monitor for computer and tv

[Burnsy]

I am looking for a monitor that can double as a tv, so i dont have two screens in my room. Do you guys have any suggestions? or should i have separate monitors for tv and computer?

I am looking for something with a minimum size of 26" or 27"

 

[criccio]

When you say you need it as a TV, do you need it to have a built in tuner? Or do you have a cable box?

If you have a box, any LCD with component inputs will work fine.

 

[PynkFloydd]

I used to have an inexpensive Insignia 26" 720p/1080i TV that I used, it was decent but when I moved up to the Panasonic I got now (in my signature)...it made a HUGE difference. Web pages and open programs require less scrolling and gaming is amazing. It's on my desk and it's a perfect fit. You actually feel "in" the game. I tried a Sharp 42" and it was just too big. I'd probably say that between 30" and 37" is perfect.

I'd recommend the 37" Panasonic now that the new models are coming out and Panasonic (and I think LG) uses the IPS-Alpha panels. You can probably find the "old" model for dirt cheap. ...it's the same panel with upgraded internal processing. I run 1080p-1920x1080 though HDMI and everything runs great with no noticeable lag. My 8800GTS needs to be upgraded now though because I'm starting to notice some stuttering in graphics intense scenes. The TV itself is 1080p/24 capable and has all the newest standards like xvColor and HDMI 1.3. Keep in mind that the newest 120Hz TVs aren't true 120Hz, they just repeat frames to make the image look smoother. ...you still will only get a max input of 60Hz. The response time is slower with the same panels so, I'm assuming (and read a little) that 120Hz displays cause some slight input lag. I've actually seen some mods while searching that'll let your computer simulate the same thing while watching movies with a standard 60Hz TV.

There's two major downsides to the Panasonic though. The first is that there's no VGA port, which bothers some. ...but, I personally wouldn't run a non-HDCP analog port nowadays anyway. The other is that neon-ish (pinkish reds especially) colors are WAY oversaturated. ...especially on black backgrounds (like this site) when you see someone use magenta, it looks blurry and has a halo-ish effect on it. This isn't really a problem with gaming or movies, just text. There's a service menu you can go into but, I don't have a calibration tool available to try and fix it. ...it doesn't bother me that much to spend the $150 on one of those Eye-One calibration tools.

There's a seller on eBay that I got mine from for around $375 shipped (I'm really cheap...err, umm...."frugal"). It's new but the corners are slightly banged up (but the screen is perfect). ...I didn't care because it's in a non-traffic area and I'll pretty much be the only one seeing it. If you're ok with that, I've seen the same seller put a lot of the Panasonics up and selling for around $400-ish shipped. Consumer Reports rated it the top TV and it's very reliable so, it's a great deal. The new Panasonics are shipping for around $1000 so I'd assumer that you could find last year's model for around $600+ new from overstocks and closeouts. Anyways, I think you'll get the most out of it. You can use your PC as a Blu-Ray player and all the new graphics cards support the advanced features and standards. Nowadays, there's live streaming and Hulu so you'll get just as much out of only having a monitor/TV as you would separates. ...plus, a Blu-Ray reader is cheap and you'll save space by using your PC for everything.

Anyways, that's my 2 cents.