Want to try this HDTV out but..

[themaster]

Hello.. I'm looking to try out a HDTV as a monitor/TV

Looking at this one..
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5006894

Unfortunatly this is the only 1080p tv that walmart has.. and I feel safe buying from walmart (return policy)

What I'm wondering is if this can act as a computer monitor.. can it do the 16:10 or 1900x1200 or as it says can it only do 16:9 also..

I don't know what this feature is called.. but I'm currently trying out a cheaper 26" LCD (no brand like the walmart) and it has a button that called "View mode" which while using as a monitor at 1024x768 doesn't abnoramally stretch it making it look distorted.. this is a 26" 16:9 TV.. but it brings it down to 21" I assume the proper viewing angle..

So if I was also going to use this TV I'd like that feature whatever it's called to be available.. (stretch gets annoying)

I know the geeks rant and rave about the..
Westinghouse LVM-37w1

as well.. but I still have the same questions about it.. can it do 16:10 1900x1200 and can it if doing lower resolutions like 640x480, 1024x768 not distort with a stretching feature..

[bykes]

ick, 700:1 Contrast ratio. Thats not good.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by themaster

Hello.. I'm looking to try out a HDTV as a monitor/TV

Looking at this one..
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5006894

Unfortunatly this is the only 1080p tv that walmart has.. and I feel safe buying from walmart (return policy)

What I'm wondering is if this can act as a computer monitor.. can it do the 16:10 or 1900x1200 or as it says can it only do 16:9 also..

I don't know what this feature is called.. but I'm currently trying out a cheaper 26" LCD (no brand like the walmart) and it has a button that called "View mode" which while using as a monitor at 1024x768 doesn't abnoramally stretch it making it look distorted.. this is a 26" 16:9 TV.. but it brings it down to 21" I assume the proper viewing angle..

So if I was also going to use this TV I'd like that feature whatever it's called to be available.. (stretch gets annoying)

I know the geeks rant and rave about the..
Westinghouse LVM-37w1

as well.. but I still have the same questions about it.. can it do 16:10 1900x1200 and can it if doing lower resolutions like 640x480, 1024x768 not distort with a stretching feature..

Your right currently Wal-Mart only sales in the store one 1080P model. Now Walmart does have a 37” 1080P AKAI for $1098 for online ordering.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5420917

My parents own the Westinghouse LVM-37w1. When it first came out in 2005 it was a good price at around $2400. They have had HDCP problems with it when using digital connections. The set de interlaces 1080I correctly. All the Westighouse 1080P monitors and many 720P monitors can be set to display the different ratio per input. For example if one sets the component video input to a 4:3 ratio the monitor will automatically stay in 4:3 for 480I and 480P programming but when one switches to 720P or 1080I programming the Westinghouse will switch to 16:9 mode. The Westinghouse LVM-37w1 does not up convert it displays everything at the native resolution. Now when watching standard 480I DVD’s one will need to manually switch from 16:9 to 4:3 mode for old DVD videos with a 4:3 ratio. This is a monitor only display and a external tuner like a cable box is needed to watch TV.
The stretching feature you’re talking about is an option in the display for people that do not like black bars. Many displays allow people to turn off the stretching feature. The better displays allow one to choose different preset ratios for inputs. Many Plasma’s and CRT screens in the manuals recommend to have the stretch feature on when watching 4:3 material to prevent burn in issues.
There are some nice 50 and 60 inch JVC and Sony rear projectors that have nice contrast ratios of 10,000:1 with 2.5 ms response times that will run circles around LCD screens. What is your price range your looking at?

Also the LVM-37W1 is discontinued, the LVM-37W3 is the replacement that can be found for around $975.

http://www.pricerunner.com/pl/2-615075/TVs/Westinghouse-LVM-37W3-Compare-Prices?q=lvm-37w3

[themaster]

I don't have a price range.. but since I'm seriously thinking of buying the Westinghouse.. I'd say about $1k

I'm not sure I have the room for a projector.. I mean how much space do you need to properly shoot the image.. I'm looking at about 8 feet total in the space I think I could put it.. (currently)

I mainly want a computer monitor 1st.. and a 16:9 tv second.. I would like to try a TV out.. so it's why I'm wanting to stick with safe store bought stuff.. and I'm shying away from those with 30 day return policy's to make sure I get a good feel for it.. (how close it is.. visual distortation etc)

The monitor I'm currently trying out.. has some weird color distortation for text.. and acts weirdly when trying to hit resolutions that it claims it can do on the box like 1280x768 (best I can do is 1024x768 and 640x480)

I was finding it troubling that I couldn't find a way to shoot.. or properly play 16:9 content at 1280 x 720 (was playing it at 1024x768) losing 5" inches of useable screen space..

I like the monitor/tv you found on walmart..

But of course the same questions still are there..

Can I do 16:10 1900x1200?
Can I do 4:3 640x480 no stretch bars?

[pbnbcr]

A 1080P tv with a 700:1 contrast ratio is not one worth looking at at all.

[HDTV1080P]

For around $1,000 you can not beat the Westinghouse (some times there is HDCP issues using the digital inputs, so test the digital inputs with a HDCP HDTV device to make sure they are working within 30 day period).
The Sony 50 inch SXRD Rear Projector is much better quality. It has a response time of 2.5ms and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. Also has a PC input. The PC input on the Sony accepts just about any resolution from 1920 X 1080 to as low as 640 X 480.
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=KDS50A2020&Dept=tvvideo&CategoryN ame=tv_ProjectionTVs_RearProjection_42to51TVs
Best Buy has the Sony KDS-50A2020 for $2,299.99 + tax.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8242387&type=product&productCate goryId=pcmcat95100050004&id=1168044604040

The same Sony KDS-50A2020 can be purchased over the Internet for a final delivery price as low as $1749.
http://www.pricerunner.com/pl/2-8900...Prices?zipcode=

You can program each input for 4:3 or 16:9. In theory there should not be a problem with using the PC input and getting wrong ratio’s. Perhaps you might want to purchase from Sears, Best Buy, or Circuit City which has a 30 day return policy. The problem with Walmart is they do not carry any quality 1080P displays from companies like Sony or JVC.

By far your best quality display would be a front projector but then your talking about having a dedicated dark room and $5,000 for 1080P.

[themaster]

Okay I went to BB.. and I hooked up to the Sony that was suggested in this thread.. and I couldn't get it do past 720p resolution..

I couldn't even get it to do 1440x900 16:10

Either my laptops ATI x600 was no good (which seems unlikely since.. even it could 16:10 1440x900 on the laptop screen) or this monitor can't be used in the way described.. the Bestbuy guy didn't have much to offer in the way of help..

Anyone.. have a monitor that's in the store.. BB, Circuitcity.. that does 1080p that's guarrenteed that you hook up to it.. you can hit resolutions like 1920 x 1080 or 16:10 1900 x 1200

Also what does contrast have to do with picture.. or what's it good for.. since someone pointed out that the monitors/hdtv I was looking at have terrible contrast.. ??

[HDTV1080P]

Contrast ratio is a ratio of a displays blackest black to whitest white.
Sorry about the 1920 X 1080 issue and not filling the screen. According to the manual the VGA supports such resolutions. Read the following review. Here is a brief quote, the reviewer was having the same problem as you were having with the VGA connection and ended up having to use a DVI to HDMI connection.

Quote from CNET review (note the 50 inch, 55 inch and 60 inch model are exactly the same)
“PC performance: We hooked the Sony up to a PC via VGA, and as expected, the set maxed out at 1,366x768 resolution. The desktop did not nearly fill the screen, and furthermore, according to DisplayMate, the Sony couldn't resolve every line of resolution; text indeed looked pretty soft, even after we engaged the set's automatic calibration for PC.
When driven by an HDMI input connected to a DVI adapter, however, the Sony's PC picture quality improved significantly. First off, the set had no trouble accepting a full 1080p source, and it did resolve every line, although the image was overscanned significantly; the edges of the screen, including the entire Windows toolbar for example, were invisible. We couldn't adjust it properly in the Sony's menu system, but our GeForce 7900GTX video card's HDTV Overscan Compensation came in really handy. When we selected the Underscan option, it fit the screen perfectly; displaying at 1,824x1,016 pixels. Of course that's not full 1,920x1,080, and we'd prefer not to have to make these kinds of tweaks--a "dot by dot" aspect ratio would be a big help--but it's safe to say that computer display via HDMI really outclassed the Sony's VGA input. “
http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_KDS_60A2020/4505-6484_7-32331182.html

[HDTV1080P]

If one can not trust information in the instruction manual then your going to have to manually try your PC in the store on each display you are considering purchasing. With Front Projectors and some LCD screens this should be less of a issue. Many expensive front projectors do not have this issue. The Sony 1080P front projector in theory should work fine if you try it in Best Buy. Then again you would need a dedicated dark room to use a front projector.

[Blackraven]

Any HDTV with a contrast ratio under 1000:1 is a worthless TV.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by CNET review

When we selected the Underscan option, it fit the screen perfectly; displaying at 1,824x1,016 pixels.

That's 5-6% overscan..

[WriteSimply]

I say, get a widescreen LCD for your computer.

Then get a 1080p SXRD as your HDTV.

If you get a HDTV based on how it performs as your monitor, you are going to be disappointed. Computers have exceeded the 1920x1080 resolution.

Some graphic cards, including laptops, need firmware to use the 16x9 aspect ratio (instead of 16x10) so you may want to look into that. You may also want to look into the TVs manual and check out the spec for RGB and HDMI inputs. Some TVs RGB input are for 4:4 (conventional monitors) AR even though it is widescreen.


fuad

[themaster]

I don't really need both.. going to continue.. trying them out.. going for a 3000:1 samsung from wal-mart.. tried it out at 720p res (can't remember exact numbers for 720p so just use the format) and it brought up windows without missing stuff unlike my current ilo w/ same res

It's 6" more inches then what i'm using.. we'll see how vista and other things take to it.. I'm just doing tests.. to get me to the point were I'll likely buy the much loved westinghouse..

Also my current ILO has some kind of text problem displaying any res.. there some kind of garbled.. colors that can't clearly be seen in word when just typing out black text..

Hmm.. weird I figured that one out.. 60 hz vs. 75 hz? (okay?)

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by themaster

Hmm.. weird I figured that one out.. 60 hz vs. 75 hz? (okay?)

Many of the displays only accept 60HZ. Some will accept other reresh rates.