So I’m in the market for a new Tv. I’m going to use it as a monitor as much as a tv, since I do most of my tv watching of the internet now. My budget maxed out at 350 dollars, which includes a 200 dollar gift card I got for Best Buy. What sort of things should I look for? What format do you guys think is best? I’d certainly be interested in spending as ittle as possible, I’ve always gotten good advice here, so I look forward to your replies. Thanks!
[Mod mod]“buying advice” added to title per request of OP.[/Mod mod]
Thanks, Czarcasm!
Would buying a TV card for your computer be a better option, since computer monitors are already pretty hi-rez?
I’m in the same situation myself, with a similar budget, and the choices are so many these days it seems overwhelming.
That said, my criteria include:
- At least full HD resolution (1920 x 1080, aka 1080p) in both TV mode and monitor mode. Some don’t correct for overscan with PCs, meaning you lose part of your ouput.
- At least 2 HDMI ports, if not more
- At least 1 VGA port for computers
- Less than 8ms refresh rate
- Matte screen for less glare in daylight
Bonus points for:
- LED backlighting
- Little to no light leakage (not something you can easily search for without reading individual reviews or examining it yourself while it’s playing a dark scene)
- Built-in internet connectivity for Netflix/Hulu/Amazon (Vizio, Panasonic, Sony, maybe some others do this… but less of a deal if you’re going to hook it up to a computer anyway)
And if you don’t absolutely need TV functionality (meaning remote control, integrated TV tuner, and additional inputs), you can get higher-quality computer monitors for the same price. In that case, look for monitors made with IPS panels instead of TN for the best image quality and viewing angles. Many of them will still have integrated speakers so you can use it for online videos.
I’m not sure about things like the 120Hz, 240Hz labels and if they’re useful indicators or just marketing fluff.
As for the best buy gift card, if you have time, considering selling it on eBay and buying your TV online instead (Amazon, Newegg, etc.).
You’ll usually get a much better price to begin with, and depending your location you may not have to pay sales tax or shipping.
Oh, and I guess you didn’t mention what size you wanted.
Full HD is useful in a one-person, dual-use (computer and TV) setup because it gives you more pixels to work with, which in turn means your computer programs can fit more on the screen.
On the other hand, if your primary use is watching videos from further away, the resolution may not matter as much as the screen size. In that case, you might want to go for a bigger, lower res screen.
If this is confusing, say so and I’ll try to explain it better.
Thanks a lot, that is helpful. The more I think about it, the more a monitor may be the way to go. I may fit the computer with a tv card later.
A good 24" 1080p or maybe 27" 1920x1200 monitor would serve you better for the money. Monitors have pretty much always been ahead of TV in terms of detail and other important factors. The main advantage of TV is size - and size is only important in terms of being able to watch it from further away or having multiple people watch it at the same time. The obsession with size is otherwise nonsensical - a 24" monitor 16 inches from your face will fill up your visual field and provide far more visual information than a 60" TV 10 feet away, but if you asked a hundred people probably 95 would prefer to watch the 60" TV 10 feet away.
So if you’re going to be close up anyway, and use it as a monitor, definitely pick a monitor over a TV. A good IPS monitor will probably provide you the best overall compromise in terms of quality. I use an Asus VW246H and I’m very happy with it - but I mostly picked this monitor for speed and reactivity for gaming, rather than for watching movies. Although it’s a very good all around monitor for that, it’s hard to beat IPS panels for color accuracy and viewing angles and such.
Is a special TV card needed for HDTV, or will the monitor handle all that?
Well you need a tuner to be able to plug in a cable, antenna, or satellite feed into the monitor. Some monitors come with built in tuners, but most don’t. I’ve never used one so I wouldn’t know what to recommend, but one bonus is that your computer can become a very good DVR in that case.
I found a site that talks about HDTV and video cards.
I had (still have, don’t use) a Hauppauge card. I was relatively happy with it, though the software never worked all that well and I could never get it to work right regarding recording. I don’t know how their latest ones are.
For what it’s worth, after a few hours of research, I’ve decided on the Viewsonic VX2450wm-LED. For $180 shipped from Amazon, it’s hard to beat the size, resolution, full-motion stand and integrated speakers. It’s not an IPS panel, but it is LED backlit and has great reviews. Beware that it has no HDMI ports, but I ultimately decided I’d probably never use anything with it but my computer, anyway.
I’m going to wait a few days to make sure it’s not an impulse buy, but as far models go, this one is probably it. For being $120 under my budget, hell, it’s hard to say no… could almost afford two for the same price as some of the other models I was considering.
Lots and lots of love for my VIZIO XVT323SV. Clear, sharp 32", 1080p, LCD LED backlit razor with bunches of inputs. Clear picture from anywhere in the room. I got the internet apps version (Netflix, Pandora, etc.) for $50 more than your budget but the non-internet might fit the bill for the OP (I end up streaming Hulu through my HDMI cable most of the time.) Totally simple setup – out of the box and internetting in less than 5 minutes. Lots of good reviews on Amazon and VIZIO.com convinced me.
Edit: And since I don’t have cable I was happy that it includes the technology for OTA and basically sets it up its little self so no more annoying box.
Too late for one more edit – and it has sound levelling. I’m not constantly adjusting the volume any more. There are complaints about the slow channel refresh but it doesn’t bother me – I know where I’m going when I surf so a few second delay works and I don’t have to hear/see the channels in between.
Thanks again for all the replies. I’m gonna let the thread die, but I appreciateall the advice.