Opinions about using a TV as monitor

rezelute · 07 Oct 2010

I was thinking about replacing my 27" (1920x1080 res) monitor for 37" TV (HD 1080p 1920x1080 res) so i have a common screen for watching movies/gaming/browsing. I want to have a common screen mostly for space saving and so i dont have to bother switching outputs everytime i want to watch a movie. So i just want people's opinion about using a TV as a monitor (pros/cons) if you have a 37" or higher.
Graphics card i have is nVidia 260GTX.
[If you have a TV hooked to a PC a screenshot would be nice]

DirtyElf · 07 Oct 2010

a 37" tv is pretty large for just web browsing... i find myself having to actually "look" at different parts of the screen... unlike my 23" monitor where i can just see the whole screen at one time.

it kinda depends on how close you sit to the tv/monitor as well..

Keiichi25 · 07 Oct 2010

rezelute said:

I was thinking about replacing my 27" (1920x1080 res) monitor for 37" TV (HD 1080p 1920x1080 res) so i have a common screen for watching movies/gaming/browsing. I want to have a common screen mostly for space saving and so i dont have to bother switching outputs everytime i want to watch a movie. So i just want people's opinion about using a TV as a monitor (pros/cons) if you have a 37" or higher.
Graphics card i have is nVidia 260GTX.
[If you have a TV hooked to a PC a screenshot would be nice]

As long as your card can handle the resolution and also for you sitting at a better distance away, it should be fine. For the most part, the cons of having a larger screen is mostly how close you sit in front of it. Unless your eyesight is going bad, you generally don't need to be close to a 37" television set to use as a computer monitor, especially at the resolution you would be at.

kword88 · 07 Oct 2010

i use a 47" LCD as my monitor. the only con i can think of is that when the same image stays on the screen for a long time (such as your desktop), you get some ghosting. so sometimes you can see shadows of icons and the taskbar when you're watching TV.

DirtyElf · 07 Oct 2010

kword88 said:

i use a 47" LCD as my monitor. the only con i can think of is that when the same image stays on the screen for a long time (such as your desktop), you get some ghosting. so sometimes you can see shadows of icons and the taskbar when you're watching TV.

just set your screensaver to engage after one minute, should cut down on that some. set it to a blank screen as well, or something with alot of motion.

rezelute · 07 Oct 2010

Humm thanks all then i might have to move the furniture around abit to get more distance from seat

. Also about the ghosting issue while watching TV, im not really that fussed as i dont intend to use the TV as a TV just as a monitor for the PC

(There are no monitors >27inches for prices less than £1500)

Ponmayilal · 07 Oct 2010

rezelute said:

.....[If you have a TV hooked to a PC a screenshot would be nice]

I did have many screenshots of my 42" LG LCD TV hooked up to a Zotac Mini-PC but deleted them after posting in Team-BHP forum. Though it is used as a Media Center, I do use it for occasional browsing using a Lenova mutimedia remote and keyboard. You can have a look at it here . (I hope redirecting to my thread/post in another forum is not prohibited here. You can view the pictures there in full resolution.) I shall try to take a few screenshots in a day or two, showing how the web looks therein and post it here.

Solarstarshines · 07 Oct 2010

It shouldnt matter i use a 37 inch vizio for mivies a 23 inch for games and regular pc action

The only draw back to browsing on the tv is you have to change the icon sixze to accomindate for the lack of size also if you are going through hdmi you have to switch the sound back in fourth through the playback process

It is no bother but if you plan on useing dual screen to view movies and do pc you have to kinda box it all to fit on the monitor to do both i find it easier to do one at a time

besides most of the time me and my familly watch cable only switching we do is to catch a movie download or some streamed programs

and to also use our home thearter system all comingled together

boohbah · 07 Oct 2010

kword88 said:

i use a 47" LCD as my monitor. the only con i can think of is that when the same image stays on the screen for a long time (such as your desktop), you get some ghosting. so sometimes you can see shadows of icons and the taskbar when you're watching TV.

+1 i also get screenburn particularly if i browse for a while the toolbars burn in a bit ,however there is a fix
JScreenFix deluxe - JADS Limited - Innovative Software Solutions

boohbah · 07 Oct 2010

rezelute said:

Humm thanks all then i might have to move the furniture around abit to get more distance from seat

. Also about the ghosting issue while watching TV, im not really that fussed as i dont intend to use the TV as a TV just as a monitor for the PC

(There are no monitors >27inches for prices less than £1500)

if you have screen burn , it will show regardless whether you watch TV or have the pc running, when you look at a page it will show on it, wallpapers show it and if you watch a movie via media center then in certain scene colours/ lighting it will also show.
trust me im a screen burn victim