Larger widesrcreen type PC Monitor - Reco's?

Hi George,

I run TV and DVD sound through my Naim system and it sounds very good.

Regards,

Chris N

George 

I just moved from a 19 inch (non widescreen) LG to a 24 inch widescreen Dell Ultrasharp U2412M.

It is an absolute joy. What makes this model slightly special is the aspect ratio is 16:10 as opposed to the more common nowadays16:9. This gives you some handy extra real estate for computer usage and gives the whole screen a more substantial feel.  The stand is fully adjustable; height, swivel, tilt - with full rotation of the screen to portrait mode should that ever be required. It all feels very solid.

They can be had for just over £200. There is a good review on PCpro online, among others.

Unfortunately if you are really set on larger than 24 inches, then the larger Dell Ultrasharp's shoot up in price considerably (particularly for the 16:10 aspect), so you may have to look elsewhere, depending on your budget.

Good luck and enjoy - I can't believe I waited so long to get a large widescreen monitor,

but am so happy I finally have.

Sam

Dear Chris [Analogue Rules OK],

I first played DVDs through my computer more than ten years ago. I have never understood why - if one owned a computer - one would want to play through a DVD player and tele! And Naim amplification and decent speakers only enhamce the clarity and involvement!

Dear Sam [Mancusco],

Thanks for the tips. I went and had a brief look this afternoon at what was in PC World, and was shocked at the lack of range among larger monitors. But you have given me some good leads. I do not want a telewisor in my house, and so any monitor equipped to receive TV will never come here.

ATB from George 

Really I was surprised how limited were the offerings from PC World, but a little research on the net does show that there is a reasonable choice without additional TV receiver built in!

I am only planiing to consider what I might get in the January sales, by which time I might have saved up enough spare!

The trouble with the net is one has no idea of what the picture quality is like! None will be bad, but there is a difference for all that.

ATB from George

George, I have no idea about your budget, but if you want a crisp hi-res monitor for reading text, etc.. I can recommend the NEC PA301w.

When I bought a new 42" TV I simply took my Vizio 32" television and made it my PC monitor - I now can surf the net and tan at the same time.

Here in the USA you can get these for around $250 - 325, and they are versatile in that they can serve both functions as a TV and a monitor...and just a few years ago a 20" flat screen computer monitor was about that price.

No computer monitor that was also as TV would suit, as I have no interest in letting TV into my house!

It is voluntary propaganda machine of un-repressed capitilasm!

I gave up selective TV viewing more than a decade ago.

If some programme is apparently interesting, then I can stream it .... even if months or weeks later ...

I just want a big screen for the computer... Maybe even a projector and screen ...

ATB from George

Dear George,

I would seriously advise you against this. The running cost of a projector is high - replacement bulbs are very expensive. IMO it is not a practical solution for use as a computer monitor - though superb for movies. The running cost of a monitor screen is zero, save for the tiny amount of electricity used.

Best,

Peter

PS. If your graphics card will support it how about using a second small monitor for close-up work such as iTunes or emails and the current monitor for watching movies etc.? Just a thought.....

I have deciced out what to do!

Get a small trolley table for the existing one, and use it a bit closer!

ATB from George

Hi George -

Have you already exhausted your options for increasing font size (DPI)? The only downside to doing so is that many apps will then require full screen mode and some horizontal scrolling.

The process for doing this depends on which version of Windows (XP, Vista or 7) you are running, but the instructions are easily google'd.  Later versions of Windows come with only three presets, but you can easily create a custom scale.

Good luck!

Hook

George,

Why the aversion to TVs?

I use a 21" one as my screen in my bedroom, 1080p. Means I have a lot a screen real estate for working, and if Juliette & I want to watch a film in the evening we can stream it via a laptop.

I haven't watched TV, per se, for over twenty years - and do not have a TV licence.

I do not watch any live broadcasts. I have two TVs in the house. No TV aerial & neither are tuned into any channels.

I have had a number of conversations with the TV Licencing authorities over the years, but never had any issues.

M

Then don't hook up an antennae or other source; my "TV" cannot receive TV - but it's just a budget means to achieve a very large screen computer monitor.  Even my other TV has no TV - I use it to watch DVDs; haven't had TV programming in over a year here.

No, I don't want a separate TV screen and a computer monitor. The flat is not really big enough to stand much clutter. 

I might get some better glasses! A nice simple economic method!

ATB from George

Hi George - I was only speaking of your getting one unit - and just that the 32" TVs that can double as a monitor are rather affordable now - saw a Vizio at Costco the other day for $249.00.

Of course, as you point out, in the same Costco they have a 3 pack of reading glasses of various diopter strengths to choose from for $17!

Dear Mark,

I have a plan in outline, but you will need to be quick looking at systems pics in a few weeks!

Possibly the neatest computer screen yet, but not anything but a bit spoiling myself.

I am not going to respond to any guesses! 

All will be reveled when the time is ripe!

Very best wishes from George

G,

Neither do I, but my laptop has an HDMI output, that I use into the TV.

But I see you are a man with a plan.

M

Dear Martin,

All will be revealed. I am still hopefull of getting a VHF signal here for the Troughline. I spied some VFH aerials in our dip!

ATB from George