Home Theatre Advice and Planning pt. II

[Sir Og]

LCD Monitor vs LCD TV?

Does anybody have an idea how the two are different.

I would like to get an LCD monitor/TV and use it both for watching TV and as pc monitor (for gaming, work). I can't figure out however what is better. To get a monitor and use it for TV or to get a TV and use it as a monitor?

[Dinner]

Get a TV and use it as a monitor as you will have a much larger screen.

[Sir Og]

My room is smallish and even a 40" is too big IMO.

Is there any other difference between the two apart from size? There must be more than that.

[LordShiva]

LCD Monitor means there's no tuner, so you'll need a cable box or HTPC or something in order to watch TV on it.

[Nostromo]

- In general, they have no tuners, although some do.

- No remote. Although you probably can add one.

- Generally, they have limited imputs : probably no HDMI, no composite or component. You're stuck with VGA and DVI. I don't know if you can plug a DVD into one of those.

If you opt for a monitor, be sure to buy a widescreen with, preferably, a native resolution of 720p or 1080p. Or something close to that. The picture will look the best at the native resolution.

And if you ever opt for a LCD TV, the picture will look like sh!te when you'll use it as a monitor. LCD TV's are meant to be watched at a certain distance, not close-up like you would do with a monitor. You probably won't have that problem with a 1080p TV, but they're very expensive.

[snoopy369]

Most PCTV cards have an s-video input, which the DVD player could come through. Or just play DVDs on your PC...

There are some good remotes out there, BeyondTV comes with a free Firefly remote (Radio, not IR) that works quite well. ( www.snapstream.com )

Are you using a cable box? That might be the biggest potential problem - cable boxes are picky about HDCP ... so you'd have to either have a XP Media Center PC or a HDCP compliant tuner card, and some other complications... Asher?

[LordShiva]

I'm not sure if Bulgarian cable companies necessarily pay much attention to HDCP

[Asher]

LCD monitors usually have a 1:1 pixel mapping. This is great and sucks, depending -- its obviously optimal for PC/Xbox 360 kind of viewing, as well as HD-DVD/Bluray/DVD.

The problem is many satellite/cable/digicable feeds have "noise" in the edge pixels -- either "snow" or various solid colors which get displayed on an LCD Monitor. LCD TVs have a tiny bit of overscan so they never show the true edges of the picture.

The main difference is LCD TVs have tuners and LCD Monitors usually don't. The higher end LCD monitors do come with remotes.

Don't know much about using HDCP with a PC, never used it.

[snoopy369]

HDCP from what I recall on a PC has to be installed by a 'trusted system builder' or some $#% like that, no? I know that's an issue with cable cards in the states ... or am I getting it confused with something else?

[snoopy369]

As an aside, my EDTV isn't playing with HDCP over DVI. If i get a HDMI->DVI cable, will it still not play well with HDCP? (I have the following choices for input: S-Video, DVI, RGB; and for output, HDMI, DVI, S-Video, Component) S-Video is acceptable for 320x200 but when I go over to the HD channels, it gets really lossy ...

(ie, if I hook up the DVI-DVI connection, the cable box says 'no' due to HDCP issues.)

[Asher]

I think all you need is a video card with HDCP support -- like Nvidia "Purevideo HD" cards.

[snoopy369]

Wouldn't the TV Tuner have to have the support? Or ... hmm, you're presuming it connects from Cable Box to Video Card as there's no real need to 'tune' anything, aren't you. :doh:

[Asher]

I was thinking more along the lines of HD-DVD/Blurays. Suppose the tuners would need it also.

[snoopy369]

Ah, indeed.

Any idea on the HDMI->DVI question?

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by snoopy369
HDCP from what I recall on a PC has to be installed by a 'trusted system builder' or some $#% like that, no? I know that's an issue with cable cards in the states ... or am I getting it confused with something else?

You need an HDCP-compliant video card (any of the ATI cards that have HDMI ports, or any nVidia 7950 card, or the MSI 7600GT HD, or some of the new eVGA ones). Since there are no QAM or CableCard tuners available for PCs yet, that's not an issue; the ATSC tuners will work with your TV if your video card is compliant. If you use a cable box, that would need to be compliant (most with HDMI are, I think).

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by snoopy369
As an aside, my EDTV isn't playing with HDCP over DVI. If i get a HDMI->DVI cable, will it still not play well with HDCP?

I think that should work; if the HDMI is implemented properly, it will be compliant.

[snoopy369]

My cable box is compliant, but the TV is not (and the TV's DVI port is not compliant for DVI-DVI). Would 'converting' HDMI down to DVI block the HDCP? (My TV does not have an HDMI port, only DVI.)

[LordShiva]

Oh. No dice if the TV isn't compliant. Try analog?

[snoopy369]

It doesn't have component inputs ... I think I'm stuck with s-video

[Winston]

This thread reminds me a little of the New Gas Cooker Sketch..

First Gas Man: Morning. Mrs G. Crump?

Mrs Pinnet: No - Mrs G. Pinnet.

First Gas Man: This is 46 Egernon Crescent?

Mrs Pinnet: No - Road. Egernon Road.

First Gas Man: (looks at a bit of paper) Road, yes, says here. Yeah. Right, could I speak to Mrs G. Crump please?

Mrs Pinnet: Oh there's nobody here of that name. It's Mrs G. Pinnet. 46 Egernon Road.

First Gas Man: Well it says 'Crump' here. Don't it, Harry?

Second Gas Man: Yeah - it's on the invoice.

First Gas Man: Yeah, definitely Crump.

Mrs Pinnet: Well there must have been a mistake, because the address is right, and that's definitely the cooker I ordered - a blue and white Cook-Easy.

First Gas Man: Well you can't have this. This is Crump.

Mrs Pinnet: Oh dear, what are we going to do?

First Gas Man: Well I don't know. What we can do for you is take it back to the Depot, get a transfer slip from Crump to Pinnet, and put it on a special delivery.

Second Gas Man: Yeah - that's best. We'll special it for you, we'll get it down there today and you'll get it back in ten weeks.

Mrs Pinnet: Ten weeks! Blimey, can't you just leave this one?

First Gas Man: What this? What leave it here? (they seem thunderstruck)

Mrs Pinnet: Yes.

First Gas Man: Well I dunno. I suppose we could.

Second Gas Man: Oh, but she'd have to fill out a temporary dispatch note.

First Gas Man: Yeah we could leave it on a temporary dispatch note.

Mrs Pinnet: Well that's sorted out then. What a mess, isn't it.

First Gas Man: I know, it's ridiculous really, but there you are. Glad we could be of such a help. Right, would you sign it down there please, Mrs Crump?

Mrs Pinnet: Pinnet.

First Gas Man: Pinnet. Listen, just for the books make it a bit easier, could you sign it Crump-Pinnet.

Mrs Pinnet: Right. (she signs)

First Gas Man: Right. Thank you very much, dear. The cooker's yours. Right. (they push it just inside the door and move off) Sorry about the bother... but there you are ... you know ... cheerio!

Second Gas Man: Cheerio, Mrs Crump!

Mrs Pinnet: Hey, excuse me! Cooey! Er, can you put it in the kitchen?

First Gas Man: (coming back) You what?

Mrs Pinnet: Well I can't cook on it unless it's connected up.

First Gas Man: Oh we didn't realize you had an installation invoice.

Second Gas Man: Yes, an MI.

First Gas Man: We can't touch it without an MI, you see.

Second Gas Man: Or an RI6.

Third Gas Man: (who is suddenly revealed behind the two of them) If it's a special.

Second Gas Man: Nah - it's not special ... the special's back at the Depot.

First Gas Man: No, the special's the same as the installation invoice.

Third Gas Man: So it's an RI6.

Mrs Pinnet: What's an installation invoice?

First Gas Man: A pink form from Reading.

Mrs Pinnet: Oh - we wondered what that was. Now these are the forms. (she produces a large wad of papers, sorts through and produces a pink form which she hands to them)

First Gas Man: That's the one, love. Yeah, this should be all I need. Hang on. This is for Pinnet. Mrs G. Pinnet.

Mrs Pinnet: That's right. I'm Mrs G. Pinnet.

First Gas Man: Well we've got Crump-Pinnet on the invoice.

Mrs Pinnet: Well shall I sign it Crump-Pinnet then?

First Gas Man: No, no, no - not an MI - no.

Second Gas Man: No - that's from Area Service at Reading.

Fourth Gas Man: (suddenly revealed) No, Cheltenham isn't it?

Second Gas Man: No, not this side of the street.

Mrs Pinnet: Look I just want it connected up.

(Much doubtfulness.)

Third Gas Man: What about London Office?

First Gas Man: Well they haven't got the machinery.

Second Gas Man: Not now.

Fifth Gas Man: (suddenly, revealed) What! The Hounslow Depot?

Fourth Gas Man: No - they're still on standard pressure.

Sixth Gas Man: (suddenly revealed) Same with Twickenham.

Mrs Pinnet: But surely you can connect up a gas cooker?

First Gas Man: Oh yeah, we could connect it up, love, but not unless it's an emergency.

Mrs Pinnet: But this is an emergency.

First Gas Man: No it's not. An emergency is 290... 'where there is actual or apparent loss of combustible gaseous substances'.

Second Gas Man: Yeah, it's like a leak.

(Seventh gas man is revealed.)

Seventh Gas Man: Yeah, or a 4-78.

Third Gas Man: No - that's valve adjustment.

Mrs Pinnet: But there can't be a leak unless you've connected it up.

First Gas Man: No, quite. We'd have to turn it on.

Mrs Pinnet: Well can't you turn it on and connect it up?

First Gas Man: No. But what we can do, and this is between you and me, I shouldn't really be telling you this, we'll turn your gas on, make a hole in your pipe, you ring Hounslow emergency, they'll be around here in a couple of days.

Mrs Pinnet: What, a house full of gas! I'll be dead by then!

First Gas Man: Oh well, in that case you'd have the South East Area Manager round here like a shot.

Mrs Pinnet: Really?

First Gas Man: Ah yes. 'One or more persons overcome by fumes', you'd have Head Office, Holborn round here.

Mrs Pinnet: Really?

First Gas Man: Yes. That's murder you see.

Second Gas Man: Or suicide.

Fifth Gas Man: No. That's S-42.

Second Gas Man: Oh.

(Eighth gas man is revealed.)

Eighth Gas Man: Still? I thought it was Hainault.

Fifth Gas Man: No - Central area and Southall Marketing Division, they're both on the S-42 now.

Mrs Pinnet: And they'd be able to connect it up?

First Gas Man: Oh - they'd do the lot for you, love.

Mrs Pinnet: And they'd come round this afternoon?

First Gas Man: ... Well what is it now... 11:30... murder... they'll be round here by two.

Mrs Pinnet: Oh well that's wonderful.

First Gas Man: Oh well, right love, if you'd like to lie down here.

Mrs Pinnet: All right. (she does so)

First Gas Man: Okay Harry.

Second Gas Man: Okay. Gas on.

First Gas Man: (holding a gas pipe to her mouth) Right, deep breaths love. Ring Head Office would you Norman...

Fourth Gas Man: Shall I go through maintenance?

Fifth Gas Man: No, you'd better go through Deptford Maintenance.

Sixth Gas Man: Peckham's on a 207 .... .

Voices: ... that's Lewisham. What about Tottenham? No, that would be a 5-4... what about Lewisham? It's central isn't it? Or Ryeslip...

(The camera pans along line of gas men all turning to each other and muttering incomprehensible technicalities, the line stretches across to front door. Line continues outside in the street and goes into animation sequences)