Comments on: Buying a widescreen TV http://cavepictures.net/2010/02/buying-a-widescreen-tv/ computer animation video editing 3d graphics architectural mining walkthroughs perth western australia Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:07:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Roberto http://cavepictures.net/2010/02/buying-a-widescreen-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Roberto Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:07:50 +0000 http://cavepictures.net/?p=234#comment-5 Good point Edwin. Most HD TV's do come with a built in TV tuner. There is also now a plethora of Full HD 1920 x 1080 computer monitors with HDMI inputs that could essentially be used as a TV, just by connecting a set-top box (digital TV tuner) and an amp and speakers -if they're not already built in. I tried to keep the post as simple as possible for the lay person. I don't think there is much, if any difference between digital TV's and widescreen computer monitors these days as the technologies have converged. If you want to buy a computer monitor to use as a TV, try and get one with a HDMI socket which carries both audio and video signals (if your computer monitor has inbuilt speakers). If it only has a DVI socket, this input only carries a Full HD video signal. This is still OK if you don't have speakers inbuilt, but trying to find a set-top box with a DVI output may be hard. The only option then is to get a HDMI to DVI connector and connect the audio output RCA sockets to your audio amplifier. Warning: with the inclusion of HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) in many devices, you may find you have issues connecting different devices or trying to send audio and video down separate cables. At best, you may only get analog stereo, at worst no audio and/or video. This issue is complex and it's best to google HDCP issues before you buy products that are incompatible with each other. Good point Edwin. Most HD TV’s do come with a built in TV tuner. There is also now a plethora of Full HD 1920 x 1080 computer monitors with HDMI inputs that could essentially be used as a TV, just by connecting a set-top box (digital TV tuner) and an amp and speakers -if they’re not already built in. I tried to keep the post as simple as possible for the lay person.
I don’t think there is much, if any difference between digital TV’s and widescreen computer monitors these days as the technologies have converged. If you want to buy a computer monitor to use as a TV, try and get one with a HDMI socket which carries both audio and video signals (if your computer monitor has inbuilt speakers). If it only has a DVI socket, this input only carries a Full HD video signal. This is still OK if you don’t have speakers inbuilt, but trying to find a set-top box with a DVI output may be hard. The only option then is to get a HDMI to DVI connector and connect the audio output RCA sockets to your audio amplifier. Warning: with the inclusion of HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) in many devices, you may find you have issues connecting different devices or trying to send audio and video down separate cables. At best, you may only get analog stereo, at worst no audio and/or video. This issue is complex and it’s best to google HDCP issues before you buy products that are incompatible with each other.

]]> By: Edwin http://cavepictures.net/2010/02/buying-a-widescreen-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Edwin Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:18:58 +0000 http://cavepictures.net/?p=234#comment-3 Nicely informative. So I guess my DEL 24 inch monitor is Full HD. You can buy these for about $400 now (maybe less?). What you might also add is that most HD TVs also come with a tuner built in these days, when most of the time all we really need is a big monitor (because our set-top box also has a receiver built in). Either way, I've always thought it strange that if you were to have an HD TV, a VHS tape deck and a set top box, you've probably got THREE TV tuners in your set-up. I guess that's mass marketing and who's gonna argue with that? On another note... Jim just offered to loan me his old DVD player, so between your loaned HD set-top box and his DVD player, I can feel a couple of cosy SD nights coming on.. Nicely informative. So I guess my DEL 24 inch monitor is Full HD. You can buy these for about $400 now (maybe less?). What you might also add is that most HD TVs also come with a tuner built in these days, when most of the time all we really need is a big monitor (because our set-top box also has a receiver built in). Either way, I’ve always thought it strange that if you were to have an HD TV, a VHS tape deck and a set top box, you’ve probably got THREE TV tuners in your set-up. I guess that’s mass marketing and who’s gonna argue with that?

On another note… Jim just offered to loan me his old DVD player, so between your loaned HD set-top box and his DVD player, I can feel a couple of cosy SD nights coming on..

]]>