TV about 26" to take place of a CPU Monitor ? Help plea

[sdtripper2]

TV vs monitor / monitors for my computer real-estate needs

Definition of Real-estate for my computer:
Real-estate NOT the stuff that a "Dirt Pimp" would sell you with a house on it.

Real-estate as I am talking is the amount of screen view I get to work with
while using the computer. Draftsmen , Architects & Graphics Designers
can identify with what I want = usable viewable space on my computer screen.

History:
I have had a run of bad luck as far as monitor real-estate goes.

So far in the last 4 days I have lost my 21" monitor and my 19" today.

I like most have tech back-uP monitors kicking around and so am now on
one of my last two 17" monitors.

I feel severely hampered in my real-estate screen space now and would
ask for help and any experience from some others here that are
tech-minded.

My need:
I want to uPgrade and get a TV-combo / monitor for my computer.

I want it to be about 26" in size with as much HDTV and 1080i capability as
possible. Looking for value as well.

So the question is ... are there any of you out there that have crossed this
bridge before me and or how would you decide what flat screen HDTV
would you choose for this dual purpose

I would like to keep the size to about 26"
HDTV and 1080i capable
inputs are a question?
It will be setting on my desk the normal distance away.
Real-estate is one of my main reasons but the cost of a TV with the
monitor now seems like it would be worth having the dual capability.

Any suggestions would be appreciated

Maybe I should consider two regular CPU monitors instead of just one? What are your
thoughts? One TV used as a monitor or two regular computer monitors

[Podunkfla]

Well Steve... I like a lot of screen real estate too. My solution was/is to run dual monitors. I have thought of going to a hi-rez TV/monitor, but so far the prices have kept me at bay. I will prolly eventually go that way. Meanwhile I like my setup just fine: An Acer 21" and a BenQ 23" widescreen. I got both of them from http://newegg.com ... my favorite vendor of this kind of stuff by far. I'd be interested to see what you end up with?



Happy Christmas, friend ~ Brick

[Nitetimes]

Looks like you have a hard time keeping the side covers are your boxes too huh Brick. Mine haven't been on for years. I always seem to be changing things in there.

I have considered the new TV/monitors but the wife kinda put the brakes to that idea so far. Gotta keep workin' on her.


.

[dhazard]

Steve, Before you get a TV to use as a computer monitor check out what resolution it can run at. I used a 32” TV for a short time and it had less real-estate than my 19” computer monitor. The type was nice and big, made for easy reading, but less desktop.

PS I like the dual monitor setup also.

Regards Dan

[sdtripper2]

Dan: About the TV... I think the 1080i spec allows for a better desktop Res-view
that would better resemble a monitor?

Brick: I do like the dual monitor set uP you have and that may be the way
I go. however I have been wanting one screen ... I think?

Maybe someone else here has gone with the TV with the high resolution that
can share their experience?

Thanks for your inputs guys...

[dhazard]

I was using a Westinghouse LTV-32w1 and it has a max res of 1280x 1024, the wife is now using it as a TV. Dan

[asianflava]

I just bought 2 Westinghouse 19" widescreen monitors. I don't need it but it was a splurge. Sometimes I like to browse and have tunes going at the same time, I keep the mp3 software running on the other screen.

I had dual CRTs before but the fact that the color never matched, no matter what I tried, kinda drove me nuts. It was especially bad when I was playing with pictures. Best Buy had these on sale, plus I had some gift cards from work, plus I had some reward zone dollars. So I went ahead and got 2 matching monitors. I have a dual head video card so I said what the heck I'll get them.

I'm running an ATI All-In-Wonder. It has a coax input so you can use it as a DVR or TV tuner. This video card is probably the only piece of gear that is the same price now as when I bought it about a year ago. It is not HD compatable, I don't know if the newer SLI or PCI Express formats are.

With my Good Sam mouse pad and the cover off the computer.

[Leon]

asianflava, that computer desk looks familliar. If it was made by M&M, it was designed by my father. I haven't seen one of them for a few years.

[bledsoe3]

Happy Christmas, friend ~ Brick

Brick your exposing your addictions to the world. T&TTT on one screen and e-bay on the other. I didn't see a bottle on the desk though.

[Podunkfla]

Happy Christmas, friend ~ Brick

Brick your exposing your addictions to the world. T&TTT on one screen and e-bay on the other. I didn't see a bottle on the desk though.

Yeah... At least I keep the whisky bottle under the desk & a politicly correct can of Pepsi on the desk.

[dwgriff1]

I use a 12" iBook.

Sad, ain't it?

dave

[sdtripper2]

Rocky:

I just bought 2 Westinghouse 19" wide-screen monitors

How did you narrow down your search for monitors Rocky?
There are many brands out there and Westinghouse doesn't just jump off
the shelf as one of the most often asked for brands? Just wondering what
your thought process was?

Did you buy them online ... in a tax free environment?

[asianflava]

Rocky:

I just bought 2 Westinghouse 19" wide-screen monitors

How did you narrow down your search for monitors Rocky?
There are many brands out there and Westinghouse doesn't just jump off
the shelf as one of the most often asked for brands? Just wondering what
your thought process was?

Did you buy them online ... in a tax free environment?

Westinghouse isn't a name I'd associate with computers either. I'll be willing to bet that the LCD panels come from the same factory as all the others.

They were on sale so I went to BBY to look at them. The biggest spec that concerned me was response time, I think 8ms is fast enough for video. I also asked the guy who works there what he thought and if they get many returns. I've only had them for a few weeks so I can't give a totally accurate evaluation but so far I'm happy with them.

I bought them at the local store, Actually 2 stores because the first one only had 1 left. Like I said in the previous post, I had some gift cards from work and some reward zone dollars so that took care of the tax and some of the price. I would have preferred a 20 or 22 but the price jump from the 19 was huge.

I was going to buy the monitors online but I was a little leery about doing so. Buying online would have definitely been the cheaper route. Since dead pixels are common on flat panels, I wanted to have a store to return them to if they arrived with too many dead pixels.

[asianflava]

asianflava, that computer desk looks familliar. If it was made by M&M, it was designed by my father. I haven't seen one of them for a few years.

I don't know, it was the only corner unit that I found.

[sdtripper2]

Rocky:

Thank you for your reply.

I wasn't knowledgeable of these flat screens having many dead pixels?
That will have to be on my decision making list for sure.



I wonder if there are any guys that have company monitors that are larger
and if they have any suggestions?