Pros/Cons of Using LCD TV as Monitor

[KrispyKreme50]

I'm thinking about buying a LCD TV soon so I was wondering I was wondering if there are any drawbacks to using a LCD TV as opposed to a regular desktop LCD as my primary monitor. Is 1:1 pixel mapping still an issue with LCD TVs and is any connection (VGA, HDMI, etc...) preferable over other connections? The model I'm thinking about buying is this Samsung 46":

http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ...8240701&pf_rd_i=507846


Thanks in advance.

 

[KrispyKreme50]

Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[chinaman1472]

Most TVs have bigger pixels than monitors, making it a little fuzzier than monitors (mine does), but that particular model might not since it will probably support DVI and/or HDMI, giving you a higher resolution (mines only 1360x768 via VGA, everything's huge). It only looks fuzzy when the screen is still and I really look for it. In games, I don't notice it at all. The other thing is if you have it too close, it's unlikely you'll be able to focus on the entire screen just by looking at the center.

 

[lloydxd]

From my personal preference, my Sony 32" Bravia LCD was just too big-I had a hard time reading fonts on the screen. This was with the LCD a few feet away (it's not good to have a tv too close). I ended up buying a samsung syncmaster 205bw 20" monitor and I'm happy with it. For games, it wasn't bad but its just better having a monitor close up. Well thats from my experience but if you do go for that sammy I hope you enjoy it.

 

[E6700]

i've used the syntax olivia 30in. LCD as monitor for exactly 2 years then the backlight is dead. so i would not use lcd tv as monitor ever again.

 

[Qutlass]

anything less than 1080p will be a let down. Still running a westy 37incher with no probs. I sit about 4 feet back from it and have no probs with it. Cons? ppl will want to come over more often to game on your computer.

 

[justlnluck]

I disagree about fuzziness. I've owned a Westinghouse 32w6 the last couple years. It has 1360x768 resolution and everything is crystal clear through VGA. If you put your nose to the screen, you can see the individual pixels, but that does not make it fuzzy. It actually proves precise 1:1 pixel mapping. Sure, I'd love 1080p, but I've been waiting for a 32" screen. Anything larger would be too big for an office desk. I sit at my desk with the screen about 2.5 feet from my face and everything looks perfect. I have the backlight at zero and whites still look white, but no eyestrain. I love being able to use it as a computer workstation, TV, and HD movie center all in one. I have my 5.1 system hooked up around it and it's perfect for movies from DVD to HD-DVD.

 

[Zap]

PRO: You will have a huge-azz monitor.

CON: People with better eyesight than you will mock you for having a monitor with a high pixel pitch.

Seems as if people have had great results with the 32" or 37" 1080P models.

At Quakecon 2007 there was a whole row right up front with all 37" or larger 1080P screens. Crazy stuff, hauling all that...

 

[KrispyKreme50]

Originally posted by: Zap
PRO: You will have a huge-azz monitor.

CON: People with better eyesight than you will mock you for having a monitor with a high pixel pitch.

Seems as if people have had great results with the 32" or 37" 1080P models.

At Quakecon 2007 there was a whole row right up front with all 37" or larger 1080P screens. Crazy stuff, hauling all that...

I'm using a 15.4" WXGA notebook right now and the small pixel pitch hurts my eyes. Everyone around me is springing for WSXGA and a few of my friends are even comfortable using WUXGA on a 17". I need a LCD TV with its huge pixel pitch to preserve my eyesight.

 

[TheVrolok]

I use my 42" 1080p LCD as a monitor for gaming and occasionally web browsing. I use zoom during web browsing so text size isn't an issue there. However, icon size, menu text, etc. are pretty tough to read when I'm sitting on my couch which is probably about 8 feet from the TV. I don't think I could sit that far away and use it consistently. I go DVI-HDMI for my connection, I don't see why you'd do anything else. If you're using a HDTV, you might as well use a digital connection.

 

[PingSpike]

A lot has been covered, but:

Pro:
Lower resolution results in less or cheaper graphics card upgrades to maintain decent framerates at native resolution.

Con:
Don't most LCD TVs do a lot of post processing that introduces more input lag then usual?

 

[AnitaPeterson]

There are no cons to using the TV... especially if you're using DVI-HDMI... unless you're one of those people who absolutely need insane resolutions... as for lag and such, as long as the response time is under 8 ms, I guarantee you won't have any quality issues.

Now, since many of you here seem to be exerts in this matter, and the OP should be pleased by now, can you visit my thread for some advice and opinions? thanks much!
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2145646&enterthread=y

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: TheVrolok
However, icon size, menu text, etc. are pretty tough to read when I'm sitting on my couch which is probably about 8 feet from the TV.

Try increasing the DPI setting under Display/Advanced.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: TheVrolok
However, icon size, menu text, etc. are pretty tough to read when I'm sitting on my couch which is probably about 8 feet from the TV.

Try increasing the DPI setting under Display/Advanced.

Yeah, I could. But I probably still use my 20" LCD monitor 70% of the time I'm on my computer and I'm just entirely too lazy to switch back and forth.

 

[KrispyKreme50]

Thank you all for the answers.