Good morning skg,
You have two possible routes here. First, you can get an LCD monitor
with built-in TV tuner and RCA, S-video, or other non-computer inputs,
OR you can get a video card or add-in card for your computer which
will let you view, record, etc. a TV signal.
In either case, many of the specifications for the LCD itself should
be the same.
Ghosting occurs when a pixel switches from light to dark. This
process takes a small amount of time. If a dark object is moving
across a light background, the pixels along the trailing edge will
cause a blurring effect as they switch from dark to light when the
image moves past. The relevant specification is response time,
typically around 25ms (1/40 second). Some manufacturers quote
dark-to-light and light-to-dark times separately, so watch out for
that.
Flickering does not occur on LCD monitors. If you are experiencing
flickering, something is setup improperly, or there is a defect. On
CRT monitors, there is an electron gun which "paints" line after line
of pixels on the screen. The pixels on the top of the screen have to
glow long enough for the gun to get all the way to the bottom and then
back up top again. In the time it takes for the gun to move, the
pixels begin to glow less and less before they are fired back up to
full brightness, giving rise to the flickering. On an LCD screen,
pixels switch from one state to another, and while there is a
transition period (as mentioned above), there is no dimming that gives
rise to flicker.
Bad text is hard to quantify. There really is no one specification to
look for there. In general though, LCDs have superb text readability,
because the pixels are perfectly square (or rectangular), rather than
round, and are very crisp. For displaying small text clearly, you
will need the smallest possible pixels. Look for the dot pitch (size
of pixels), or ppi (pixels per inch). Smaller dot pitch is better;
larger ppi is better. Since reading text usually involves black text
on a white background or white text on a black background, the
contrast ratio (ratio of light output between the darkest black the
monitor can display and the brightest white) will help determine
whether the display looks "washed out". Values around 400:1 or 500:1
are good. 700:1 is extremely good.
Dead pixels is a tricky subject. Obviously, no dead pixels is best,
but invariably some occur. Individual manufacturers have different
policies regarding how many, and what type, of dead pixels are
acceptable, and how many are grounds for replacement. Stuck-on pixels
are the worst; dead pixels in the middle of the screen are worse than
those at the edge; partially dead (one color stuck on or off) pixels
are the most common.
You can get a respectable 15" LCD for around $250-300. Viewing TV,
DVDs, etc. will require a video card (about $75) that can provide the
coaxial, S-video, RCA, or other inputs that you will need.
LCD displays with built-in TV tuner start around $450.
Samsung, Sony, Viewsonic, and NEC are reputable brands with generally
good-quality LCD monitors. Any monitor with a response time around
25-30ms, and 400:1 or better contrast ratio should suit you just fine.
Brightness on LCDs is not a problem (if anything, they tend toward
too bright), but you should beware of differences in color
reproduction. This is the LCD's big drawback. Try to look at display
models in your local computer shop to see which one you find most
pleasing.
-Haversian |
