[HiddenOne]

Ok, I am soliciting advice from those who are knowledgeable about computer monitors and Televisions.


I currently use a laptop with a 17" monitor to operate a DAW (audio production software) called Studio One by Presonus. This software is intended for 1280 x 768 resolution and cannot be adjusted, which I assume is due to the layout requirements. There are many icons, small text, buttons etc. so it makes me go blind after an hour or so.

My video card has VGA & HDMI outputs. I am already using the VGA for a second 20" monitor for the virtual instruments, drum software, etc. that are open as well.

My question is this: Should I buy a 27" computer monitor or a 30" LCD TV to take the place of the main laptop screen? Do I need a 1080p or can I get by with a 720p if I choose TV? The software will be unusable if I lose the clarity caused by running it at the wrong resolution, so I think the 720p won't work. I will be sitting about 3-4 ft. away, across a table top/desk.

I would like to spend about $250 on this purchase if possible, as I am about to buy new audio monitors as well.

Thank you. I have researched this subject, to little avail and I trust the opinions of our members.

This post has been edited by HiddenOne: 08 November 2014 - 05:34 PM

[Gnaw]

 HiddenOne, on 08 November 2014 - 05:34 PM, said:

Ok, I am soliciting advice from those who are knowledgeable about computer monitors and Televisions.


I currently use a laptop with a 17" monitor to operate a DAW (audio production software) called Studio One by Presonus. This software is intended for 1280 x 768 resolution and cannot be adjusted, which I assume is due to the layout requirements. There are many icons, small text, buttons etc. so it makes me go blind after an hour or so.

My video card has VGA & HDMI outputs. I am already using the VGA for a second 20" monitor for the virtual instruments, drum software, etc. that are open as well.

My question is this: Should I buy a 27" computer monitor or a 30" LCD TV to take the place of the main laptop screen? Do I need a 1080p or can I get by with a 720p if I choose TV? The software will be unusable if I lose the clarity caused by running it at the wrong resolution, so I think the 720p won't work. I will be sitting about 3-4 ft. away, across a table top/desk.

I would like to spend about $250 on this purchase if possible, as I am about to buy new audio monitors as well.

Thank you. I have researched this subject, to little avail and I trust the opinions of our members.

Where are you geographically? I may have a solution. Well, not so much a solution as an inexpensive way to test an option.

Edit: said option leading to a solution should the test work.

This post has been edited by Gnaw: 08 November 2014 - 05:58 PM

[A Demon Llama!]

If your using it just for your computer then I personally would go with a monitor. You'l find a better quality monitor for the same price as a tv. By no means am I an expert but I think monitors usually have better refresh rates, plus they generate less heat. Also if you want to run at 1280 x 768 get a 16:10 monitor cause it will be distorted and I doubt you will want to deal with that. I dont think you can find a TV with that aspect ratio.

[Gnaw]

I downloaded the free version just to check that resolution issue. I put it on a 1920x1280 24" screen. I can resize window but the text/buttons/etc do not change size. That was a surprise; it really does seem to be hardcoded to that 1280x768 resolution.

That hampers your options quite a bit I would say. A 30" anything is out; you'd go blind trying to see the text at any distance on a screen that size.

Since you already know that the text/icons/etc won't get bigger on a larger screen, what is your goal here? More room for the flyout windows? extra space for browser windows, etc?

[Cause]

I use a 32 inch Full HD lcd tv as my monitor. It works great. Also even though no Computer monitors are produced locally my government taxes them about 30% so the TV was cheaper than a smaller monitor. So for me the problem was a no brainer.

That said I just put my resolution down to 1280 * 780 and the text on this forum became terrible. Its bigger but the resolution was shocking, made the text look fuzzy. The problem here though is not a question of tv vs monitor or even size of monitor. Its solely one of the resolution the software runs at. 27 vs 30 will be negligible. So go with what's cheaper.

[Abyss]

I looked into this once, albeit for a different reason.The techies I spoke with were unanimous on a monitor being better for anything computer related.

[Gnaw]

 HiddenOne, on 08 November 2014 - 05:34 PM, said:

My video card has VGA & HDMI outputs. I am already using the VGA for a second 20" monitor for the virtual instruments, drum software, etc. that are open as well.

A thought. You know that HDMI doesn't limit your choices, right? there are adapter cables that let you take the hdmi out and connect to DVI, DisplayPort, and mDisplayPort. You do lose the audio signal carried in the hdmi though I'm guessing you're not particularly interested in sound coming from the display's cheap speakers anyways.

[Tarthenal Theloman Toblakai]

i would say that the monitor is always a much more quality display for computer purposes, higher clarity, higher refresh rates, better custom display options for flitting between games, films, editing etc. Plus they are usually cheaper for a like quality monitor to TV. The only reason I would choose a TV is for if you need the specific inputs a TV allows. I wanted to connect my Wii for example, to my second screen, and without a TV, this wasn't possible, so my 1st monitor is a proper monitor, the second is an LED TV.

[HiddenOne]

 Gnaw, on 08 November 2014 - 08:04 PM, said:

I downloaded the free version just to check that resolution issue. I put it on a 1920x1280 24" screen. I can resize window but the text/buttons/etc do not change size. That was a surprise; it really does seem to be hardcoded to that 1280x768 resolution.

That hampers your options quite a bit I would say. A 30" anything is out; you'd go blind trying to see the text at any distance on a screen that size.

Since you already know that the text/icons/etc won't get bigger on a larger screen, what is your goal here? More room for the flyout windows? extra space for browser windows, etc?

Thanks for the extra effort with installing the software. My main intent here is to increase the size of all the little buttons, text and various windows. I can use my second monitor to display the effects units & instruments and keep that main window free for my main workflow.

Are you saying that a larger monitor won't produce a larger image? I displayed the program on my #2 monitor @ 20" and it seemed larger. Was that my imagination?

My motivation for the TV in the first place was to be able to use it for video games or movies if I wanted to hook it up. I'm using a small TV for the games now and it's not as satisfying of course. I keep finding larger HDTVs for great prices, I almost bought a 40" over the weekend, but I know that would just burn my retinas

[A Demon Llama!]

If you have the same resolution on diff sized monitors then yes it will change the size. If you have 720p on a 20" monitor and 1080p on a 24" monitor then shit will be larger on the 20" (720p) monitor . Wont be as crisp though. . The main thing you are missing is you mentioned that you wanted to have a resolution of 1280 by 768, which I will say again will look stretched on a 16:9 TV or monitor. You need a 16:10 aspect ratio for that resolution.

[Gnaw]

 HiddenOne, on 10 November 2014 - 07:59 PM, said:

Thanks for the extra effort with installing the software. My main intent here is to increase the size of all the little buttons, text and various windows. I can use my second monitor to display the effects units & instruments and keep that main window free for my main workflow.

What ADL said.


The buttons, etc will be larger. But, since they're hardcoded to take up X many pixels, the computer has to approximate what color the extra pixels should be. It will never get it completely correct so you'll lose smoothness and clarity.

Couple of suggestions.

• Since you're talking about a laptop with HDMI output, why not take it to the living room of a friend that owns the size tv you're thinking of and hook it up?
• call the local retailers and ask them if they will allow you to do the same with their tvs?
• you near a Wally World? They have an outstanding return policy. Try screens until you find one that you like. (For those who want to call that unethical, I didn't write the return policy they did.)

[HiddenOne]

The selection of 16:10 monitors seems slim, but I will keep looking.

I hadn't thought of buying one just to test it, I may try that or hooking up to someone else's TV, both good ideas.


Thanks guys, I appreciate the input

[Gnaw]

 HiddenOne, on 11 November 2014 - 01:05 PM, said:

The selection of 16:10 monitors seems slim, but I will keep looking.

I hadn't thought of buying one just to test it, I may try that or hooking up to someone else's TV, both good ideas.


Thanks guys, I appreciate the input

Fedex is delivering today (I got a great deal on an Asus ArtPro monitor), so tomorrow or thursday I will know if my laptop can push two external plus its own display without overheating. If it can't, which I'm afraid will happen, then I will have a Samsung S24A850D that will need a new home. 16:10 1920x1200. USB 3.0.