What's the difference between an LCD TV and an LCD computer monitor and PC with TV tuner card?

Question

I know that an LCD TV is a monitor with a built-in TV tuner and it's meant specifically for watching TV... but you can also use it as a computer monitor. Meanwhile, an LCD computer monitor is obviously meant primarily for use with a computer... but you can also watch TV through your PC on such a monitor.

I'd like to know the advantage and disadvantage of each set up (and what is required on the PC side). I'm trying to figure out the most economical way to be able to watch TV on a small LCD screen.

LG - 22" 720p Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD HDTV ($549 at Best Buy):

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8743513&type=product​&id=1202648988769

LG - 22" Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD Monitor ($399.99 at Best Buy):

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8739118&type=product​&id=1201913867539

As you can see, the computer monitor is $150 cheaper than the LCD TV. But what do I need to watch TV on it? And will I be satisfied with the experience?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Assuming your computer is powerful enough to use a TV tuner card (well, if it's just for analog cable, I all but guarantee that it will be powerful enough...digital/HD signals might be another story), and you're fine with having to always have your computer hooked up to your monitor whenever you want to watch TV, there is theoretically no difference.

Now then, I'm going to assume that you want the ability to watch HDTV. You can get internal TV tuners that you have to install or ones that go through USB. Internal is probably the better option because they're cheaper, but you'd have to be able to install them. USB ones are more expensive and fewer of them support QAM (for getting HDTV signals over a cable connection as opposed to having to get them via an antenna for HDTV - analog signals will work no matter what you get). Also, I believe that internal cards are more likely to have hardware tuners instead of just software tuning (so it's less power necessary from your computer).

Shop around at Newegg (do a search for tv tuner or something similar) for the best deal on a good internal tuner. I have no experience with digital tuners for computers personally, so I can't really help you pick out a good one, but looking around at Newegg should help you find a good one.

Also, if you're planning on hooking up devices like game systems to your monitor, I'd probably stick with the TV, as it will likely handle 16:9 sources far better than the monitor will. Hope you find something that works and you can enjoy!