LCD HDTV and regular LCD

[ZJW88]

What is the difference between these 2? Would it work if I connect my computer to a HDTV and use it daily?

[Freakitchen]

Connections are usually the difference. LCD TVs will come with tuner(s) built in and will have lots of various connections for external devices, LCD Monitors will generally only have a combination of DVI/VGA.

You can hook up a computer to a HDTV no problems, either through VGA if it has a port, or by using a DVI to HDMI adaptor/cable for a digital picture (LCD TVs usually have a HDMI port instead of a VGA). Small LCD TVs usually have high resolutions like LCD monitors, but larger ones tend to have smaller resolutions, expecting you to use the screen from further away. Specs should have the resolution information there for you to check out.

[Tin]

I wouldnt use an LCD TV as a monitor unless Im viewing it from a few feet away. I can sit and websurf from my couch on my 32" no problem, but up close it kills my eyes.

[Freakitchen]

Yeah, same here Tin. My 32" has a native res of 1368x720 (or something close to that!), but from my couch about 8 feet away I have to increase the font size in the browser to see things clearly. I think the ideal distance would be about 4ft, something like that. On the other hand, I just bought a 19" Samsung LCD TV for the kitchen - which will do the standard 19" PC resolution of 1440x900.

[ZJW88]

What is the advantage of having a higher resolution?

[Freakitchen]

Put simply, you can fit more things on the screen. Take the web for example, which is best viewed at at least 1024 horizontal pixels. If you've got more than that, you can get away without maximising your browser and have other windows visible at the same time. LCD screens have a 'native' resolution - they have a fixed number of vertical and horizontal pixels. Use anything other than this and you're not getting the best image quality. LCDs must have a specific vertical resolution to display High Definition content, 720 pixels being the minimum.

[Hi Ho]

HDTVs come in two flavors; 720p and 1080p. A 720p set has a resolution of 1280x720 while a 1080p set is 1920x1080. Some panels differ slightly in resolution.

Small LCD TVs usually have high resolutions like LCD monitors, but larger ones tend to have smaller resolutions, expecting you to use the screen from further away.
This is generally not true. There are very few 1080p sets under 40". Today, many sets over 40" are 1080p models, which is the highest HDTV resolution available. Most sets below 40" are 720p and some aren't HD at all (480p).

PC monitors lack tuners, speakers, and multiple inputs (composite, component, HDMI). A PC monitor will most likely be higher resolution than a TV of the same size.

[ZJW88]

I want to use the monitor for both computer and tv, but usually 3/4 the time will be on computer, so I am leaning toward a computer lcd, I have directv for tv programs, would a lcd work or am I better off with a small hdtv?

[Freakitchen]

This is generally not true. There are very few 1080p sets under 40". Today, many sets over 40" are 1080p models, which is the highest HDTV resolution available. Most sets below 40" are 720p and some aren't HD at all (480p).

Of course you're right in saying that, I was being quite specific in saying that the 19", 20", and 22" LCD TVs that I've seen seem to have similar if not identical specs to PC Monitor equivalents, with resolutions up to 1680x1050 for the 22s. As soon as you go to 23", resolution drops to that more often associated with LCD TVs - 1280x720 or 1368x768 (depending on aspect ratio). Obviously, none of these quite manage to be 1080p compliant, but for daily computer use I'd much rather use a 22" with 1680x1050 than a 23 " with 1280x720.

To the original poster, if you're using the screen mostly for computer work, I'd go for a max. size of 22" LCD TV that comes with a 'proper' desktop resolution. Alternatively, you could go for a standard 22" LCD, that will more than likely be cheaper, and get a TV tuner for your computer. With software, you could watch TV windowed with more flexibility than with the 'picture in picture' option that LCD TVs often have.

[Masaki 7-11]

If you have a set top box which has composite or component outputs, you can get a monitor such as the Samsung SyncMaster 225MS which has multiple inputs (Composite, Component, S-Video and HDMI in addition to VGA and DVI), this way you would be able to use the computer and watch TV on the same monitor, but have a high resolution.

[ZJW88]

The Samsung SyncMaster 225MS seems to be what I need with dvi and hdmi, but I would also like to look at some alternatives, could you recommend me some reliable brands?
Would I still need to have software to watch tv with that monitor?