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ScotJimland

I'm thinking about buying a 19" LCD monitor rather than an LCD TV to use with a satellite system and DVD player, it could also be used with the laptop.
Is there any reason why not, are there any pitfalls or problems I should be aware of ?
This seems a better idea than buying a TV with an analogue tuner I don't need.

For Example .. this 19" monitor from Samsung

656

Does your DVD player / Satellite system have VGA out sockets. Looking at the spec of that monitor it only has a VGA input and no composite sockets - video in left and right audio sockets!

HTH

Dave

656

DABurleigh

Jim,

Check the FOV for a monitor is adequate for the viewing geometry in the van. TVs are usually better in this respect.

Dave

ScotJimland

HI
Thanks for the quick replies, the sort of pitfalls I don't want to take Rolling Eyes

Dave 656.. thanks for pointing that out .. what should I be looking for ?

Dave DAB ... I thought of this, in the RV it would be right up front in the middle to replace the original 21" CRT TV , the viewing angle on the Samsung is 160 deg.. I thought that OK.. ? no ?

DABurleigh

Jim,

Yes, that sounds fine if you get that model; it is nevertheless a truism. Where the viewing angle is limited, the optimum is often not designed to be normal to the screen, either.

I researched 19" LCD monitors only a few months ago when No2 son bought a new Dell system. Either prices have fallen a lot further since, or I'm missing something on that Samsung. I reckoned nearer £300 was needed for a decent quality monitor, and certainly one needed to avoid the cheapest Dell 19" LCD offerings to get picture quality suitable for watching pehaps 18" to 2ft away; not the case for TV use I admit.

Dave

ScotJimland

Hi Dave

LCD monitors and TVs are definately falling in price, I just thought it would be better to spend the money on a good monitor rather than a TV when I will only use the digital input.

gaspode · Moderator

Hi Jim

656 is right, there doesn't appear to be any TV input on that model. You need one with a composite video and audio (A/V) input to use your satellite, also preferably an S-video input and/or RGB (red/green/blue) input as satellite receivers and DVDs perform best on an RGB input.
Your logic is sound, why do you need a tuner when you use satellite? I think however that monitors with A/V and VGA inputs are going to be a tad more expensive - although viewing angles tend to be better as they are usually aimed at the TV market - and usually have an inbuilt tuner!

ScotJimland

Hi Ken

Thanks for the information and advice, I've a bit of research ahead.. Confused

TV or not TV .. that is the question.. Rolling Eyes

Crackle

Hi Scotjimland

I would also do a bit of research into moving picture quality of your monitor. LCD TV's can suffer from panning blur and a few other artifacts, however recently manufacturers are overcoming this (Samsung TV's were use by Microsoft to demo the Xbox 360). Monitors on the other hand do not necessarily incorporate this kind of technology excepting the one's designed for 3D gaming so find a gaming review of a monitor and that way you'll be certain it'll cope with moving images.