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Using Your TV as a Monitor?

Posted by Cliff on from the next-point-of-convergence dept.

bpm140 asks: "I'm interested in turning my spare PC into an MP3 server, but unless I can hook it up to my home theater system, it's not really worth the effort. My biggest requirement is that I can view the desktop on my TV. Right now I'm limited to S-video, but in the future I plan on upgrading to HDTV. What are my options for getting legible text on my current TV? Any specific video card I should look at?" Are there any HDTV units in the pipe that may make this easier than it is now with current TVs? I've seen televisions with VGA inputs, before, but for the life of me, I can't remember who makes them.

4 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. Build your own by SpatchMonkey · · Score: 4, Informative

    You could try building your own, there is a good page on it here.

  2. Re:First PC by Jonny+290 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Of course this can be done.
    The Atrai used a TV for its monitor.

    Do you understand the difference between 40x25 16-color text and 1280x1024 .25 dot pitch GUI screens?

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    Hey Taco! Looks like you're using the "infinite monkeys and typewriters" scheme to generate Ask Slashdots again...
  3. ATI Radeon 8500s can output to HDTV. by stickb0y · · Score: 4, Informative

    ATI fairly recently came out with an adapter to let their Radeon 8500 cards output to HDTV. Anandtech has a brief review of it.

  4. Philips TV/PC Monitors by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Check out the Philips 150MT (review here) TV/PC monitor.

    I've read a recent review of this model in Empire Magazine (UK) and it sounds like a dream.

    Check out some of the features:
    • concealed manual controls
    • rear SCART socket, S-Video input and XGA (1024 by 768) PC input, stereo audio in and PC audio in, side headphones socket
    • resizable picture-in-picture capability (watch TV while working on your PC without the need for a TV tuner card)
    • 2 x 2.5W Nicam stereo integral speakers
    The Philips got a five (out of five) star review, with the reviewer particularly impressed by the picture and sound quality, and cost £689 including taxes (which should equate to about roughly $879 before taxes in the US).

    Also reviewed were the similar Bush LC-15 (£700, 2/5 stars) and the LG RE-15LA30 (£700, 4/5 stars).

    Hope that helps.
    --

    "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg