1080p HDTVs as high-res monitors

[Tom Payne]

Can the new 1080p HDTVs coming out from Samsung, Mitsubishi, and Sharp
be used as 1920x1080 dvi monitors? How well do they work in that
capacity?

Thanks,
Tom Payne

 

[Bob Myers]

Can the new 1080p HDTVs coming out from Samsung, Mitsubishi, and Sharp
be used as 1920x1080 dvi monitors? How well do they work in that
capacity?

In general, LCD or plasma TVs of a given pixel format,
assuming they have a compatible interface (such as a DVI
or VGA input), will work just fine as PC displays. With a
CRT TV, be aware that support for a given HDTV format
or "resolution" doesn't necessarily mean that it can actually
resolve all the pixels. A "1080p" (and especially a "1080i")
CRT-based HDTV will almost certainly NOT fully resolve
1080 lines vertically or 1920 pixels horizontally - perhaps
more like about 70% of that. As such, you may not be as
happy with the results with PC imagery as you would be
on a "real" PC monitor, designed to fully resolve a 2 Mpixel
format.

Bob M.

 

[Tom Payne]

In general, LCD or plasma TVs of a given pixel format,
assuming they have a compatible interface (such as a DVI
or VGA input), will work just fine as PC displays. With a
CRT TV, be aware that support for a given HDTV format
or "resolution" doesn't necessarily mean that it can actually
resolve all the pixels. A "1080p" (and especially a "1080i")
CRT-based HDTV will almost certainly NOT fully resolve
1080 lines vertically or 1920 pixels horizontally - perhaps
more like about 70% of that. As such, you may not be as
happy with the results with PC imagery as you would be
on a "real" PC monitor, designed to fully resolve a 2 Mpixel
format.

I'm looking at the new 1080P DLPs from Mitsubishi and Samsung and at
Sharp's 45" flat-panel LCDs, which are on sale at Fry's for $3999.
The salesman claims they have DVI and HDMI at 1080P/60hz.
Unfortunately, I've learned the hard way to be suspicious about such
claims. "Be not the first by whom the new is tried, ..." ;-)

Thanks,
Tom Payne

 

[chrisv]

I'm looking at the new 1080P DLPs from Mitsubishi and Samsung and at
Sharp's 45" flat-panel LCDs, which are on sale at Fry's for $3999.
The salesman claims they have DVI and HDMI at 1080P/60hz.
Unfortunately, I've learned the hard way to be suspicious about such
claims. "Be not the first by whom the new is tried, ..." ;-)

I wouldn't be concerned about how "new" the 1080p DLP sets are. It's
just an extension of the tried-and-true lower-res chipsets... The new
"smoothvision" technology (which eliminates the screen-door effect) is
pretty impressive, as well.

 

[Mike Smith]

Tom Payne wrote:




I wouldn't be concerned about how "new" the 1080p DLP sets are. It's
just an extension of the tried-and-true lower-res chipsets... The new
"smoothvision" technology (which eliminates the screen-door effect) is
pretty impressive, as well.

How are they doing with the rainbows? We've got a DLP projector in the
office, and the rainbows are so bad I can't even look at it.

 

[Mike Smith]

In general, LCD or plasma TVs of a given pixel format,
assuming they have a compatible interface (such as a DVI
or VGA input), will work just fine as PC displays.

One thing to watch out for is that on many plasma monitors, the pixels
are not square, but are instead elongated horizontally. This may result
in a distorted image when using a VGA/DVI signal. (This is not a
problem on any LCD displays AFAIK.)

 

[chrisv]

How are they doing with the rainbows? We've got a DLP projector in the
office, and the rainbows are so bad I can't even look at it.

On modern sets, only the hyper-sensative will have problems with the
rainbow effect. The new 6- or 7-segment color wheels spinning at 7200
RPM (or higher), have pretty much fixed that problem. Of course, the
only way to be certain if it's a problem for you is to spend some time
with the set.