Ever wonder if a TV works for a monitor?

Wonder no more.  It looks fantasic, and it is very cheap.  The down side is the resolution.  It is 1360 x 768, which is less than the typical comuter monitor.  This means that you actually get a little less workspace, but everthing is so much bigger that you can, for instance, make the track height a little smaller, and fit the same number of tracks (in track view) on the screen.  The up side is that because every thing is bigger, they are still easier to read than the equivalent number of tracks on a 19" computer monitor.
 
Here's the best part: you get this gigantic screen (very impressive to the client, very easy on the eyes) for just $250 at Best Buy right now.  It is the Dynex model.  I think the reason they are dumping them is because they are not 1080p, rather they're 720p.  This means that you fewer vertical pixels.  I am not missing them, as you simply adjust what is seen on the screen, and because everthing is so much BIGGER.  For contrast, the monitors on either side of the center one are 17"
 
Bottom line, is I can sit three feet away from the monitor, and that makes things very easy on the eyes.
 
Poco
 

 
 

I'm tellin' ya, it looks and works great.  For the price it can't be beat.

Amazing.  About 26 Christmases ago I was excited to get my first real computer monitor from my wife so that I could STOP using the television for a monitor.

eikelbijter


That resolution is too low, especially in that size, unless you have bad eyes. 1080P is the way to go, although 1920x1200 is even better. I've been wanting to get a 32" 1080P TV but the prices keep dropping so I'm still waiting for a couple more months. At some point they had an LG for $350, which comes to about $400 including tax and LCD recycling fee ($16!!!!). Not bad.....

R

I've thought about going to a 120o monitor, but the extra money doesn't seem worth it for 120 pixels.

Mod Bod


I just got a 40" 1080p TV for my studio with the intention of adding it to the mix.

I have a dual monitor video card.   What is the easiest and least painful method of adding a third video out?

It's according to what you want it show. If it will just be mirroring one of the others you can just get a splitter.

Twigman


I've tried my Samsung 40" LED TV via HDMI...it's a lille blurry even at native 1920 x 1050

That's the model I have.

Mod Bod


I just got a 40" 1080p TV for my studio with the intention of adding it to the mix.

I have a dual monitor video card.   What is the easiest and least painful method of adding a third video out?

Get another video card.  Even another dual-head (eventually you could use four monitors!).  Without knowing exactly what current dual-head card you have it would be difficult to say what trouble you may run into but I have run multiple video cards (from various manufacturers) for years with no problems.  I ran two dual-head cards for a while.  I eventually backed down to three monitors because (physical) desk real-estate was getting to be a premium.

HumbleNoise


Poco, Do you need HDMI out of your video card to run that?

Anyone?

I've got it hooked up now and since it's about five and a half feet from where I'm sitting right now, I would say that it really doesn't knock me out with it's appearance.

I'm getting better results from my two 22" wide screens at 30 inches away.

It was worth a try.  If I ever do any video stuff it might be cool.

cornieleous

HumbleNoise

HumbleNoise


Poco, Do you need HDMI out of your video card to run that?

Anyone?

 
Almost all of these TVs have VGA (DSub) these days. DVI/HDMI will have less issues with ghosting than VGA and is of course, digital, which can in some cases produce a better image (not always the case especially at lower resolutions).

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You can (in most cases - Check the specs of the TV) use VGA, HDMI (if your video card supports it), or do what I did, and get a simple DVI to HDMI converter.  You need to check to make sure the cable converter does not interfere with the socket location on the monitor.  Mine interferes slightly with a part of the monitor case, but not so much that I can't fit it in.  I love mine to death.  It makes the little 17" monitors on either side (I run a three monitor rig) look like toys.  Since I wear glasses for distance viewing, I found myself constantly taking them off to look at my old 19" monitor, and just pulling it in close to me.  The way my new monitor is setup, I am about 36" away from it, and every thing is crystal clear, not to mention it is impressive as heck.  The clients can't miss the gigantor screen, and nowadays, with everthing "in the box" it's nice to have some pizazz.
 
There is not a hint of fuzziness or pixellation.  Of course there is the downside of not being able to display 3 point fonts :)  The obvious difference, of course, is that each pixel is larger than those found on a VGA monitor.  This is compensated for by an increased viewing distance.  I am very happy I took this rout instead of shelling out big bux for a large format screen.  I feel like I definitely did the right thing.
 
Poco

I'm currently using a TV purchased new about 6 months ago for my Internet PC because the old 22" LCD monitor kicked the bucket, anyway the picture quality isn't as good on the TV. 

My bother inlaw uses a much larger TV 46 inch but again the picture quality could be better. 

Maybe one day I might get a larger '60 inch' TV mostly for watching TV but also be able to quickly switch to Cakewalk forums..... ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!

If you like it, fine, but I'd rather a smaller monitor with a higher resolution. Bigger is not always better. Besides Dynex is not a brand I am familiar with so I'm skeptical. 

daveny5


If you like it, fine, but I'd rather a smaller monitor with a higher resolution. Bigger is not always better. Besides Dynex is not a brand I am familiar with so I'm skeptical. 

Why, so you can look at all that hi rez material with a magnifying glass?  I'm telling you, what I am looking at right now is of excellent quality, and I don't have to squint to see it.  Smaller=Better???  I don't think that will sell.  Every one in the software shop that I work in wants the biggest monitor the company will give them, and duals on top of that.  Your preference makes no sense.
 
Insofar as the brand goes, Best Buy sells and warrantees it.  The monitor it replaced was a Sceptre.  I never heard of that either, but it has hummed along just fine in my studio for four years

Why, so you can look at all that hi rez material with a magnifying glass? I'm telling you, what I am looking at right now is of excellent quality, and I don't have to squint to see it. Smaller=Better??? I don't think that will sell. Every one in the software shop that I work in wants the biggest monitor the company will give them, and duals on top of that.

I have to agree completely if we are considering resolution and how things look (vs. resolution and what you can fit on screen). I started with two 19" monitors; had them for years and was always leaning in to see things. When I started shopping for an HDTV screen I thought anything larger than 32" would be a disaster and look pixelated at close viewing distance. It turns out that there is quite a range of pixel pitch on different TVs of the same size, and after all my shopping around I settled for this 46" monster, which looks very clear. It actually fits in roughly the same desk space as the two 19" monitors. I cannot even detect the pixel structure unless I am within about 24-30 inches or so of it, and cannot really make out the individual pixels until about 14" from it. On average I sit about 4.5 feet from it, so this is completely a non issue. Now that I am always comfortably leaning back in my chair, I don't have to worry about straining my eyes. I can read 12 pt. text on it from about 8-10 feet away. I couldn't see going back to a small monitor, and the only thing I would replace this with is another large monitor with a higher resolution - but nothing close to affordable is on the market in this screen size with higher resolution than 1080P.

Panasonic 42" plasma on HDMI, brilliant picture, I use it for blue ray disc viewing. At this size, close up, you don't look at the screen you have to move your head to look around it. For proper PC use a 24" monitor is easier on the eyes as generally you sit less than 3' from the screen a bigger screen makes you sit further away which seems to defeat the object.