Widescreen Monitor Requirements.

I'm thinking about getting a widescreen monitor and I'd like to know if there's any reqirement for it I didn't think of. My Videocard is a Radeon 8500 All In Wonder (it has DVI out if that's what's reqired). I don't THINK there'd be anything, but I'd hate to buy it and then not be able to use it because of something stupid.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Depends what kind of screen you get. The Apple 30" or Dell's 24fpw you won't be able to run at the uber-resolution that they have (they require dual-link DVI stuff). Probably any other Widescreen LCD and you'd be fine. Just post what the resolution of the monitor you are getting...

There's nowhere I can't reach.

What kind of work do you want to do with your monitor? Makes all the difference in the world.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Well quite honestly it isn't for any "working" purposes. Just everyday desktop stuff. It's just that I find that at any given time I've got an assload of windows up, and I'd be nice to run a few side by side.

A good example would be when I'm playing poker in one window, but would like to que up some MP3s. I wouldn't have to minimize the folders I could put my music folder to the side while the main window is up and I don't miss any of the action.

I have my eye on this one. It has a TV tuner which will be nice to take the processor load off of my PC if I want to watch something. It also has component in (Which my video card doesn't unless I buy an adaptor).

edit: Hmm, now that I look at some of the comments I notice it can't go from 16:10 to 16:9 so the image is stretched. So that one's out, but basically one like it

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Just a correction, the 30" displays are the only ones that require dual-link DVI. Dell's 24" and Apple's 23" are 1920 x 1200 displays, which are the upper limit of standard DVI.

I was speaking idiomatically.

My bad moms... you are right. It's Dell's new 30" or 26" or something that needs dual-link, not the 24fpwblahblah.

Double Post:

Originally Posted by Hotobu

I have my eye on this one. It has a TV tuner which will be nice to take the processor load off of my PC if I want to watch something. It also has component in (Which my video card doesn't unless I buy an adaptor).

edit: Hmm, now that I look at some of the comments I notice it can't go from 16:10 to 16:9 so the image is stretched. So that one's out, but basically one like it

Most PC-TV LCD displays are at 16:10 and they work fine for 16:9 content. I have a 32" 1360x768 (16:10) display that shows Smallville's 16:9 content off DVD just fine from the PC (unstretched). And secondly, 16:9 content coming in via component cables can usually be adjusted with either a fill setting (stretched) or a standard setting (unstretched). That one you linked looks like a decent buy. It probably has controls to stretching on the included remote.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Well, I'm saying I want to run it unstretched, and according to the second guy (I'll do some reasearch it's possible he just doesn't know what he's talking about) it only runs it in stretch mode. That's not what I want. Also if you know for a good place with a large place of PC-TV LCD monitors that I can compare it would be helpful. I'm kinda pecking around the net now and only see some here and there.

FELIPE NO

I dunno, I'm of the school that believes any product that tries to be a jack of all trades will end up a master of none. I'd invest in a solid, proven, high-quality widescreen monitor for your PC, and if you want TV tuning, find some other device to do it.

If nothing else, Dell's 2407 has included component ins, as well as S-video/composite (I believe), and it's HDMI compatible over DVI. Basically, you can bring in ANY digital TV source from an outboard box and use it. It's also just a fantastic widescreen monitor in general, and deals on it come up all the time. Just sign up for one of those coupon tracking sites and wait for a good price.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Killmoms is right. Either the Dell 2407 or the 2007 are great displays for PC, and also have TV inputs (not tuners mind you). It's a good compromise, especially if you were thinking of console gaming on the LCD.

How ya doing, buddy?

Yes I'm leaning towards that idea as well and I came to that conclusion as I was looking around for models.

Basically I think I'll leave the TV tuning to my computer, but I would like the monitor to have component video Imputs for my consoles. The Dell 2007 model would be perfect, but it's only got composite and S-Video. The monitor I get must have component. The other Model would be fabulous... except it's a little bigger and more expensive than I wanted to go with. It seems, however, that you can't get Component connections on anything smaller than 24'.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Hotobu

It seems, however, that you can't get Component connections on anything smaller than 24'.

The rationale for this is, I'd assume, that 1920 x 1200 is the only size screen that can natively display 1080i/p content at 1:1.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I was thinking that as well, but 20.1" monitors go to 1680 x 1050 which is directly proportional to 1920 x 1200 (The math's right, but there could be some technical thing that makes doing it that way better. I don't know)

I have to say that Dell monitor is fucking gorgeous, but I just don't know if I want to go that big.

Quite serendipidously I just stepped up stairs and Circuit City sent me a cupon book for 15% off any purchas over $199. So I went to their site and found this. So unless I decide to step up to the Dell or you have any other recommendations I think that's the one.

Thanks for all the help thus far.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

It's okay, but even with the 15% off, it's still nearly $200 more expensive than the Dell 2007WFP, which currently has a deal going where it's only $367 shipped (go search for it on dealmac.com). Yeah, no composite or TV tuner... but with that $200 in your pocket, I'm sure you could address those shortcomings. And, from what I'm reading, it's a better monitor, with less backlight bleeding.

Anyway, your choice. I'm sure you'll be happy with whichever you pick.

I was speaking idiomatically.

It's an NEC so hopefully it'll be good. The upper-end NEC models are renowned for their superior colour quality over pretty much all other monitors, which is why manufacturers like LaCie use rebranded NEC devices in their own range. I couldn't say if that quality carries on down into their "average" displays though.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?