Home audio & video forum: Poll: Do you currently use an HDTV as a computer monitor?

Yes, I'm using a 32" Westinghouse HDTV as a computer monitor. It's working out very well.
Richard

I have for the past 2.5 years. It's not 1080p but is 720p, at that time the 1080p was too expensive for use. I had a 8800GT pushing the graphics, now have ATI 5870. The only hitch was for the true 720p, HDCP to DVI converter was a little expensive at the time but have become more reasonable and now many vid cards are DVI capable.

I am using two HDTVs in my home to support two different set ups. The computer video drivers support 1080 X 1920, so the resolution is fine. One of my set is 27 inches, and the other is 24 inches. I have also provisioned two other computers with HDTV sets successfully. The all look fine and are running at 1080 X 1920. If your video driver does not handle that resolution, then it might turn out to be grainy. Since you can get some reasonably good computers with Windows 7 for $300 to $400, it might be a good time to get a new computer and go from XP to Windows 7. I think for most people that will be a good move to go a more secure operating system with good operating speed. Get a 64 bit system with a quad processor or better and 4 gig of ram or more and you will be pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately older software might not be compatible, and that is something that you should evaluate. There is a lot of free software you can install, and copy of MS Office for Home and Student can be had for the $100 bracket give or take a little. An HDTV for an older computer may not prove to be satisfactory.

I've posted my story here before.
My 36" RCA 4:3 HDTV died last year after 10 years. I replaced it with a 40" Sony. I ran the RCA at 800x600 and now run the Sony at 720P 16:9. I can go to 1080, but that's too small from 10 feet away. I will while doing photo editing up close. Sometimes I push it to 1080 while watching DVDs or HD downloads played from my computer.
Of course, My computer isn't what it was back then, either.
Other inputs are antenna and cable TV with a DVR.

We have been using ours using a VGA cable for about 2 years now and have a laptop permanently hooked up. I see no difference in its output as compared to my desktop. We basically use it for Hulu and we do not use it much for computing although we could. We also have Roku, DVD player, VHS player and satellite tv connected. We do have a HDMI hookup not being used but a 10ft HDMI cable is rather expensive so sticking with the VGA. Honestly, I can not tell the difference, but us old people's eyes aren't what they used to be. Connected to a VIZO 32". All this is hooked up in the bedroom and the desktops are in a separate room. Also using an ethernet cable rather than the wireless N from the router because it is a lot faster.

I use a 22" Vizio 1080P HDTV for a Monitor and watch TV as well when switched on a Windows XP system. I would never go back to my original monitor! Works perfectly and everything looks great especially pictures. I could have bought a monitor which would have cost about the same as this HDTV but then I would have only had a monitor. I highly recommend using a HDTV for a monitor!

I have a 50" RCA HDTV that I would love to hook my pc up to!
I bought all the cables and tried it but never could get it to work right. My computer is an HP Multimedia pc. I guess I just don't have the skills!!
Michael

I am using an lg 47 lcd I am surprised ! the pic is remarkable. I can download , save, watch movies...etc...as good if not better (mostly Better) quality than my cable provider

.. I see no reason to try connecting my computer to an HDTV. But in a wonderful example of how all trades are trade-offs, I recall that with the money I spent on that monitor, I could otherwise have bought a new compact car. It did however have such flashy extras as picture-in-picture, and I've never regretted the expense.

That flat-screen monitor still works perfectly and when it dies, I will replace it with another rather than engaging in unneeded fiddling with my HDTV. Today, expensive such monitors cost $250 or less, and cheaper ones from excellent manufacturers are edging down to $150.

One not-so-small point: earlier references to hi-rez monitors suggest that these are of value principally or solely to graphic software users. Virtually all my use has been of character-based files, and I have found from Day One that working with these can be much, much faster and better-directed when one can bring up document sections for detailed examination of the text. My monitor paid for itself in higher productivity in a few months. When I must work on smaller screens, as when traveling with a laptop, I feel my effectiveness declines considerably.

I got a hand me down gateway computer, was told it didn't work, went inside and found most cards had become loos or out of their slots, put them back in and screwed the retainers down and it works like a charm.
I found a board marked TV but no documentation and it seems to have the round audio and video plugs on the rear, is this for TV screen hook up or satellite receiver hook up?
I don't have a clue but either use might be cool if I knew what to do with them.

I am using a LG HDTV as my computer monitor and I would'nt go back to an ordinary monitor if you paid me. The pictures are crystal clear and with the computer I'm using AMD Black Edition 3.2mhz 4Gb DDr3 and Radeaon HD 4200 card, and Igot the TV for free as a bonus with my 42" Led Lcd TV which I also use as a Monitor when I use Skpe or watch downloaded movies.

I have two computers set up with 1080 by 1920 resolution which is their native resolution. They both work fine and the price is right. I have a 27 inch HP 2709m on my main computer, and that cost about $350. I have a 24 inch Samsung on my other computer, and that cost about $220. Resolution for HDTV is less than a typical full resolution monitor for computers, but it is plenty good, and the resolution is adequate to be used with the monitor 12 to 24 inches away for the 27 inch one. It is a real pleasure to work with a monitor this large. In the past, a 27 inch monitor would likely have had a greater resolution than 1080 by 1920, but that high is not really necessary for most people.

I have a Vizio 25.5 inch HDTV as a computer monitor and it works just fine.

Bought a new computer, much faster than the old windows.. 7 OS. Now my perfectly fine scanner and printer are a unusable. I have a Tosiba 19" HD TV that has a PC video input. Yeah I'll get a wireless mouse and keyboard for the Dell with Windows 98 Nvidia video card ,and set up a network. Glad I didn't get the modem/router yet. When I booted up, the TV's screen showed Windows 98 loading and I thought every thing was fine when it got to the log in page, it's a grey screen. I tried different setting on the TV and put the PC back on the other monitor and changed the video out put to the lowest setting. Am out of Ideas... Tosiba is of no help...not even a users manual on the internet.
HELP ME