TV as Computer Monitor - Comments Page 1

Didn't your mother ever yell at you for sitting too close to the TV? Using a CRT for a computer = eyestrain. But if you are doing Video editing on the other hand, using the video output to a nearby CRT for the monitor window is more suitable.

Another trick to consider is getting an LCD monitor with selectable video inputs. Then you can use it for a computer monitor, a TV, for video editing, or whatever. With such a unit as your second screen, the possible configurations are endless. (ATI 9000 has a DMI and a VGA port that can be used for 2 separate monitors easily in WinXP)

BTW - Radio Shack sells low cost source switches so you can choose to send your SVideo to the big screen or your computer or projector. If you think 50" is cool, try your computer on a projector @ 108" (laughs)

Bob this is a good start to the discussion, thanks. Some questions I have: (1) My laptop has an S-Video output as well as VGA. If my HDTV has a VGA input is that the correct one to use? (2) My laptop display is a different aspect ratio compared to that of my HDTV. What do I have to do to ensure I don't get black bars down the side of my TV display? (3) Do most laptop video controllers actually support the 16:9 aspect ratio of my HDTV? (4) Do I need a special Windows driver for my TV? If so, where do I get it?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would use the VGA as a first choice. But you can try both to see if you get better resolution with S-Video. Not sure about the aspect ratio concern. I don't think you need any special drivers. Test and let me know if I'm wrong!

I have a Radeon 9700 TX with TV out card and hooked it through a converter to my TV monitor. S-Video cable to box and then 3 RCA cables to the Line In on the TV. With Windows XP I then select TV as second monitor but all I can get on the TV is the desktop from the computer - nothing else. Suggestions?

EDITOR'S NOTE: No Start button or icons?

No start button and no icons. I can however drag stuff across the main monitor to monitor #2. I guess what I was hoping to achieve was a clone of #1. Thanks, Bob.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Oh, now I see. That's normal, because you really have just ONE big desktop, not two. The second monitor is just an extension of the desktop.

To enable clone mode, disable the second monitor connected to the video card in Display Properties, then open advanced settings for the first monitor, go to the ATI Displays tab and enable the second monitor there. To change back to extended desktop mode, simply re-enable the second monitor in Display Properties. You don't need to reboot to change between modes. Thanks, your piece got me going in the right direction.

I have already been able to connect my laptop to my analog tv using the s-video out port. I get a good signal and I am able to drag windows and icons to the extended desktop on my tv. However I cannot find a way to make the tv my primary monitor. When I right click monitor 2 (my tv) in the settings tab of the display properties window, the "primary" option to make it the primary monitor is greyed out and therefor I can't watch movies or play video games on the tv monitor. I Have an IBM T30 laptop with a ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 graphics card.

Is it possible to make a wireless connection from a computer to an HDTV/monitor? I don't have an HDTV yet and will be upgrading my computer soon so I have a lot of flexibility in hardware. Thanks for any info.

EDITOR'S NOTE: No, you'll need a cable to hook your computer to ANY monitor or TV.

I am attempting to use a tv for a secondary expanded monitor. When i go to properties on the desktop and then settings i do not have an option to expand my monitor. I am running XP proffesional. Is the option not available to be to expand my monitor because my tv is not plugged into the computer yet and it will recognize it when it is? Or am i out of luck, i was just fooling around with it and havnt purchased a cord yet but it was my plan to plug in the tv into the computer through the s-video jack beside the existing monitor jack then plugging into my tv through the video jack of an RCA cord?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I think that's right, it will only show as an option if you have the device attached.

I want to connect my laptop to my TV and it's not working. My telly is BEKO and I put an s-video to scart cable from my computer to my TV and it's not working .Can u help me please.I don't know what MHz should I use....Thank you.

I'm attempting to use my tv as a monitor for my laptop using an s-video cable. My question is this; Are the accessory devices titled dvd, sat, game, digital stb, pvr, HD, cable, and other really important when attempting to use my tv as a monitor or are these just titles to keep things straight so a person knows where their equiptment is assigned ? The reason I ask is because I have been unsuccessful at my above attempt and could use any advise you might have on this.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Are you saying your TV has multiple s-video input ports? If so, I'd try them all...

Is there a way to use a great CRT monitor as a TV set? I have a ViewSonic multi media monitor that I no longer need, but could use as a TV.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sure, but you'd have to hook it up to a computer with a TV tuner card.

Richard asked about a wireless connection to an HDTV. HP does sell a tv and laptop that allows this connectivity.

My TV is a beko to and after connecting the s-video out into a scart socket and restarting and messing with the stardard chipset built in graphics card settings i got a picture on my tv. unfortunately its in black and white only. Ironically the settings for the colour is greyed out. not sure what is left to do i have tried tuning an messing with the tv and all the settings i can find in the graphics card settings.

I just got the mac mini and thought I would be able to use my rear projection hdtv as a monitor. I have been able to make it work with an s-video connection but I cant see anything when I connect it to the RGB component input on the tv. I've tried two sets of dvi 29 pin to component 3-RCA cables. Nothing. Is there a preferences setting on the mac i need to change? any help? thanx.

EDITOR'S NOTE: If s-video works, then... ?

Yes s-video works but shouldn't I get better resolution with Component?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes. But I don't know what to suggest to get the Component Video working.

We have purchased a 42" Phillips HD ready TV and want to make the TV screen the primary and only monitor. When I set this up it works fine but as soon as I switch it off or switch users, the screen says NO SIGNAL INPUT. I have to then unplug the cable from the TV and restart the computer and reset the TV as the primary monitor. It does not seem to save the settings. I am using a DVI to HDMI connector. Can you help?

I'm looking to upgrade my TV to a flat screen and want to be able to use the TV as a computer monitor. Can you tell me the best kind of flat screen (plasma or LCD) to purchase for this use & what other specifications I should look for when I'm shopping? Thank you.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Be sure to get an HD set, the rest is according to your taste and budget.

HELP...HELP. . .S.O.S I bought a 32" Scott LCD to use as a Monitor for the G5 dual power Mac I bought a couple of years ago. I hooked it up using a HDMI cable and the picture was awesome. I have been editing video for the past 5 months without one problem.

Last week I upgraded my OS to Tiger and have not been able to get the LCD to work AT ALL! I have tried everything. Lowering the resolution and dropped the color for millions to thousands. I bought another HDMI Cable to make sure it hadn't fry somehow. I have hooked it to a cable and got a picture so I know the unit is working. I have been on the phone with Scott techs, Apple techs, and my friends at the apple store in my town and no one has an answer. All I get is either green and pink horizontal snowy lines or a snow pattern on 1/2 the screen and black on the top.

I AM JUST SICK..... I have been using my 15" monitor (Thank god for backup) and to change settings then hooking it back to the Scott LCD. I was wondering if buying a ATI Radeon X1900 XT would fix the problem? I'm running an ATI 256 right now. Any help/advise would be greatly appreciated.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I don't have the same setup, so it's hard to guess what the problem might be. In your shoes, I'd first search online forums to see if others have done what you are trying to do. Failing that, a video card swap sounds like the best thing to try.

I have a 32" Philips HDTV, with a VGA input that im using as a monitor as I type this. My Graphics card is an Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS, which has dual DVI outputs. I'm currently using a DVI-VGA connector and the TV is directly connected to the monitor, but is not making full use of the HD compatibility. So taoday I purchased a DVI-HDMI cable from my workplace for quite cheap after the discount :)

When I hook the cable up properly to the PC and TV and boot, it shows the boot sequence and loads windows, and then the TV gives me a msg saying "video mode not supported". Any input?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sounds like a limitation of the TV set. DId you try fiddling with software (adapter) settings?

I want to use my new 19"flat screen TV as a monitor in the kitchen to show the same shows as my main TV in the family room that has a Direct TV box connected to it. What cables do I need to make my new TV work strictly as a monitor?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Not quite relevant to the topic here, but anyway... I'd try connecting an s-video or component video cable from the output jack of one TV to the corresponding input jack on the other.