MirageMobile
Limp Gawd
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2007
- Messages
- 489
How good would the display of a high-end computer be on a 50" plasma, perhaps for hooking up to play a DVD or run a game?
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50"
- Thread starter MirageMobile
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taylorwilsdon
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2006
- Messages
- 2,286
For desktop work, super crappy. Most plasmas use a horrendously low resolution. If you want to connect it to a PC, you have to go LCD. You sacrifice black levels for... usability.
HD1080 is a whole 'nother ballpark compared to WXGA (1366x768). What looks good on HD1080 isn't going to look very good on WXGA.
If you are looking at a 50" Plasma or LCD, make 100% sure you know what the maximum resolution is. As was mentioned above if you are looking for a quality television, make sure it's 1080p so you get the best resolution possible. A 720p/1080i monitor is NOT going to look impressive--I have a Sony 50" TV and I only use it as a "spare monitor" for when I'm having an issue and I suspect the monitor is the culprit. It has no functional, practical use as the TV is about 8' away from the rest of my computer components, and I don't use a wireless mouse/keyboard/headset.
When I sold stuff at Circuit City (about 6 months ago, so not TOO long ago) I would gauge what size the person wanted, then recommend a size lower with a higher resolution. Demoing it was cake and more often than not someone would go with a slightly smaller (4" or 6" smaller) display in favor of a higher quality picture. Some people will immediately call it a scam since you can't use 1080p on a cable box or then-current satellite images (720p = HD on most cable I've ever heard of). The TV is useful for more than just watching cable or sports--if you are a gamer (or have a gamer in the household), or if you watch DVD's and want to get HD/Blue-Ray DVDs then a 1080p-quality TV is a must.
It's all about knowing how you are going to use it--if you are just going to watch TV for 2 hours a night on an HD DVR or live.... the 720p should do you fine. If you want to hook up peripheral devices (computer, HD-DVD player, console system, etc.) then the 1080p is an ideal choice for you.
When I sold stuff at Circuit City (about 6 months ago, so not TOO long ago) I would gauge what size the person wanted, then recommend a size lower with a higher resolution. Demoing it was cake and more often than not someone would go with a slightly smaller (4" or 6" smaller) display in favor of a higher quality picture. Some people will immediately call it a scam since you can't use 1080p on a cable box or then-current satellite images (720p = HD on most cable I've ever heard of). The TV is useful for more than just watching cable or sports--if you are a gamer (or have a gamer in the household), or if you watch DVD's and want to get HD/Blue-Ray DVDs then a 1080p-quality TV is a must.
It's all about knowing how you are going to use it--if you are just going to watch TV for 2 hours a night on an HD DVR or live.... the 720p should do you fine. If you want to hook up peripheral devices (computer, HD-DVD player, console system, etc.) then the 1080p is an ideal choice for you.
1080p is not necessary unless:
1) You want to use it as a computer monitor
or
2) You'll be sitting approximately two screen widths (or less) away from the screen and plan to stock up on HD DVDs or Blu-Ray discs in the next couple of years.
For a television, 720p is entirely sufficient, especially since there are no 1080p broadcasts and won't be for a very very long time. 1080p gives you absolutely nothing over 720p for watching DVDs. From, say, 8 feet away on a 50" screen, 1080p on an HD DVD looks absolutely identical to 720p from an HD DVD.
I pretty much agree with what is quoted--I differentiate between "ideal" (which I used) and "necessary" (which you used.) My personal opinion is that I should strive for the best I can afford at the time--others say buy what can be utilized out-of-the-box given existing conditions. My IDEAL situation is that technology will improve over the next year, so I purchase to meet those conditions.
I'm picky. =)
.. What do you expect over the next year? ESPN and Fox to switch to 1080p??I pretty much agree with what is quoted--I differentiate between "ideal" (which I used) and "necessary" (which you used.) My personal opinion is that I should strive for the best I can afford at the time--others say buy what can be utilized out-of-the-box given existing conditions. My IDEAL situation is that technology will improve over the next year, so I purchase to meet those conditions.
I'm picky. =)
You are some idealist
.. What do you expect over the next year? ESPN and Fox to switch to 1080p??
You are some idealist
Gotta' dream [H] and pray someone else out there does, too.
I bought a 720p/1080i TV 7 months ago, but my next TV will be 1080p (along with my next computer monitor, see my other post in this forum!)