Ordered a U2412M, should I send it back and get a TV?

FoxEye

FoxEye

FoxEye

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The Dell I'm sure is a cracking monitor; it's sitting here next to me and I haven't even unboxed it yet.

But my colleagues at work suggested I'd have been better off buying a 26" Full-HD LCD TV which I can also use as a monitor.

The Dell has a few negatives:
No 1:1 pixel mapping
(16:9, whilst not my preferred ratio, is now a standard for consoles and media players.)
No HDMI
Expensive (compared to TN panels, compared to TVs too?)

As I understand it, due to "oversampling" I need a TV with a DVI connector, as I won't be connecting the PC to the TV via HDMI. Apart from that, since I've never considered a TV as a monitor before, I'm completely in the dark.

Is it a good idea? Do any of you recommend this?
 
Mostly web browsing, but also DVDs, games, and perhaps in future I might buy a console.

I don't use it for work (no photography, etc).
 
FoxEye said:
Mostly web browsing, but also DVDs, games, and perhaps in future I might buy a console.

I don't use it for work (no photography, etc).
Click to expand...

From the reviews and user feedback the U2412M seems like a good monitor for the price. The two screens you suggested have different aspect ratios, this site shows the difference in size between the two -

http://www.displaywars.com/26-inch-16x9-vs-24-inch-16x10

they are roughly the same height, the 26" Sony is wider. The U2412M has a higher resolution so you will have more vertical space on the screen when using Windows/Internet.

I think the 26" Sony will be better for console gaming/Films/DVDs and the U2412M will be better for web browsing/office work.

When it comes to PC gaming I personally prefer the 16:10 format, although which ratio is better for PC gaming is debated.

Also any particular reason for using a Sony 26" LCD for a monitor as opposed to a regular 26" monitor, I've never used a TV as a monitor so have no experience there, I don't know if there is much of a difference, apart from the speakers, TV tuner and inputs. I also think LCD TV's may have more input lag due to the internal processing, I'm not completely positive on that though.
 
Rec said:
Also any particular reason for using a Sony 26" LCD for a monitor as opposed to a regular 26" monitor, I've never used a TV as a monitor so have no experience there, I don't know if there is much of a difference, apart from the speakers, TV tuner and inputs. I also think LCD TV's may have more input lag due to the internal processing, I'm not completely positive on that though.
Click to expand...

What kind of panel are the TVs using? Is it TN or something else?

Considering the 27" TVs I'm looking at cost less than the 24" Dell I just bought, I imagine they are using a cheap panel?
 
FoxEye said:
What kind of panel are the TVs using? Is it TN or something else?

Considering the 27" TVs I'm looking at cost less than the 24" Dell I just bought, I imagine they are using a cheap panel?
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Different manufactures use different panels in there smaller size TV's for example Panasonic uses IPS panels in their 24" LCD but Samsung uses TN panels in their smaller sizes such as the 22" and 27", I'm not sure on the Sony, it's best to try and have a look in the shop, an easy way to tell if its a TN panel is to look at the screen from below, TN have terrible vertical viewing angles.

It's hard to recommend what to go for, it depends on how important each use will be for the monitor, if you do intend on connecting a console, I'd probably get a 16:9 ratio monitor and maybe something with a VA panel if online competitive gaming isn't an issue for you, it would be great for films and browsing the web as well.

Did you want to connect the LCD to an aerial to receive Freeview on it?

Is 23" too small?
 
Rec said:
Different manufactures use different panels in there smaller size TV's for example Panasonic uses IPS panels in their 24" LCD but Samsung uses TN panels in their smaller sizes such as the 22" and 27", I'm not sure on the Sony, it's best to try and have a look in the shop, an easy way to tell if its a TN panel is to look at the screen from below, TN have terrible vertical viewing angles.
Click to expand...

The majority of TVs actually use VA panels to maximise contast (which is generally desirable for TV viewing) and minimise costs. Obviously responsiveness does suffer as a result but at the distance that most TVs are viewed from this isn't usually much of an issue for most people. TN panels are actually quite rare - Samsung TVs are more ubiquitous than TVs from any other manufacturer and the vast majority are VA panels, from their smaller and more basic models to their high-end 3D TVs. Many TVs from Sony and Toshiba also use VA panels - those that don't tend to use IPS panels rather than TN panels. LG are perhaps the only manufacturer to use only IPS or TN panels for their TVs - they refuse to have anything to do with Samsung et al. and their panels.

Sorry - PCM2 the nitpicker is back from his travels. ;)

Looking at like-for-like price the TVs currently available for around £300 like the U2412M will have considerably lower pixel pitch and resolution. They also tend to have inferior OSD functionality for PC usage with poorer colour accuracy without software-based intervention. Input lag is generally a problem too as is pixel responsiveness. There are always exceptions - LG have made some very good IPS-based TVs that I would consider good candidates for gaming with good default colour accuracy, low input lag and relatively low visible trailing (as far as TVs go). They tend to retail for more than the U2412M and I wouldn't recommend them unless you are going to sit a reasonable distance from them. The adjustability of the U2412M and its handling of pixel overdrive is better than I have seen on any TV to dat, regardless of price.
 
I know Samsung uses VA panels in their 32" and above LCD's, I wasn't sure about the smaller sizes such as the 22" and 27", I assumed they were TN after reading some user reviews complaining of the really poor viewing angles.
 
Well, having unboxed the Dell I think I'll keep it. It's a lovely, lovely screen.

I played a bit of Singularity on it and can't see any ghosting/overdrive. I guess my eyes just aren't sensitive to that sort of thing.

And I think in future *if* I get a console I'll just have to get an HDTV to go with it. I so much prefer 16:10 for PC use, I couldn't lose the extra height.
 
Is it not realy the limitation of the source device and not monitor that is at fault? Sure some of dells monitors accommodate the poor quality source devices (aka consoles). But you put in a solid source device it should insert its own black bars and adjust the output resolution to match the display it is going in to. Am i wrong ?
 
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