Multi Use Monitor vs HDTV?

What is the difference?

LG M237WD-PM 23" LCD Monitor with Built-in Digital TV Tuner - 1080p, 1920x1080, 20000:1 Dynamic, 5ms, 2x HDMI at TigerDirect.com

It would seem so, but the way that they phrase their descriptions seems to imply a difference. The only thing that I have noticed so far, is that this monitor has more connection options than most HDTVs...although I don't know what a RS232 or service port would be used for?

Only three things make this unit less than ideal in my opinion, being the red base, only 5ms response time and being unknown whether the stand is totally removable for wall mounting. The last item is what I dislike most about my Acer monitor...only the foot of the base comes off, leaving the vertical leg portion dangling.

Yeah from the picture doesn't look promising on taking off the pedestal. I can tell you I just bought a 32" Samsung, and I had to put the pedestal on myself in order to use it until my wall mount came in. It has a nice cover to cover up the area where the pedestal is removed.

Oh, and I guess having a VGA and or DVI makes it able to be used as a monitor, even though most vid cards nowadays have HDMI, but I guess they are assuming some people still have older hardware. Also, i guess if you had non HDCP compliant hardware, you could still at least watch HDCP content downrezed to the other ports.

RS232 is serial and service ports usually are in case they come out with new Firmware, or need to fix some corrupted firmware for example.

Yes, but if that stand doesn't come off, it doesn't make much sense for it to have VESA screw holes, because that would look pretty strange with that stand dangling. Your comment regarding the RS232 and service ports makes sense to me now, thanks.

Yeah it doesn't really make sense. Well, you could try to locate it in a store somewhere to look at it. I do that a lot, I go to Best Buy, look at stuff, then order at newegg.

valtonray said:

i think the OP means the red line at the base and i doubt seriously that could be removed in a practical way.
it has a decent contrast, what would seem to be respectable built in speakers(not suprising it is in fact a tv and NOT a computer monitor.) the 5ms response time isn't going to be that bad, it's actually decent enough and your not going to see much ghosting in gaming, but true 2ms is ideal. overall not bad if you want the built in tuner, otherwise i'd do some more looking you can find better deals.

I'm quite certain that there are better monitors, but not at that kind of price. A physical inspection at the store would be a good idea, but I've become spoiled by the ease of online purchasing, and about the only store that I ever go to is WalMart for groceries.

Costco.com has a 24" HDTV with 2ms response, 1080p for $199. It's an offbrand, but hey you get Costcos unmatched return policya nd extra year of warranty....