Reply to: tv on my monitor

[Sysman]

Hi the one I linked to has Freeview built in (though not Freeview HD whatever that is)
I'm just getting myself set up in advance to moving to some digs for a new contract. Don't know exactly what they'll have, but I'm working on the premise everywhere has a terrestrial aerial

Why not wait until you find what's there? I've lived in a couple of places with such lousy reception that receiving some channels was dependent on the weather.

It would be a shame to invest in some nice kit then find you couldn't use it.

[VectraMan]

Still can't get Freeview through my aerial. Although it is coming here in September.

[Olly]

Hi the one I linked to has Freeview built in (though not Freeview HD whatever that is)
I'm just getting myself set up in advance to moving to some digs for a new contract. Don't know exactly what they'll have, but I'm working on the premise everywhere has a terrestrial aerial

[VectraMan]

But what's the difference between a monitor and a telly?

A proper telly probably has extra processing stuff, like MotionFlow on Sonys, and probably doesn't have a VGA input. But yes essentially there's no difference these days.

BTW can you get Freeview? I assume you have no kind of TV now, or you wouldn't be asking.

[Olly]

But what's the difference between a monitor and a telly?
It looks to me like the one I linked to is both with no compromises.
No way I'm buying a new laptop and the VGA plug is the only way it can connect to an external monitor so whatever it's like it'll have to do....
I may, and it's a big may, look for a desktop that can use as a music store type thingy but it would need to be silent(ish) running but still have plenty more kick than my laptop to do my data analysis work. I'm guessing they don't really exist on a budget.

[VectraMan]

Don't confuse VGA - the screen mode with a VGA connectors
VGA Connectors will support a HD picture

Indeed. VGA was 320x240, or maybe 640x480 with 16 colours. I forget. But absolutely nobody uses VGA the screen mode anymore.

You can convert from anything to anything, pretty much, but quality will suffer. I have a 1280x1024 17" LCD connected to my Dell laptop by VGA, but it's a bit ropey, usable, but not great. The question is whether what you want most is an external monitor to use for proper computing (i.e. reading text), or whether you just want to play movies or games or whatever. If the former, by a monitor, if the latter, buy a proper telly. But to get the best quality you'll need a new laptop with a digital (DVI or HDMI) output.

[doodab]

Could be the TV or the video card.
You typically want to run a TV connected to a pc/laptop at maximum resolution anyway - can't imagine why you'd want to do less.

Yes the trouble is when you get a HD ready (as opposed to full HD) TV and the panel native resolution is an odd one that either isn't supported by the video card or in the cases I'm thinking about explicitly not supported as an input resolution. I've seen a few of these now, why anyone would design something that stupid is beyond me but they are out there.

[Spacecadet]

I have found some devices will only accept certain resolutions via the VGA input though. This isn't a problem with monitors as these will tend to be 1920x1080 or 1920x1200 natively and will often accept other "standard" resolutions as input as well, but some "HD ready" TVs can be a bit funny about what they will accept via VGA.

Could be the TV or the video card.
You typically want to run a TV connected to a pc/laptop at maximum resolution anyway - can't imagine why you'd want to do less.

[doodab]

I have found some devices will only accept certain resolutions via the VGA input though. This isn't a problem with monitors as these will tend to be 1920x1080 or 1920x1200 natively and will often accept other "standard" resolutions as input as well, but some "HD ready" TVs can be a bit funny about what they will accept via VGA.

[Spacecadet]

Olly, As far as I am aware, the VGA standards havent changed for quite some time. So to answer your question, VGA has never supported HD, and probably never will. HDMI does support HD (hence the name). You may be able to play HD content on via your VGA connections, but that will require software codecs to allow you to see the HD content in VGA mode and not in true HD mode (whatever that may be).

VGA doesn't support audio, and is unlikely to support it in the future. DVI doesn't support audio either. It's only HDMI that outputs any form of sound without a separate sound card.

Hope that helps.

Don't confuse VGA - the screen mode with a VGA connectors
VGA Connectors will support a HD picture

[pmeswani]

I'm being serious chaps.....it was a simple post so that I'd get recommendations and advice from the site's esteemed more gadget aware members.

I honestly don't know if the VGA output will support full HD resolution. The sound bit...erm...well ok I did know that but if I play dumb then maybe someone helping out will come up with a nugget.

TVcatchup doesn't fullfill the DVD capability and the connection (BT vision) slows to crawl when someone's watching a movie in the other room but it's def something to keep in mind.

Ok ok....I'll ask a shop assistant but to say they've been close to useless in the past is an understatement.

I've been thinking this may do the trick Samsung FX2490HD 24-inch Full HD 1080p Widescreen LED TV/Monitor (250 cd/m2, MEGA DCR, 1920 x 1080, 5ms, HDMI)Samsung FX2490HD 24-inch Full HD 1080p Widescreen LED TV/Monitor (250 cd/m2, MEGA DCR, 1920 x 1080, 5ms, HDMI): Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Olly, As far as I am aware, the VGA standards havent changed for quite some time. So to answer your question, VGA has never supported HD, and probably never will. HDMI does support HD (hence the name). You may be able to play HD content on via your VGA connections, but that will require software codecs to allow you to see the HD content in VGA mode and not in true HD mode (whatever that may be).

VGA doesn't support audio, and is unlikely to support it in the future. DVI doesn't support audio either. It's only HDMI that outputs any form of sound without a separate sound card.

Hope that helps.

[BoredBloke]

Why not buy a new TV - it will have a connection for your laptop. Getting it past the taxman might be an issue though unless you ar a MP

USB tuners are pretty cheap - the speakers on your laptop will do the sound and a cheap pair of external speakers will make it better and any old monitor will do the video

[doodab]

I have my laptop running at 1920x1200 into a Samsung T240, so the VGA connection will be fine as long as your laptop graphics are up to it. DVI would be better though. Neither of these will transmit sound.

A DVD player generally won't have a tuner but a DVD recorder usually will. Another alternative to receive freeview is a USB TV tuner from e.g. hauppauge.

[Olly]

I'm being serious chaps.....it was a simple post so that I'd get recommendations and advice from the site's esteemed more gadget aware members.

I honestly don't know if the VGA output will support full HD resolution. The sound bit...erm...well ok I did know that but if I play dumb then maybe someone helping out will come up with a nugget.

TVcatchup doesn't fullfill the DVD capability and the connection (BT vision) slows to crawl when someone's watching a movie in the other room but it's def something to keep in mind.

Ok ok....I'll ask a shop assistant but to say they've been close to useless in the past is an understatement.

I've been thinking this may do the trick Samsung FX2490HD 24-inch Full HD 1080p Widescreen LED TV/Monitor (250 cd/m2, MEGA DCR, 1920 x 1080, 5ms, HDMI)Samsung FX2490HD 24-inch Full HD 1080p Widescreen LED TV/Monitor (250 cd/m2, MEGA DCR, 1920 x 1080, 5ms, HDMI): Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

[Pondlife]

Nest time you're looking at laptop accessories in Dixons you need to do the following;

Stand up straight.

Look towards the far wall.

If it has fridges and freezers against it turn 90 degrees.

If it has hoovers, dysons turn 90 degrees.

Keep doing this until you see a bank of coloured screens showing football.

Walk towards them and explain your predicament to a sales chappie.





Note to Mods: Obvious trolling outside of General I know.