu-ray player. I'm sure most are these days but it doesn't hurt to check.

Well, that Samsung Syncmaster S23a350h 23" LED backlit monitor is HDCP compliant in it's HDMI port. I have no idea if that means that the monitor will automatically make the right adjustments when I switch inputs to the HDMI port between my computer and the blu-ray player.

 

[fralexandr]

you could always get a cheapy HDTV in 22"-32" size
you'll probably have to set some overscan settings (via catalyst or whatever) when using it as the desktop display

 

[fralexandr]

fyi tomorrow (wednesday 6/27) best buy is selling a 24" 1080p LED tv with 2 HDMI ports for $150
http://slickdeals.net/f/4800180-24-Toshiba-LED-1080p-60Hz-HDTV-24L4200U-150-Free-Shipping

 

[Muse]

fyi tomorrow (wednesday 6/27) best buy is selling a 24" 1080p LED tv with 2 HDMI ports for $150
http://slickdeals.net/f/4800180-24-Toshiba-LED-1080p-60Hz-HDTV-24L4200U-150-Free-Shipping

Hmm, maybe there's something wrong with that thread. I get this:

You do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

The page you are looking for has been removed. If you are getting this error from a link via Deal Alert, this means that the thread was considered to be spam or inappropriate for the forum and thus removed.
Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.
- -
Edit: What I see searching Best Buy's site on Toshiba HDTV 24" is this deal of the day:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+-+24%26%2334%3B+Class+/+LED+/+1080p+/+60Hz+/+HDTV/4818566.p?id=1218535466410&skuId=4818566&st=toshiba%2024%22%20hdtv&cp=1&lp=1

It's $199, though.

 

[Muse]

One that's got my eye is this:

Acer S231HL bid 23-Inch Widescreen Ultra-Slim LED Display

I may just buy it right now, the price dropped this morning to $150 shipped. It's got HDMI, DVI and VGA inputs. Others with 2 digital inputs that I've seen are a little more expensive but the user reviews (and the few professional reviews I've seen) don't make them seem much better. It's an Acer, and I had a bad experience with them as my laptop bought 3 years ago died shortly after the one year warranty ran out, it just fried itself. But this monitor has a 3 year parts and labor warranty. Not even Samsung is doing that, just one year. The Samsung refurb I was looking at a few days ago is just 3 months. Many people who have bought this monitor really like it and are coming back for more. Some have had quite bad experiences but I figure they were just unlucky and got bad ones. Hopefully, if that happens to me I'll realize it and get a replacement by Amazon. It actually comes with HDMI, DVI, and VGA cables. The stand is pretty flimsy, but all the cheaper 22-24" monitors have this issue, it is VESA mountable, a number of reviewers report putting these on multi-monitor stands.

It has a button to switch sources. What I don't know is if I'll need to make adjustments when I switch sources.

 

[Muse]

One that's got my eye is this:

Acer S231HL bid 23-Inch Widescreen Ultra-Slim LED Display

I went ahead and bought it. Biggest downside I see in the user reviews is it takes around 12 seconds to wake up from a suspended state. $150 shipped from Amazon at the moment.