26" Full HD...or 26" 'monitor' ?

[snotrag]

Im having some trouble making a decision here, as theres is an awful lot of conflicting advice about.

Situation - my bedroom. Small.

Currently got a knackered PC with a 19" lcd, sat next to a (admittedly very good) 28" CRT telly. Which is fecking massive, taking up all my space. And having two pieces of display equipment next to each other seems silly.

Plan - new PC base unit on its way, with HDMI capability for games etc.

I need a display to suit my 'multimedia' setup - to work as a monitor, and as a TV too. I do NOT need a tuner of any kind (although buying a 'tv' you would get one anyway) as I use a Humax PVR. No HDMI output on there - scart only. Probably going to get a PS3 soon too.

I have 3 options.

- Use a 26" PC monitor. Cheap, will work well for the PC. Needs to be 16:9 though, not so easy to find as 16:10. Otherwise can lead to weird scaling issues with a an analog input. Humax would be connected through a conversion box - an extra expense. Probably no remote either, annoying for switching between sources.

- Use a 26" Full HD tv. Not many about. Probably more expensive, but will have all the inputs i need. but - many mixed reviews about performance as a monitor - bit lucky dip. Some like it, some dont.

- Option 3 which I've jsut thought of. Buy a Pc with the biggest monitor I can, making sure its 16:9 with at least 2X HDMI.

Sell humax. Buy the newer Humax which has HDMI out I think? Then I get everything inputting how it should, plus upscaling on my TV?



Best course of action?

[snotrag]

Is it proper 16:9 ratio? Whats its native resolutin, and how does it handle the PC input?


I very pleased that I've jsut realised the newer Humax has HDMI out. My 9200 is the best bit of technology ive ever bought - faultless performance and incredibly useful.

I might chop it in for the 9300 which has glowing reviews - whoch would mean I'd have no bother watching freeview on anyhting with a HDMI in. IE a nice PC monitor.

[snotrag]

Anyone?

[Mr E]

Ditch Humax and put a TV card in the PC?

[Marf]

If you have a way of outputting sound from your PC and humax then go for a monitor.

You'll get a better spec for your money.

[Rarst]

ive got a 22" 16:9 lg tv that works well as a monitor.

this?;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-26LH2000-26-inch-Widesc...

sub £300, all the inputs you need. i'd get it for the flexibility.

Edited by Rarst on Tuesday 15th September 16:07

[snotrag]

Sound is a non issue.

All sources go through an external amp.

I've found a couple of 24" monitors that would do the trick for a low price, struggling to find anything in 26".

which brings me to the question - my telly is a 28" CRT - Which should actually be about the same size as a 26" LCD, correct?

[Marf]

Whats your budget Snot?

[snotrag]

Mr E said:

Ditch Humax and put a TV card in the PC?

Thats not gonna happen - this is my 'main room' aswell as my bedroom (at the 'rents!) so I dont want to have to switch the Pc on just to watch the news.

and the Humax is a fantastic bit of kit anyway, I love it.


Budget - < £300 really. Lower the better - fully aware I'm not going to get anyhting stunning thats all I've got.

Edited by snotrag on Tuesday 15th September 16:16

[Marf]

You can get a full HD dell 24" widescreen monitor for about £200. They are pretty good for the money.

edit: all I would say is that make sure if you do go for a monitor instead of TV, make sure it has HDCP.

Edited by Marf on Tuesday 15th September 16:34

[onlynik]

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/149662

Bought one of these from Dell a couple of weeks ago.

Native resolution is 1080

Has 1 HDMI 1 DVI and 1 VGA

Veiwing angle isn't the greatest, but it is a £200 monitor.

[TEKNOPUG]

Is it really worth the expense of the Humax just to watch Freeview? Or do you have cable/Sky? If it’s just Freeview, then surely it makes more sense to buy a 26” LCD telly with Freeview built in?

[snotrag]

I already have the old style Humax - I would not want to be without it.

I do not have sky or cable, nor is this an optin - its not my house.

I will happily sell my old Humax to part fund the newer model which has HDMI out - this gets me round the problem of needing analogue inputs on whatever diaply i use.

[Mr E]

snotrag said:

Mr E said:

Ditch Humax and put a TV card in the PC?

Thats not gonna happen - this is my 'main room' aswell as my bedroom (at the 'rents!) so I dont want to have to switch the Pc on just to watch the news.

I loved my Hummy so much it was replaced by a PC. That is never turned off, so news always available...

I've just bought a 24" Ilyama that I'm pretty happy with...

There's a cheaper one that doesn't have the dynamic backlighting (which I turn off) and height adjustable stand.

Should do the job.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/161554

[snotrag]

I'm wondering whether 24" may be too small...

What about saving up a little more and getting a proper 32" full HD telly?

Theres a few available now with full 1080p panels.

I've used a 32 as a monitor before and didnt find it too big, as some people report. A few available under £400.

Thoughts?

Reccomendations that will give acceptable performace for basic pc use, and acceptable on SD video inputs?

[Marf]

I have a Toshiba 32XV555DB HDTV and I can't fault it as a TV or a monitor. Paid £399 for it.

Admittedly I have not used it for watching HDTV or movies yet, but Crysis looks great in 1080p on it.