20" HDTV as computer/console display??

[blueswitch]

so I'm debating on getting an HDTV in a few weeks and using it as a computer monitor.

Here's my deal, I just moved and my 32" HDTV (150lb CRT) is at my brothers. Now I'm temporarily moving in with a guy for about 4 months or so, and the space is limited. I really might just sell my old TV because I'm tired of lugging such a big thing around.

I'm debating on replacing my computers Samsung 17" LCD monitor with about a 20" or so LCD HDTV and that way not only will I have TV in my small bedroom but can hook up my Wii, and xbox, etc... How well does this work? and can anyone recommend a TV? I obviously don't want to spend $350-$400 on a HDTV and have it look worse than my old 17" monitor did for computing.

I made a post in displays section but got no replies. So I'm hoping the gamers have an answer.

[Salomon Orangge]

Mine's a little bigger than 20", but I hooked up my 42" LCD tv to my computer and use it from the couch. 1920x1080 screen resolution is very nice.

[jaymz9350]

the biggest problem i would have is the resolution. a 20" is probably going to be 1366x768 and for me that's not enough vertical pixels. my lappy is 1280x768 and it drives me nuts. i personally would go for a PC monitor and a tuner card

[Daleon]

As long as you get a monitor thats 1080p so you can get the high desktop res then you will be happy. I use my 37" Westy for everything. Has my cable, tivo, xbox, ps2, wii, and PC all hooked into it.

For a 22" your looking in the $250 range, for a 24" its the $400-450 range. Main thing is INPUTS. Atleast 1 HDMI-HDCP and DVI-D ofcourse. A Component YPbPR highly recommended. Then any extra S-Video, Composite, etc is all the better.

[blueswitch]

here's what I was kind of looking at with a quick newegg search. I guess it's 22" and claims it does a resolution of 1680x1050.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889107035

[Romulox]

here's what I was kind of looking at with a quick newegg search. I guess it's 22" and claims it does a resolution of 1680x1050.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889107035

I was thinking about getting the same monitor for a xbox 360 and my computer.
Its a computer monitor with a TV tuner. All the TV shows will be scretched
becuase its acutally 16:10 not 16:9. Thats why I didn't get it for the xbox 360.

[blueswitch]

I was thinking about getting the same monitor for a xbox 360 and my computer.
Its a computer monitor with a TV tuner. All the TV shows will be scretched
becuase its acutally 16:10 not 16:9. Thats why I didn't get it for the xbox 360.

so did you end up getting a different TV? I would imagine...although not ideal....there'd be a way to letterbox that TV to display 16:9 content without stretching it.

[Daleon]

Do you really need something with a built in tuner? These days who watches OTA signals, except maybe a cpl HD channels but you would still need to setup an antannea on roof.

For the price and no DVI I wouldn't go with it myself. Some others may want to consider.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824014158

[blueswitch]

well the tuner would be nice, there's standard cable hook up in the room. Plus an HDTV would have some inputs for some consoles, where with a monitor I'd need some sort of AV/switch with VGA or DVI/audio out. Plus I've heard they make the the output on anything 480p and up look like junk. My concern is how good/poor an HDTV will look on the PC side, I don't want to have a bad desktop experience since more than likely the consoles will probably go to a bigger TV in a handfull of months when I move again. Well maybe keep some classics on the small HDTV like Dreamcast or Saturn.

[Daleon]

If you got older consoles, then yeah you need something that does S-video and Composite. I guess the viewsonic is prolly the best fit, but there are complaints about it when used as a PC Monitor. It only has VGA port, which some say text is poor. Can sometimes be tweaked in windows with Cleartext, etc. Also multiple complaints about the HDMI port when used with a PC. As a TV its great, but for PC your taking your chances.

[sMaCk III]

well im plannin on using my 32" tv with the hdmi port it all depends on what ur graphix card can handle and if it supports the hdmi features...

[blueswitch]

well it sounds like I really have to take it on a case by case basis on if an HDTV will work well as a PC monitor. If I decide to do this I'll really have to shop it out and come back for opinions. It sounds like I'll be fine as long as I buy a good TV, right now my Samsung LCD is VGA in only and I think it looks great, so maybe since I haven't gone DVI yet it's not as big of a deal?

[blueswitch]

Well after looking online a bit over my lunch break, it looks like that viewsonic is the only TV around that lower 20-something size with a resolution higher than 768 vertical. I dug up some review on yahoo where a guy tried to use it as a monitor and the auto adjust kept positioning the screen to the lower right cutting things off.

So anyway....does anyone know of an AV switcher that has component in and VGA out?