I have a PS3, for which I want to use the same display device on my desk as my PC, which has DVI also. I want to know if its better to buy a monitor over a TV, given the same price.

lcd tv has 10 times the contrast ratio (10000:1 to 1000:1)
lcd tv has more space between pixels, which may not be good since im sitting close.
which has better refreshing rate?

what would u pick if u want to use it as a pc monitor (80% usage) and a ps3 display (20% usage)?

on the side, if i were using a monitor:
sound issue:

i think the deal is that 5.1 channel can only be achieved through hdmi or optical.. RCA doesnt do 5.1. my computer speakers dont have optical.
someone suggested getting a sound card, one of those that have 7.1 channel optical in and optical out. and then plug the ps3 optical in into the computer and turn off computer sound during gameplay while maintaining the same connection between the computer and the klipsch 5.1 speakers.


what do i do if im using a lcd tv? hdmi goes to tv and tv has optical out but no traditional multiple-stereo-plug-output for the type of connections that your computers speakers probably use. what do i do there?

You can always buy a 37" 1080P LCD TV.

32" 1080p LCD TVs are pretty new... and $$$

Or a 24" 1920*1200 LCD for about hald the cost of a 37". It all depends on your budget.

I wouldnt buy a 1366x768TV... unless you are certain it can do pixel to pixel mapping. MY stupid 37" Philips doesnt. It only accepts 1280x720.. even though it has a native of 1366*768... WTH

Samsung has a 24" 1920x1080 LCD monitor with DVI and VGA inputs. It's much cheaper than an equivalent TV set.

A friend of mine recently got one. It looks very nice. I haven't tried it with an HDMI->DVI adapter, though.

no money aside. i only want to know about quality between 24 in monitors and 28-32 inch tvs.

i hear about the dot pixel/pitch problem with tvs.
but also ppl complain about the refresh rate for monitors and contrast ratios.

i wish i could try both but its just too much of a hassle to have both and return one.

has anyone actually tried staring at a lcd tv 1 foot in front of them for an extended period of time?

what would u pick if u want to use it as a pc monitor (80% usage) and a ps3 display (20% usage)?


what do i do if im using a lcd tv? hdmi goes to tv and tv has optical out but no traditional multiple-stereo-plug-output for the type of connections that your computers speakers probably use. what do i do there?

This pretty much answers you question right there. If 24" is big enough for you, invest in a quality 24" PC monitor like the Dell 2407, or one of the Samsungs. They have a much higher dot pitch than TV's, and most have a 1:1 pixel map feature so you can run 1080p with no problem (although you will have some small black bars top and bottom).

If you want bigger, get a 37" 1080p TV like mentioned, my Brother runs the Westy 37w3 for his PC/360 and it really is an awesome display for the money (~$799)

As far as sound goes, most TV's that have an optical out are designed to pass 2 ch stereo for most sources, and 5.1 for OTA TV channels that have 5.1

I use my 37" Philips as my monitor. It would be better if it could do pixel to pixel.

Of course, I dont use the PS3 on that TV.

IMO, if money isnt an object. Sharp and Samsung have 32" LCD TVs. Or you can check out some 37" LCD TVs.

no money aside. i only want to know about quality between 24 in monitors and 28-32 inch tvs.

i hear about the dot pixel/pitch problem with tvs.
but also ppl complain about the refresh rate for monitors and contrast ratios.

i wish i could try both but its just too much of a hassle to have both and return one.

has anyone actually tried staring at a lcd tv 1 foot in front of them for an extended period of time?
I can't tell a difference between the Samsung TVs and Samsung monitors, except for dot size, which obviously increases with the size of the screen given the same resolution. At the same size, they are essentially identical except for the inputs.

I haven't set the 24" monitor directly next to the 24" TV (I have a client who recently purchased the 24" TV to use as a monitor), but barring that I can't tell any real difference.

At least among the Samsungs, there is little to no difference in the panel, the difference is all in the inputs. The TV has a plethora, while the monitor has only VGA and DVI.

You're overthinking your decision. They are the same panels, the difference is all in the size of the dots. I wouldn't much like a 37" at a foot or two away. A 32" might be better, but I've never used one.

Edited to add: Samsung themselves calls both of them monitors, but the one I'm calling a TV is really a TV that they're calling a monitor. They claim not to sell TVs in the 24" size. :p

the tv isnt too bright at that distance?