A HDTV or a computer monitor?

[Ant]

Hello.

HDTV (smart is OK [no Roku -- hate their missing numerical keypads RCs; also need to include internal OTA TV antenna tuner], but preferred not) or a computer monitor that is over 20" and not so expensive? Mainly, it will be used for old computers (e.g., decade old PCs and MacBook Pros that still use VGA, DVI, DisplayPort, etc.) and future (HDMI including 4K) computers. Other devices might be used like AppleTV, cable boxes, disc (DVDs too) players, maybe VCRs, etc. It will be used for basic computing, Internet, watching videos, etc. Any recommendations to buy from online (Amazon) and local stores (e.g., Costco, Walmart, Fry's Electronics, Target, etc. in So. CA, USA)?

Thank you for reading and hopefully answering soon. :)
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[Jim Wilkins]

"Ant" wrote in message news:JO6dnaaRqftYQOLCnZ2dnUU7-***@earthlink.com...

Hello.

HDTV (smart is OK [no Roku -- hate their missing numerical keypads RCs; also
need to include internal OTA TV antenna tuner], but preferred not) or a
computer monitor that is over 20" and not so expensive? Mainly, it will be
used for old computers (e.g., decade old PCs and MacBook Pros that still use
VGA, DVI, DisplayPort, etc.) and future (HDMI including 4K) computers. Other
devices might be used like AppleTV, cable boxes, disc (DVDs too) players,
maybe VCRs, etc. It will be used for basic computing, Internet, watching
videos, etc. Any recommendations to buy from online (Amazon) and local
stores (e.g., Costco, Walmart, Fry's Electronics, Target, etc. in So. CA,
USA)?

Thank you for reading and hopefully answering soon. :)

======================

I can't suggest a currently available model because I'm using an old 22"
Vizio HDTV+monitor, but the idea is good. The VGA output of pre-2010
laptops running Win 7 Media Center to play and record TV is sharp enough to
distinguish 720p from 1080i. 22" is a large image at a computer monitor
viewing distance of about the size of the screen, comparable to viewing a
72" screen from 6' away. It's big enough to legibly display two full pages
of a .pdf such as tax instructions.

The 22", a 19" second display for the Internet laptop and two Altec speakers
completely fill the top shelf of my computer bench. Your message is on the
upper 19" display, my response on the laptop, live news and weather on the
22" and a paused recording showing the extended weather forecast on the 7MC
laptop.

I use laptops because they consume much less power from my solar system and
one or both are easily removed to clear the computer bench's antistatic mat
for electronics assembly and test. Older, thicker ones meant to replace
desktops are easily expanded with a second hard drive and plug-in expansion
cards.

The personal considerations are the sharp focal range of your eyes and
finding or modifying a comfortable enough chair you can both type and
recline in. I made new side plates for an office chair to raise the back
enough to support my head and remove the arms so the chair stores under the
keyboard shelf.

[Jim Wilkins]

"Jim Wilkins" wrote in message news:rlpodc$beu$***@dont-email.me...

"Ant" wrote in message
...
===========

Some HDTV / monitors, like mine, have 1680 x 1050 resolution instead of 1920
x 1080 full HD, meaning they cut a little off the edges off a 1080i image.
I've never noticed a significant difference when watching on both the
monitor and a window with the correct HD aspect ratio on the laptop display.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-T220HD-22-LCD-HDTV-720p-1680x1050-HDMI-DVI-VGA-Scratch-and-Dent/272327731236

[Jim Wilkins]

"Jim Wilkins" wrote in message news:rlsjl5$ms1$***@dont-email.me...

"Ant" wrote in message
...
===========

Some HDTV / monitors, like mine, have 1680 x 1050 resolution instead of 1920
x 1080 full HD, meaning they cut a little off the edges off a 1080i image.
I've never noticed a significant difference when watching on both the
monitor and a window with the correct HD aspect ratio on the laptop display.
------------------------

Looking closely I still don't see a significant difference at the edges
between the 1680x1050 monitor and the uncropped, but smaller, as-broadcast
image in a window on the laptop screen. There might be an extra window on a
distant building or another leaf on a branch, that's all. The important
elements of the picture are typically in the central 2/3 of the frame. Fine
print disclaimers at the very bottom of ads appear on both screens.

A few years ago I looked for a 24" TV/monitor and found many with only 720p
resolution. At monitor distance my vision is good enough to see the
difference between 720p and 1080i, such as whether or not individual hairs
on an announcer's head are visible. The resolution is listed as a property
of recordings. I set this Vizio to display a 1080i broadcast slightly
cropped around the edges rather than compressing it to fit the screen.

[r***@optonline.net]

Sorry to jump in here, since I missed the original post, but I have a Dell
desktop squirreled away in my entertainment center and hooked up to my 65" Sony
Bravia TV as a monitor and the picture is fantastic. I sit there at night
enjoying Youtube and any other videos I want to watch and the HD picture can't
be beat. Just my two cents worth. If this hahs noting to do with this thread,
sorry to jump in.

Post by Ant
Hello.
HDTV (smart is OK [no Roku -- hate their missing numerical keypads RCs; also
need to include internal OTA TV antenna tuner], but preferred not) or a
computer monitor that is over 20" and not so expensive? Mainly, it will be
used for old computers (e.g., decade old PCs and MacBook Pros that still use
VGA, DVI, DisplayPort, etc.) and future (HDMI including 4K) computers. Other
devices might be used like AppleTV, cable boxes, disc (DVDs too) players,
maybe VCRs, etc. It will be used for basic computing, Internet, watching
videos, etc. Any recommendations to buy from online (Amazon) and local
stores (e.g., Costco, Walmart, Fry's Electronics, Target, etc. in So. CA,
USA)?
Thank you for reading and hopefully answering soon. :)
======================
I can't suggest a currently available model because I'm using an old 22"
Vizio HDTV+monitor, but the idea is good. The VGA output of pre-2010
laptops running Win 7 Media Center to play and record TV is sharp enough to
distinguish 720p from 1080i. 22" is a large image at a computer monitor
viewing distance of about the size of the screen, comparable to viewing a
72" screen from 6' away. It's big enough to legibly display two full pages
of a .pdf such as tax instructions.
The 22", a 19" second display for the Internet laptop and two Altec speakers
completely fill the top shelf of my computer bench. Your message is on the
upper 19" display, my response on the laptop, live news and weather on the
22" and a paused recording showing the extended weather forecast on the 7MC
laptop.
I use laptops because they consume much less power from my solar system and
one or both are easily removed to clear the computer bench's antistatic mat
for electronics assembly and test. Older, thicker ones meant to replace
desktops are easily expanded with a second hard drive and plug-in expansion
cards.
The personal considerations are the sharp focal range of your eyes and
finding or modifying a comfortable enough chair you can both type and
recline in. I made new side plates for an office chair to raise the back
enough to support my head and remove the arms so the chair stores under the
keyboard shelf.

[TJ]

Post by Ant
Hello.
HDTV (smart is OK [no Roku -- hate their missing numerical keypads RCs; also need to include internal OTA TV antenna tuner], but preferred not) or a computer monitor that is over 20" and not so expensive? Mainly, it will be used for old computers (e.g., decade old PCs and MacBook Pros that still use VGA, DVI, DisplayPort, etc.) and future (HDMI including 4K) computers. Other devices might be used like AppleTV, cable boxes, disc (DVDs too) players, maybe VCRs, etc. It will be used for basic computing, Internet, watching videos, etc. Any recommendations to buy from online (Amazon) and local stores (e.g., Costco, Walmart, Fry's Electronics, Target, etc. in So. CA, USA)?
Thank you for reading and hopefully answering soon. :)

It's been many years since I bought a new monitor, maybe 5 or 6, and I
never have purchased a new HDTV, so my information may be hopelessly out
of date, but...

If your requirements were just for use with a computer, then I'd say the
monitor would give you the most bang for the buck. I'm currently using a
24" widescreen AOC monitor that I bought new on eBay five or six years
ago. It still works fine, with a picture as good as new, even after
daily use all that time. I use it on a desktop computer I assembled
myself, and use Mageia Linux as my operating system. I have three other
monitors, also used with Mageia desktop systems, but they are smaller
and have less resolution. One of them was purchased as refurbished, and
the other two came from garage sales.

But, they won't work well if you want to use them with other devices,
because they only have VGA and DVI ports. (One old Dell only has VGA.)
Oh, there are adapters that are supposed to allow the use of other
connections, but in my experience none of them work well. Computer
monitors are designed to be used with computers.

My one and only digital TV is a 19" Memorex that I bought at a
Salvation Army store about five years ago for $20. I use it to watch TV
with an antenna. It has VGA port, so could be used as a monitor. It also
has component video and audio, s-video, and composite jacks, so I CAN
connect it to a wide range of video equipment. But the problem with that
on THIS TV is that it's designed to be used natively as a TV. It can't
be set up to default to those other functions, and must be reset each
time you turn it on. (Probably a shortcoming of the firmware. Other
brands/models are probably different.) So as a TV it does a great job,
but as something else , not so good.

TJ

[Jim Wilkins]

"TJ" wrote in message news:rltkqo$5iu$***@dont-email.me...

...But the problem with that
on THIS TV is that it's designed to be used natively as a TV. It can't
be set up to default to those other functions, and must be reset each
time you turn it on. (Probably a shortcoming of the firmware. Other
brands/models are probably different.) So as a TV it does a great job,
but as something else , not so good.

TJ

=============

My Vizio powers up at the previous input setting. Since I mostly use it as a
TV I'd be happy if it always came up that way.

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

Post by Ant
Hello.
HDTV (smart is OK [no Roku -- hate their missing numerical keypads RCs;
also need to include internal OTA TV antenna tuner], but preferred not)
or a computer monitor that is over 20" and not so expensive? Mainly, it
will be used for old computers (e.g., decade old PCs and MacBook Pros
that still use VGA, DVI, DisplayPort, etc.) and future (HDMI including
4K) computers. Other devices might be used like AppleTV, cable boxes,
disc (DVDs too) players, maybe VCRs, etc. It will be used for basic
computing, Internet, watching videos, etc. Any recommendations to buy
from online (Amazon) and local stores (e.g., Costco, Walmart, Fry's
Electronics, Target, etc. in So. CA, USA)?
Thank you for reading and hopefully answering soon. :)

"Spoon feed me so I don't have to use those fancy interwebs search thingies"