Nice deal on woot today for an HP monitor

Jstas

23" 1080p widescreen monitor. It's a refurb but for 150 bones, seems like a nice deal.

BTW, a monitor is simply a TV without a tuner. Which is kinda funny since computer monitors have been "HD ready" since EGA graphics were available.

Anyway, if you have an HDMI output on your video source like a receiver or cable box, this would make a great bedroom TV. Also has VGA inputs to be used for a computer monitor.

If I had the space for it, I'd pick one up myself but right now I got other stuff to pay for like a new bathroom.

http://www.woot.com

Pauly

Not a bad deal.

I picked up a 24" ViewSonic for 199.00 about a month ago


Pauly

edbert

I always wondered but never really asked. On a monitor like this, could I have both a TV source and a computer hooked up at the same time? I was looking for a cheap option for our bedroom TV and wanted to get a new monitor as well. Would this work or am I asking for trouble if both sources are on at the same time?

Either way, this is a great deal on a large monitor.

thsmith

My son has his PC, DirectTV and PS3 hooked up to his 27" monitor using HDMI switch.

Ricardo

Jstas wrote: »

BTW, a monitor is simply a TV without a tuner.

And speakers.

Jstas

edbert wrote: »

I always wondered but never really asked. On a monitor like this, could I have both a TV source and a computer hooked up at the same time? I was looking for a cheap option for our bedroom TV and wanted to get a new monitor as well. Would this work or am I asking for trouble if both sources are on at the same time?

Either way, this is a great deal on a large monitor.

It depends on if the monitor has switchable inputs. The one on woot seems to have a "Source" button so it probably switches between inputs.

If not, you can get something like this:

http://www.hdtvsupply.com/12inx4oumusw.html



It's a switcher that covers VGA, HDMI and a few others.

The problem with a box that switches VGA and HDMI to an HDMI output is that it needs to convert the VGA signal to a digital signal. VGA is not digital. It is capable of a "high definition" signal because VGA stands for Video Graphics Array and it is a multi-path array for an analog signal. It has 15 paths and there is more than enough bandwidth in a VGA signal and path for a "high definition" signal.

But, because of that, you have to convert the signal to a digital HDMI signal. Hence the expense and size of such a switching box.

The other option for a non-switching monitor is to get an HDMI switcher and if your computer has it, use the HDMI output for it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182095



If you don't have an HDMI output you can get a converter for it like this:

http://www.vgatohdmi.net/



But, VGA is video only while HDMI handles audio as well. Hence the name High Definition Multimedia Interface.

Jstas

Ricardo wrote: »

And speakers.

Not necessarily. The one on woot right now has speakers.

Ricardo

Jstas wrote: »

Not necessarily. The one on woot right now has speakers.

True.

ryanjoachim

and the one on woot right now is sold out.

Jstas

Sorry dude, it's woot. You snooze you lose.

Then again, there are benefits to living on the right (read: correct) coast.

edbert

Thanks for the info Jstas. I have DVI out on the computer and HDMI on the cable box. Sounds like a good monitor and HDMI switch are in order. I wouldn't have jumped on the woot today anyway, but at least I got something out of it.

Jstas

If you are going to do that then you need a cable like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/



That converts the DVI output to HDMI so you can plug it in to the HDMI switch box.

Jstas

The DVI also matters if it has the 4 analog pins around the spade or not. The spade is a ground connection. If you have the DVI-A you are still using analog.

Check out the Wikipedia article on DVI 'cause it gets complicated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

edbert

The card I have has two DVI-I dual link outputs and an S-video, so I am covered. The only other missing piece of the puzzle would be audio for it all.

Jstas

edbert wrote: »

The card I have has two DVI-I dual link outputs and an S-video, so I am covered. The only other missing piece of the puzzle would be audio for it all.

Audio is easy. Any computer will connect to a pre-amp, amp or receiver easily. Even laptops. You just need to figure out what you need to connect your audio output jack to your amplification.

Laptops usually have only a headphone jack but it can be used as a variable gain output by using a stereo mini-plug to RCA adapter to youre pre-amp or amplification stage.

Desktops with an audio-out jack would still used the same mini-plug to RCA adapter.

edbert

Oh, the issue isn't running sound out of the computer. I have a coax digital out that works perfectly fine. I have already had this computer hooked up to the TV and the system in my living room(I was using S-video and digital coax) and the picture and sounds were perfect. There currently isn't any type of system in the bedroom so that is what would have to be worked out. I'm sure I could throw something together if needed, but I just don't have to worry about it at the moment. I think my father-in-law has an unused receiver in his garage that would fit the bill. I would just need some speakers to hook up to it. The HDMI/DVI connection was really my only point of uncertainty, and that was because I hadn't ever asked or done any research on it.

Thanks again.

Jstas

edbert wrote: »

Oh, the issue isn't running sound out of the computer. I have a coax digital out that works perfectly fine. I have already had this computer hooked up to the TV and the system in my living room(I was using S-video and digital coax) and the picture and sounds were perfect. There currently isn't any type of system in the bedroom so that is what would have to be worked out. I'm sure I could throw something together if needed, but I just don't have to worry about it at the moment. I think my father-in-law has an unused receiver in his garage that would fit the bill. I would just need some speakers to hook up to it. The HDMI/DVI connection was really my only point of uncertainty, and that was because I hadn't ever asked or done any research on it.

Thanks again.

If you are looking for small bedroom speakers, the Polk Audio T15's or M10's would work awesome! I have a set of the R15's I picked up from ND13 a while ago now. They have been hooked up to a NAD 902 stereo amp with a Onkyo stereo pre-amp and they work great for movies, music, TV, video games, you name it. Very versatile. If you want some more oomph, pick up some vintage gear like Monitor 10's. they can be fairly inexpensive and will give you plenty of sound for minimal budget.

edbert

I will look into those. There are always some pretty good deals on craigslist around here, so I will probably hit that up once I start looking. Like these for instance. I would jump on them, I just need the cash right now for other stuff. I appreciate the tip though.