HDTV...need help choosing one!

I am going to hook my Envy 14 up to an HDTV in my dorm room next year. I will probably have it sitting 2-3 feet away from me, so I don't want it to be big.

First off, what size? I was thinking about 22" ( Vizio VA220E 22" Class LCD HDTV - 720p, 1366x768, 16:9, 5000:1 Dynamic, 5ms, 2 HDMI, (Refurbished) at TigerDirect.com) maybe 23".

Secondly, is $200 a reasonable price to spend? I

Thirdly, I will not have a cable hook up in my room. I will just watch tv and movies from netflix and online. (this isn't really a question./..just a statement.) ^_^


Any suggestions for a reasonably priced tv? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

 

don't look for a HDTV if you don't want cable...

HDTV vs (non-HDTV)LCDs
HDTV have coax in, component/svideo etc, hdmi/vga and built in speakers....but they are usually 720p or 1080p

LCD
LCDs usually only have DVI/HDMI/VGA, no speakers, but higher resolution... not to mention cheaper unless you get a PVA/IPS screen

22" LCD, you can get one for around $150.... 22" HDTV usually around $200... use the $50 for a better set of speakers

if you look at http://antennaweb.org and see what kind of over-the-air channels you get, might be worthwhile getting an antenna+hdtv... otherwise, a plain LCD would work

examples:
22" Acer LCD, built in speakers, $165
22" Samsung HDTV, $190

 

Ok, thanks a lot! I'll look more into the LCDs. This is a *stupid question*, but if I have the set up I referred to, will I be able to surf on my laptop while having a different screen play the tv, or is there no split screen option using the laptop's screen?

Edit: While I may not be getting cable right now, I'll probably have an apartment in a few years and will have it then, most likely. Would a lcd monitor accompany this?

 

You can split the screen. There are a couple of different options you can do. Extended desktop is what you're looking for.

 

Ok, thanks a lot. I found a $25 off $100 link for buy.com, so I can get the samsung for $165 - BCB. Seems like a good deal.

 

you can look at a USB TV Tuner like the one i reviewed here. AverMedia Volar Max

good is that you can record shows and time-shift... bad is that you need you laptop to be switched on...

your laptop most likely allows an 'extended' screen option, where you can choose where monitor to be a second screen... dual screens are fun, triple are funner(but most likely your laptop's GPU only allows dual screen)

 

i would get an e-IPS dell LCD, check the Dell outlet store or wait of an e-coupon, the 23 inch should set you back around 200 USD and with 1920 x 1080 resolution, it really beats the TN LCD in everything except refresh rate.

I would only tell this to fellow Chemical Engineer.

 

I'm not sure if I understand completely. According to the website, I will get 14 channels. That's without the tuner, right? With the tuner will I get basically all the channels I would get if I had cable, or would it just allow me to receive the 14 channels that are free?

 

Ah, a fellow chemical engineer. You know we have to have nice screens to look at MatLab with. XD

I will check out Dell's outlet.

 

those channels are free from over-the-air frequencies... you need a capable antenna to grab those frequencies, and a tuner to decode it(USB TV Tuner, or the tuner on your HDTV)

usually the channels are FOX, NBC, ABC, CW, MY, PBS etc... no cable channels like espn, cspan, disney, hbo

if you are a programmer, much worthwhile to get a higher-resolution LCD screen (or another screen)... i currently have a m1330 laptop, and a 17" 1280x1024 and a 22" 1680x1050... still don't think I have enough screenestate

Dell 22" 1680x1050 2209WA e-IPS around 230 NEW, might have to jump through a few hoops, but sure

 

I don't think I'll really have much time to watch tv, so I'll just worry about the computing aspect of the monitor.

I'm not a programmer, yet. I will only take a few classes on the matter, but I am interested in designing robotics and learning programming. What do you feel would be a good resolution?

 

if your eyes are good, then get as high as possible...

usually for 22", the usual ones are:
(16:9) 1920x1080 or 1600x900
(16:10) 1920x1200 or 1600x1050

there are other higher or weirder resolutions, but typically not encountered...

if you watch a lot of movies, 16:9 might be better... otherwise, i say stick with 16:10 as its not as wide, and 1920x1200 if possible

your Envy 14 looks to have a HDMI and mini-DP port out... most likely the LCD only has a DVI in or VGA in... you'll need an adapter, and monoprice.com is usually the place to go for one... adapter+hdmi cable or adapter+dvi cable or hdmi to dvi cable

 

The data ports are one of the biggest difference between an LCD TV and a monitor. The other is resolution, which is higher in the monitor. To my knowledge, no TV of that size had 1920x1080; they typically top out as 720.