HDTV as a monitor?

Wakinglimb · 24 Mar 2006 at 23:19

Does anyone use a HDTV as a monitor? If so, what's it like for web surfing and text reading etc?

HEADRAT · 25 Mar 2006 at 08:55

Well I have a 50" DLP that runs at 720p (1280 x 720) and what can you say its just like a 50" desktop, I'm not sure that I would want to type lots of word documents on it but for surfing the net its fine!.

HEADRAT

Bomag · 26 Mar 2006 at 00:23

I have a HTPC connected to a HDTV via DVI and VGA. If you can get 1:1 pixel matching via DVI then text is readable but with a fairly low resolution. If you connect via VGA or HDMI then the TV will scale the picture and look fuzzy and be generally poor at displaying text.

Wakinglimb · 26 Mar 2006 at 03:50

So basically it isn't workable as the only monitor.

Thanks for the replies.

FrankJH · 26 Mar 2006 at 07:03

Bomag said:
I have a HTPC connected to a HDTV via DVI and VGA. If you can get 1:1 pixel matching via DVI then text is readable but with a fairly low resolution. If you connect via VGA or HDMI then the TV will scale the picture and look fuzzy and be generally poor at displaying text.

Maybe in your experience of an HDTV - I have used a Samsung 26" HDTV via vga and text looks fine at 1366*768 ( full hdtv res)

Totally usable to read forums like this or normal txt based sites

HEADRAT · 26 Mar 2006 at 09:10

Bomag said:
I have a HTPC connected to a HDTV via DVI and VGA. If you can get 1:1 pixel matching via DVI then text is readable but with a fairly low resolution. If you connect via VGA or HDMI then the TV will scale the picture and look fuzzy and be generally poor at displaying text.

I would say there is something very wrong with your HTPC or HDTV then, 1280 x 720 is an acceptable resolution and I run mine via HMDI and text is sharp and readable.

This photo taken of the screen shows what I mean and it actaully looks much better in real life. (this is a jpeg image and has been resized)

There is no reason why I couldn't use my 50" DLP as a primary monitor, I'm just not sure I'd want to for everyday use.

FrankJH said:
1366*768 ( full hdtv res)

1366*768 is not a HDTV res it is your panel resolution, don't ask me why they decided to make panel resolutions different to HDTV resolutions, HDTV resolutions are:-

720p = 1280x720 Progressive.
1080i = 1920x1080 Interlaced.
1080p = 1920x1080 Progressive.

The annoying thing with a panel of 1366*768 means that there will always be some scaling going on, even if fed from a HCPC at 1366*768 the original highdef matial will be at 720p meaning it is being scaled to 1366*768.

HEADRAT

Runningkid · 26 Mar 2006 at 10:15

i ahve a 42" for bf2, most of the time iw atch TV, but surfing is fine, altho u mite ahve to get used to the big screen

FrankJH · 26 Mar 2006 at 16:15

HEADRAT said:
1366*768 is not a HDTV res it is your panel resolution, don't ask me why they decided to make panel resolutions different to HDTV resolutions, HDTV resolutions are:-

720p = 1280x720 Progressive.
1080i = 1920x1080 Interlaced.
1080p = 1920x1080 Progressive.

The annoying thing with a panel of 1366*768 means that there will always be some scaling going on, even if fed from a HCPC at 1366*768 the original highdef matial will be at 720p meaning it is being scaled to 1366*768.

HEADRAT

Very true , dohhhh to me, however 720p is the lowest hidef res that we could have been talking about ( 1280* 720 isnt that much different from 1366*768) and I was trying to state ( even though badly I admit ) that at this (relatively) low res, forums etc are still highly readable

smit101 · 26 Mar 2006 at 16:57

Wakinglimb said:
Does anyone use a HDTV as a monitor? If so, what's it like for web surfing and text reading etc?

The LG LX2R series of HDTV's are to all intents and purposes high grade flat panel pc monitors with built in TV tuner,they are capable of 1:1 pixel mapping, so with the resolution set @ the panels native res of 1366x768 text is pin sharp,no overscan,no blurring,easily as good in this area as any pc monitor I've seen.

So if you require a TV for HTPC usage the LX2Rs are superb,you also get DVI,HDMI and Component inputs,3 high definition inputs for a panel in the LG's price range is rare if not unheard of,there is a 26" and 32" version.

If you want some photographic proof of the pin sharp text I can post a pic later,at work presently.

Wakinglimb · 26 Mar 2006 at 17:40

Pics would be cool, how is yours the 26 or 32 inch version?

FrankJH · 26 Mar 2006 at 19:25

smit101 said:
The LG LX2R series of HDTV's are to all intents and purposes high grade flat panel pc monitors with built in TV tuner,they are capable of 1:1 pixel mapping, so with the resolution set @ the panels native res of 1366x768 text is pin sharp,no overscan,no blurring,easily as good in this area as any pc monitor I've seen.

So if you require a TV for HTPC usage the LX2Rs are superb,you also get DVI,HDMI and Component inputs,3 high definition inputs for a panel in the LG's price range is rare if not unheard of,there is a 26" and 32" version.

If you want some photographic proof of the pin sharp text I can post a pic later,at work presently.

While I would agree that its rare, I blieve the LG's "tv" electronics are substandard. Maybe your indication that its a monitor with additional tv facilities explain this.

What I mean is, for example there is NO automatic input switching on this model ( I have one and wanting to upgrade back to a Sammy 26/32 mainly because of this) ie if you are watching a analogue tv channel and you switch on something connected to an input, either by scart, hdmi, dvi or comp this price of tv should automatically change to that channel and it doesnt. I really think this is a basic thing that has been missed. It may be cheep in comparison to ohter hdtv's of its size, however to have so many "manual " inputs is silly in my opinion.

The picture is ok with a set top box but I still think the Sammy is sharper and clearer with the same stb ( I have moved house so it could be quality of ariel or reception but I dont think so).

Also I dont know if this is a fault with only my set , but I have read on other forums it isnt, and the "arc" function with changes the picture format from widescreen to 4:3 etc etc does lose its place in the middle of transmissions and dvd;s occassionally flicking from one format to another and back again - its very quick and all you see is a couple of flashes but none the less frustrating.

I would personally recommend a Sammy instead

smit101 · 26 Mar 2006 at 19:33

Wakinglimb said:
Pics would be cool, how is yours the 26 or 32 inch version?

it's the 32,will try and get a decent pic for you later.Check the web to,plenty of info around,several threads exist on here also,just enter LG32LX2R into the search box.

Here's one.LG32LX2R thread

BubbySoup · 26 Mar 2006 at 19:55

I have an LG 32LX2R connected to my HTPC.

I would not want to use it as a main monitor - it's too big.

Maybe the 26" one would be ok though.

smit101 · 26 Mar 2006 at 20:53

FrankJH said:
While I would agree that its rare, I blieve the LG's "tv" electronics are substandard. Maybe your indication that its a monitor with additional tv facilities explain this.

What I mean is, for example there is NO automatic input switching on this model ( I have one and wanting to upgrade back to a Sammy 26/32 mainly because of this) ie if you are watching a analogue tv channel and you switch on something connected to an input, either by scart, hdmi, dvi or comp this price of tv should automatically change to that channel and it doesnt. I really think this is a basic thing that has been missed. It may be cheep in comparison to ohter hdtv's of its size, however to have so many "manual " inputs is silly in my opinion.

The picture is ok with a set top box but I still think the Sammy is sharper and clearer with the same stb ( I have moved house so it could be quality of ariel or reception but I dont think so).

Also I dont know if this is a fault with only my set , but I have read on other forums it isnt, and the "arc" function with changes the picture format from widescreen to 4:3 etc etc does lose its place in the middle of transmissions and dvd;s occassionally flicking from one format to another and back again - its very quick and all you see is a couple of flashes but none the less frustrating.

I would personally recommend a Sammy instead

TBH,I don't use any of the scart inputs on my set so the lack of auto switching hasn't really come to my attention,seems strange that they would omit such a standard feature,its not too difficult to select required input via the remote though.

All in all I get on really well with my LG,I haven't noticed the aspect ratio problems you speak of either.The TV picture quality via the nebula digi tv card is excellent for an HDTV displaying SDTV content,you can't expect miracles in this department as it's designed to display HD material and this is something at which it excels.

Its brilliant for general pc usage e.g web browsing etc due to the pin sharp pixel mapping,PC gaming is superb due to the quick response time and excellent contrast ratio and XBOX 360 via component is stunning,I'm sorry you haven't had as much luck with your set,but I can only judge the 32LX2R based on my own experiences with it,and luckily so far,they've all been great.

Bomag · 27 Mar 2006 at 01:25

The LG 32LX2R is probably the best HDTV for PC use, however, the blacks on TV output are not brilliant so I got a Hitachi 32LD7200.

Before I got my HDTV I tested a number of sets with my laptop via VGA and HDMI and they all scaled the picture to some degree. The picture was readable but not very sharp; some may not notice the difference but I find it unacceptable. I have a Dell FPW 2405 and the has the same issue - the picture over DVI is considerably better than VGA, although my mother cannot see the difference! (she wanted one for her birthday + Christmas but as she couldn't tell the difference she got a Belinea 20"instead).