Television versus Monitor

[orinj]

This might seem like a basic question but I've always been a little sceptical about the use of seemingly similar devices for different purposes and with that in mind - What is the difference between a monitor and a TV?

If they are both using the same display technology e.g. LCD and assuming they have similar input ports, are there reasons why a good computer monitor would not make a good TV and vice versa.

Obviously a TV has a built in tuner and the native resolutions of each device may not suit the input signal but are their other factors to consider?

I'm after a 24" monitor for less than £400 for my computer but would like the option to use it to watch TV via an external tuner/DVD recorder.

[myi4u]

I have seen the quality of a TV and Monitor with the same size. However, on closer look, the TV screen flicker rate seems to be higher than the monitor. In addition, the refresh rate of monitor is better than the TV. In my opinion, it seems that TV is not suitable to be viewed as close as the normal distance as you would with computer monitor. Unless you have the budget to buy a bigger screen one with wireless keyboard and mouse.

[orinj]

Thanks for your response. That would certainly make for a reasonable explanation as viewing distances are the primary difference in usage.

There is still a deficit in terms of resolution. I don't know of any commerically available TV with a resolution more than Full HD (1920x1080) and yet with most of these TVs having PC inputs, how come many monitors have better resolutions?

[Ed]

Aside from the obvious input options and Tuners, there's only two differences between a monitor and TV:

1. Resolution

Because TVs are meant to be viewed from the comfort of a sofa, they use much fewer pixels for the same size screen - there's a limit to how much detail your eyes can pick out at a certain distance. So, if you want to use a TV as a monitor you'll need a big HDTV to get anywhere near a decent resolution, which is rather cumbersome. Conversely, using a monitor as a TV would mean you'd have to fork out huge sums of money to get one big enough to view from a distance.

2. Contrast ratio and/or brightness level.

TVs use a much higher brightness and contrast level than monitors, for the same reasons they use fewer pixels for a given panel size, namely they need to be viewed from a distance. Using a TV as a monitor, with its super high 10,000: 1 contrast ratio, would, if not blind you, give you an awful headache. Conversely, using a monitor to watch TV from a distance results in a dull lifeless picture.

[orinj]

Thanks Ed. That certainly seems to sum up the differences well. Now I can rest easy having spent over £300 on a 24" monitor that looks fantastic close up and several times more on a 50" TV.

Originally Posted by orinj

There is still a deficit in terms of resolution. I don't know of any commerically available TV with a resolution more than Full HD (1920x1080) and yet with most of these TVs having PC inputs, how come many monitors have better resolutions?

Because TV content doesn't come in any higher resolution than 1920x1080. 23" monitors and over have better resolutions, and there's the odd 20" and 22" that does as well.

Other differences are:

Aspect Ratio:
Due to some quirk of fate widescreen TVs are 16:9 aspect ratio (1920x1080) while widescreen monitors are 16:10 (1920x1200).

Adjustability:
Monitors (should be) fully adjustable and most 24" monitors near £400 will be. Height adjustment, swivel, tilt and portrait to landscape. I don't know what the latest LCD TVs do though.

I suspect that a TV's image processing circuitry is designed for moving images and that a monitor's is designed for displaying small details clearly (like text) but I don't know enough about it to say for sure.

£300 for a 34" monitor? I guess you mean 24"? I guess at that price it's some sort of TN but which model did you get, and what do you think of it?

[orinj]

Yes it's a 24", the Samsung SM2493HM. I started a thread on it to ask what people think of it as it hasn't been reviewed here.

[jrich]

I believe that for the most part that the 24" monitor is basic overkill. Most desktops don't have enough room for a monitor that big. Now don't get me wrong, I'd love to have one, but let's all face reality, is it really necessary to have a screen bigger than most "normal" television screens?

[Hugo]

What "normal" people have TVs smaller than 24in? I'd consider 32in the baseline for TVs - maybe 26in if you want to stretch back to the late 1990s.

As to a 24in monitor being overkill for a desk, you should try using one - it's very, very hard to go back to anything smaller. Desktop space use isn't exactly an issue either really - the footprints of most of the current generation of 24s is pretty negligible in the grand scheme of things.

another point for having a 24" monitor.

I am presently using a 24 and a 30 for my computer needs, and I find it fantastic.

You could argue that this firefox window I am typing in is no bigger than the usual, but then browsing with two firefox windows 1600 pixels high and then having another monitor for those extra things you need, is perfectly useful.

PD: in what screen other than a 30" could you read this and the previous 4 posts without scrolling?

[orinj]

Let's not forget that with the transition to widescreen displays, the screen size is not quite as comparable with older 4:3 screens. My parent's old 29" CRT was perfectly adequate until you start watching widescreen material on it.

When it eventually gets upgraded, I will have to get a (wide)screen that is 35" or bigger in order to get the equivalent screen height. It's the height of screen that makes a lot of difference to the apparent screen size.

I just figured that since I do a lot of audio and video editing, I ought to get a large screen so I can see the detail of what I'm doing. Desk space is not really an issue and I'm very pleased with the Samsung SM2493HM that I now have. I'm surprised that TR haven't reviewed it yet.

[elitesystem]

well why a monitor when i can get a HD TV , but for my PC works i guess a decent 15-17 LCD would do. both monitor and televisions are recommended for various purposes! and i would want to have both decent stuffs a huge HD TV for my 360 and 17in LCD for my PC ! cheers

[Fwibble]

Well, for a while I used a 52" light engine for my PC games and it was utterly brilliant - lagre screen gaming on a good TV is so immersive and coupled with Dolby Digital sound - I had an old NForce2 motherboard until about 3 months ago and this was outputted to my home cinema setup - the overall experience was something to behold. I sold the TV to a guy who brought round his X-box and he was totally blown away by it - so much so he didn't even haggle!

For some time I had a IIyama VM-454 for my PC which I have to say was excellent, but it started developing line tear issues so I have been looking for a replacement. I did try a Samsung 226CW (well, 2 actually, see my reply to the review...) and I have to say the whole 22" segment is full of monitors that I don't think cut the mustard at all, mostly because they all use TN displays. I ended up spending rather a lot more and got a LaCie 324 (TR, a review perhaps?) which is proving to be a more than capable replacement for my trusty (and now sadly dead) CRT. Games are very good and the low level detail is excellent. If there are any issues with panel response in games they didn't bother me and I am very sensitised to this problem - normally laggy displays make me feel physically sick.

If I had the space, which I don't now I've moved in with my partner, I would have a large screen LCD or Plasma - although the issue of screen burn is still something that bothers me - for games and a small one like the LaCie for desktop work.

A few LCD TV's now come with a PC picture mode and some even have an optimised gaming mode (apparently). Maybe TR could try some of these TV's as gaming monitors?

[Kupon]

Well.. As for me - I haven't the problems with this at all:
I'm using LCD TV to play on my PS3 and watch the movies.
And I'm using the monitor for work on PC.

[Racer101]

I am currently using a 46" 1080p LCD as my TV, monitor and for PS3 gaming. I find that having only one screen to do all these things a lot better than having
a separate desk for a monitor.

[internetfred]

Originally Posted by orinj

Thanks Ed. That certainly seems to sum up the differences well. Now I can rest easy having spent over £300 on a 24" monitor that looks fantastic close up and several times more on a 50" TV.

What did you chose to buy

[Exitialis]

but how do you do more than one thing at any one time?!

surely you need at least two screens?

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[hcm949ik]

Just get this program


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