LED TV as computer monitor?

FastEddieB

FastEddieB

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Fast Eddie B
My current computer at home is a 2008 MacBook Pro. At my desk its hooked up to a 19" Acer monitor and an Apple keyboard. I use the trackpad on the MacBook Pro as the pointing device.

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In any case, considering moving up to one of the new MacBooks in a few months. Thinking it would be a good time to go to a new, larger monitor.

Is it practical to use an LED TV with an HDMI input as a computer monitor? They are certainly cheap.

If not, any thoughts on a decent budget monitor in the 23"-24" range?

Thanks!
 
Yes, on complex 3D design work on yacht refits and such, it's pretty common to use big flat screen TVs as monitors to make the details big enough to work with while still maintaining a "big picture" view of the space overall. The image quality starts to degrade some, but all in all it works out well.
 
In my experience some of them don't display text quite as well but overall there isn't a lot of difference with the newest models.

If you go that route get one that's 1080p at least, 720 doesn't really cut it for a pc display.
 
cowman said:
In my experience some of them don't display text quite as well but overall there isn't a lot of difference with the newest models.

If you go that route get one that's 1080p at least, 720 doesn't really cut it for a pc display.
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That's the main thing I notice, the text fonts aren't as crisp, I always just figured it was due to the enlargement.
 
Bryan, wild man, 6PC, had a recent thread about finding big screen TVs for free on Craigslist (or somesuch) (because they have sound issues) and how great they work for big 'puter monitors. I'd find it for you but I'm too lazy right now plus I'm ready to pop the top of my first beer and dive into a pound of peel and eat shrimp.
 
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For primary monitor use the TV is not going to compare with an actual computer monitor. I use a 32 inch as a second display on my desktop and it's great for watching videos or movies and also serves well as a spot to drag windows to so that I can work between multiple applications but the dpi count is nowhere as near as high and so the text is not crisp like on the actual monitor. I wouldn't want to use it full time as the primary display. This is why an actual 32 inch monitor is way more expensive than an HDTV.
 
Using my 40 inch Sony LCD tv for computer stuff and media center PC. No issues here although I have to sit about 5 feet away to read POA on the screen.
David
 
I've been using TVs for my monitor for some time, works great.
 
Yes, I am typing this on a 42 inch LED I love it
 
And just for reference, I took a picture, holding my drink up to the screen.
This is just for reference only so you can see the resolution and also keep abreast of the dimensions of the monitor in question

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Works great for Flight Simulator, too.
 
Like I said, fine for video and photos but your Macbook is probably the same as my Asus Zenbook. Screen res is 3200x1800 whereas the TV is most likely 1920x1080. If you think there is no difference between the two you probably need new glasses.
 
'Been using Flat TV's for monitors for a long time... work great. Gotta set back a ways with my 65", but the screen looks great. Wireless keyboard/mouse help a lot. Nice for surfing the web, netflix, youtube, pictures, etc.

I hooked up a different PC today for fun. A full Win8.1 PC that's about the size of a flash drive. $112. Really. 'Not the most powerful computer, but OK for normal business stuff and the web. Makes any TV a computer.
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Beel...-RAM-32G-ROM-Wifi-Bluetooth-Black-342701.html
Intel's version comes out in a week...
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/01/08/intel-unveils-pocket-size-computer-that-plugs-into-tvs/
 
Silvaire said:
Like I said, fine for video and photos but your Macbook is probably the same as my Asus Zenbook. Screen res is 3200x1800 whereas the TV is most likely 1920x1080. If you think there is no difference between the two you probably need new glasses.
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And how many movies are released in 3200x1800?

How much is a 65" monitor in that res?


I'll keep my curve tv.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
And just for reference, I took a picture, holding my drink up to the screen.
This is just for reference only so you can see the resolution and also keep abreast of the dimensions of the monitor in question

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Great resolution!

I showed it to Karen. Her comment?

"You boys!" :nono:

And now I'm thirsty! :yes:
 
My other big "monitor" is 125 inches.

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a colleague at work uses a 55" 4k tv as his monitor there. Actually is pretty nice. You can fit alot of code on it. was only around $450 if i remember right. brand was Seiki.
 
ethosunum said:
a colleague at work uses a 55" 4k tv as his monitor there. Actually is pretty nice. You can fit alot of code on it. was only around $450 if i remember right. brand was Seiki.
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:hairraise::hairraise::hairraise::hairraise: 4K TVs are that cheap???? :dunno::dunno::dunno::dunno:
 
There's quite a few cheap 4k screens out there. recommend scrubbing slickdeals.net for them and reviews on them.

39" 4k Seiki again, $360 i would say check your sources for reviews on them.
even costco has a 50" 4k vizio for $699

SixPapaCharlie said:
That's not bad.
And I totally get that by "coding" you mean porn.

I think the living room TV is about to go out.:yes:
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Well, he does occasionally stay at the office late....
 
The only problem with 4k is there's very little you can actually watch in 4k yet.
 
I got a Raspberry Pi as a Christmas gift, and its two options are 640-x-480 on an NTSC analog screen or HDMI. I just bought a Samsung 24" 720p TV to use with it as a monitor, because I intend to do mostly coding and other low-res stuff and it should be great for that, and the TV tuner makes it more versatile.

I've had it hooked up to my 55" TV in the family room, but that's not ergonomic. I have a 27" analog TV I never use anymore, but that would feel a little too much like the Commodore 64 with an 80-column emulator. (He said, revealing his antiquity.)
 
James331 said:
And how many movies are released in 3200x1800?...
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Again James, not talking about movies or YouTube or generally surfing the web and posting on POA. I'm doing that right now on my 60 inch with a remote keyboard. I'm talking about computer work such as a spreadsheet or doing graphics work with Photoshop or a million other things you do with a computer that requires a monitor. Really you can do as you please but I have many tasks that simply require a better primary display. Like I said, all of my computers have a large HDTV secondary display and they are set up as extended so it's really like one big screen but the monitor is the primary and serves for the serious stuff.
 
A 2008 macbook will not drive a 4K monitor. You need like the 2011 generation of it or later if I recall correctly.

I've been thinking about it. A year ago when I bought the new TV for the living room, the 4K's were ungodly expensive. For less than the price of the 47" 4K I got a Sharp Aquos 80" 1080p. There's still no content to speak of (I already got burned on the 55" Stereo Sony I have downstairs. What little 3D content there was has dried up completely).

The 4K monitors have dropped substantially over the past year.
 
flyingron said:
A 2008 macbook will not drive a 4K monitor. You need like the 2011 generation of it or later if I recall correctly.
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If addressed to me, I'm talking about doing this after upgrading to a new MacBook in a few months.

Controversial, they come with a single USB-C port, so I'll have to budget in anothe $80 or so for the USB-C to USB-C/HDMI/USB dongle.

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Will have to check 4k compatibility with that setup. Probably way more resolution than my ancient eyes looking through smudged reading glasses require!
 
Specs for the video on the new MacBook:

Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 3840 by 2160 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
And just for reference, I took a picture, holding my drink up to the screen.
This is just for reference only so you can see the resolution and also keep abreast of the dimensions of the monitor in question

attachment.php
Click to expand...

I see what you did there. :D
 
I've used a 42" TV as a monitor for years in one of my businesses to review images with clients. Works great.
 
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Two new Acer 27" HD monitors last weekend for $320. at home. 4Ks are about double that.

Refurbished Dell 23" rotatable are going for $99 ea.

Monitors are cheap and good these days. The savers have native HDMI inputs.

Really no point in paying for the tuner unless you're going to watch TV on it too. Buying new anyway. Just drop by a discount retailer or Amazon.
 
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