Thinking of using a computer monitor as a TV

[vlame]

what would I need to be careful with? right now I have a cable box that has s-video and rca out. i am thinking of doing this because flat tvs are expensive but computer monitors are cheap.

maybe a vga box that would convert rca/s-video to vga or dvi would be needed.

i also heard of HDCP, content protection which is like drm for broadcasts. any clue on this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-bandw ... Protection

A Wii shouldn't have any problems right? How about consoles that I don't have RCA cables for are am still using RF? I can use a VCR right?

Right now I just use my xbox or ps2 to play DVDs and video files.

[pakopako]

right now I have a cable box that has s-video and rca out. i am thinking of doing this because flat tvs are expensive but computer monitors are cheap.

True...

maybe a vga box that would convert rca/s-video to vga or dvi would be needed.

This would be the expensive part.

I'd suggest getting a cheaper TV brand. I mean, you can get a used/refurbished 22" Vizio LCD TV for under US$200. If you want to trust a brick-and-mortar store warranty, BestBuy house-brand DYNEX TVs are just as cheap.

Or, build a sub-$400 PC for media purposes. (Video, DVD playback, and TV capture/recording.)

[vlame]

power cost as well, to always have a pc on while watching tv seems expensive.

a 23 inch monitor is like $150 while a 23 inch tv is 250.

[naiaru]

maybe a vga box that would convert rca/s-video to vga or dvi would be needed.

i also heard of HDCP, content protection which is like drm for broadcasts. any clue on this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-bandw ... Protection

A Wii shouldn't have any problems right? How about consoles that I don't have RCA cables for are am still using RF? I can use a VCR right?

use the dvi port on your monitor

use an s-video/composite to HDMI converter instead (for video purposes DVI and HDMI are interchangable and only require a cheapo adapter to change the plug shape and pin set-up)

hdmi switch boxes are pretty cheap

HDCP compatibility in monitors is pretty common. My last monitor was a Lenovo ThinkVision L193p from 2007 and I could watch BDs on it just fine.

[BRIK]

I use to have my PS3 plugged into my LED HD computer monitor. It was great.

[cptfishstick]

One of the problems you run into is that computer monitors don't have Digital Tuners or the appropriate inputs for all kinds of things a TV would. They also don't have remote controls, and you would be surprised how many don't have speakers built in (and the ones that do usually have bad speakers, this is because most computer users have seperate speaker units). However, I am a big fan of using computer monitors as TV's, if you get the right one.

The Key is to find the Computer monitors that have the right hook ups. Some of the Samsung monitors actually allow for rca inputs, along with hdmi d-sub and (hopefully)DVI. This is where you want to be.

I just bought a new monitor, and I spent alot of time checking out different models. I ran into a nice 25" Samsung with RCA inputs, 2ms response, and all the good bells and whistles. It was about $200 or so.

[naiaru]

sorry to psuedo-double post

I just noticed none of the devices you listed (a cable box with s-video out, Xbox, Wii, VCR, or devices where RF is the best (possibly only) option) have anything to do with HDCP (which is only an issue when dealing with HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, etc.).

On the same note, none of those devices are of HDTV resolutions (Wii and Xbox are EDTV, though I think I remember something about a few Xbox games that were 1080i or 720p, not sure on that one though) so it would be much cheaper to just get a CRT TV (you can get ones that will display progressive scan) or monitor. Though this is all assuming you do have a 360, BD player, etc. and they just weren't listed.

edit: ↓↓ HDCP is only capable across digital interconnects. My comment about HDCP and resolutions we're/are two different points.↓↓

[theclaw]

I think with PS3, HDCP might be mandatory for all video and/or audio output from its HDMI connector. Regardless of resolution or type of content. Even the XMB at minimum settings (480p etc) would under NO circumstances, barring some of kind of legally questionable HDCP removal device, display or be heard if that's true... Seems there's a lot of misinformation or vagueness out there about this subject.

[flamepanther]

I wouldn't bother doing what you're thinking about, unless your existing TV is broken. S-video and composite signals will look like total crap on a computer monitor, believe me. In your place, I wouldn't spend any money on a new TV or on a computer monitor until I had equipment that needed it (digital cable box with HDMI output, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, BluRay player, anything)

[vlame]

Hmm. I dont have anything new except a wii. I guess a CRT would fit the bill. I dont need HDTV yet either.