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question about "the desktop" when using and HTPC

post #1 of 12
1/7/09 at 10:15pm
Thread Starter 
Hey guys. I'm in the process of researching my HTPC build. I will probably be going with a recommended build from the sticky above, coupled with a Samsung LN32A550 32" LCD 1080P TV. I will be using this setup to be my everday computer (web surfing, WORD documents, email, etc.) as well as watching Blue Ray discs and maybe some gaming. My question is for the everyday use aspect. I will be sitting about 6-7 feet away from the screen. How will I be able to read the desktop icons, text on web pages / email / word documents, etc. from that far away? Is there some app or program that you guys run to make everything big enough to easily read from this distance? I am not worried about movies and stuff.........it is just that this will be my everyday computer as well as for fun, but I don't want this setup to be awful for everyday use.
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post #2 of 12
1/8/09 at 3:15am
The only way to see at those distances would be to lower the resolution or use the microsoft magnifier for viewing text.
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post #3 of 12
1/8/09 at 4:55am
You can change the text DPI from Control Panel. That helps.
Also, Firefox has this zooming feature which is pretty powerful. "Control +" zooms in, "Control -" out.
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post #4 of 12
1/8/09 at 6:29am
IMHO, you are going to hate using this as an everyday PC. While you can change the DPI, or decrease resolution, a day to day PC is not meant to be viewed from 6-10 feet away.
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post #5 of 12
1/8/09 at 6:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by burnout42 View Post

.it is just that this will be my everyday computer as well as for fun, but I don't want this setup to be awful for everyday use.

While I don't know if it will be awful for you, I don't have high hopes. IMO, you need a really big screen to be able to use a TV as an everyday computer. I tried all the tricks, mentioned above, with a 40" TV sitting 8' feet, in my old apartment, and quickly gave up (yes, my eyesight is fine). Today, I sit 10' away and I wouldn't bother trying to do everyday stuff on it unless I had a projector.

However, everybody's different. Give it a shot. You might be okay with it.
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post #6 of 12
1/8/09 at 6:46am
I am about 13 feet away from my 56" set. While web surfing is fine and the occasional word or excel doc is ok I would not recommend it for every day use.
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post #7 of 12
1/8/09 at 7:35am
I'm with most people that it will be less than ideal for everyday use. 32" at 1080p won't be terrible, but will probably be fatiguing for reading text. You can do it, but you'll probably find yourself wanting a monitor too.
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post #8 of 12
1/8/09 at 7:55am
I have a 40" HDTV and I sit 8' from it. It has a resolution of 1360 x 768 which is lower that yours (lower res -> bigger text). I set the desktop fonts for 'large scale (125 DPI)'. It is usable, But I much prefer using my regular computer. When we use it for gaming during LAN parties, we set up a folding table and chair close to it to make it more usable.

Based on this I don't think you'll find using your HDTV as a 'everyday' computer acceptable.
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post #9 of 12
1/8/09 at 11:13pm
Thread Starter 
WOW. With the future of PC going in this direction mainstream, I am surprised that there is no app or program or theme that is designed to make everyday computing comfortable from a distance on an HDTV........super large icons / text, etc. Now I am scared fellas. I'm going to put a lot of cash into this thing, and now I get the idea that if I use this setup for my everyday computing needs that I will hate it. This sucks.
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post #10 of 12
1/9/09 at 2:10am
Too far away. I have a 40" 1080p and I sit about 3.5 feet away and its just right. I also have a 27" and I sit about 2 feet away and its good. 32" @ 8 feet away is going to suck.
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post #11 of 12
1/9/09 at 6:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by burnout42 View Post

WOW. With the future of PC going in this direction mainstream,

It is? I would never recommend anyone put a PC in their living room with the intention of doing general purpose computing from a couch. If they really want to do that, then get a cheap laptop.
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post #12 of 12
1/9/09 at 11:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by burnout42 View Post

WOW. With the future of PC going in this direction mainstream, I am surprised that there is no app or program or theme that is designed to make everyday computing comfortable from a distance on an HDTV

No offense, but TV's larger than 32" are more mainstream than a HTPC. If you were going to be sitting closer, this would be easy to do. But 8 feet for a 32" screen is a long ways away to see text. You may be able to do some basic web browsing, but I couldn't imagine trying to work in Word or Excel from the difference.
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