Using hdtv for computer monitor

[jvh75021]

Wanted to know if anyone successfully uses an HDTV for a monitor for LabView development. A good TV can be had for half the cost of a monitor. My video card maxes out at 1600x1200 so I cannot make use of the 2560 by 1600 resolution of a good monitor and the HDTVs I am considering have resolutions of 1920 x 1080. Just wonderizing....

thanx,

jvh

(my mileage has been known to vary)  

[blawson]

I thought monitors cost half as much as HDTVs...

$125 20" widescreen Acer http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009158

and  plenty of 24" LCDs for $200.

HDTVs I've looked at start around $300.

I do have a Samsung at home that is a 25" monitor/TV - with a number of TV-type as well as VGA inputs, and a DTV tuner built in.  We use it as both the TV and the desktop monitor, saves space in a little apartment.  I think it was around $300.

[jvh75021]

I do have a Samsung at home that is a 25" monitor/TV - with a number of TV-type as well as VGA inputs, and a DTV tuner built in.  We use it as both the TV and the desktop monitor, saves space in a little apartment.  I think it was around $300.

How would you rate the quality of the image?  I suppose labView block diagrams don't need extremely high resolution so maybe it doesn't matter too much for LV. But does small text look OK on it compared to say a laptop monitor? 

thanks 

[elset191]

I don't use my TV for programming, but for watching stuff on Hulu.com or the like.  It's fine for video, but I can barely read the words on the web browser when trying to navigate to whatever website. Granted, my eye sight is leaving me lately, and I'm sitting about 15 feet away.  It's a 40" Samsung LCD

[blawson]

It's great as a monitor, nice enough as a TV.  Samsung T240HD is the model, its actually a 24".  Feels very big as a monitor, OK size for a TV.  I prefer my work setup with 2 22" LCDs.What makes a monitor good and what makes a TV good are different things.  I still question your assumption that TVs cost less than monitors.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/electronics/1292115011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_e_1_3_last 

For $300 you could easily get two decent DVI LCD monitors ($125) and a new dual-DVI out graphics card ($50).

[jvh75021]

Cost comparisons I was using, my company only buys from Dell, which offers some other brands too.

 Dell 3008WFP 30-inch Monitor $1699

Dell 3007WFP-HC 30-inch Monitor $1399

Sony 32" KDL32EX500 120Hz 1080p LCD HDTV  $629 

NEC MultiSync LCD3215 32-inch $649 

Message Edited by jvh75021 on 03-11-2010 06:53 PM

[TroyK]

Definitely go for 2x 20+ inch monitors side by side over 1x 30 inch.

FP etc on one screen, BD on the other. It can't imagine writing LabVIEW code any other way.

[jvh75021]

Good thoughts. 

I use a laptop so now I view FPs on the laptop and BDs on a 19" flat panel. The 19 is just a little too small for all the legacy BDs I deal with. Thought the 30 would be nice when I go back to text coding (just don't tell the Wire_Borg). 

[blawson]

I think those 30" monitors take two inputs.  Look at the dell 22" or 24" ultrasharp.  they are very very nice.