pfunk said:Why then, I wonder, am I trying to find a computer LCD that acts like a TV (as well as being a competent monitor), when what it seems I truly want (and I suspect at least half of the disillusioned buyers would agree) is a good LCD TV that can also be a competent monitor???
...
Maybe the truth is I just need to suck it up and fork over the extra dough to have a quality scaler built in (aka nice TV) and try to find one with a DVI input.
The problems are a couple things...
First, most (not all) LCD TVs don't have DVI ports, just VGA (some don't) and HDMI. While DVI and HDMI are both digital inputs, and you can get an adapter, the input is fed right into the video scalers. Basically, they assume you are hooking up a consumer device like an HD-DVD player, etc.
The problem with this is then they will suck as computer monitors. You could run VGA, but then you get analog rather than digital (though, they might still look OK this way). You can't run them over the HDMI at their native resolutions... which is where LCDs look their best.
Second, most of the lower priced LCD TVs are both bigger and less resolution than these 24" LCD monitors. That might sound nice... but bigger at lower rez isn't necessarily better depending on what you want to do. Also, remember that most LCD TVs anywhere near the prices of the 24" LCDs are only 1366x768... or roughly 720p.
So... if you are wanting to use it primarily as a living room TV, and want a bigger screen (and aren't going to hook it to your HTPC)... then the LCD TVs are great. There are also some models (some of the Westys I think) that do either have DVI, or at least advertise that you can directly drive them at their native rez over the digital inputs with a computer.