HDTV Questions

[SoccerHooligan]

Hey all :P

Got a few more questions concerning HDTV's

This is the tv I am thinking of getting. It will be for a college apartment, so I think for the price and size it is perfect.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Specifications-of-OLEVIA-32-2-Series-LCD-HDTV-232V/sem/rpsm/oid/163702/rpem/ccd/productDetailSpecification.do#tabs

How does it look for gaming/general use? I know it could be better, but this is on a budget :P

Also, what will I need to get to fully enjoy it, do I need to get HDMI cables for my xbox or is component fine? VGA any better? I will be using a surround sound system of sorts so I wont be using the tv speakers so that wont really be an issue..

Will this tv be able to use 1080i? Even though the native resolution is 720 :)

Is there anything I missed at all?

If you have any suggestions just let me know :)

Thanks guys (and gals)

[gebbie]

720 is 720...not 1080 unfortunatley.

according to amazon, this one's 1080i.. with the astc tuner...


http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-TXS3082WH-Wide-Slimfit-HDTV/dp/B000F2R5CO/ref=pd_bbs_8/103-2081601-2962217?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1185151024&sr=8-8

[SoccerHooligan]

720 is 720...not 1080 unfortunatley.

heh I know that but at the same time 1080i is not 1080 really, 1080i is interpolated, or fake 1080 from my understanding... Most of the sets I have seen say that although they have 720 native they support 1080i... So I was just wondering if this was the case or not :P

Nevermind 1080i = interlaced :P

I donno what I am talking about but figured I would still ask as my friend has TV that has a native 720 resolution but it offers 1080i as well...

[ENNO]

where did u get 1080i from..i think this goes as far as 720p

[DutchMike]

I personally would stay clear of LCD tv's with speakers on the sides, due to the magnets in them they can disturb the picture on both sides after some time. Speakers at the bottom is my personal choice.

Just my 2 cents.

[tbone4690]

Just run it at 720p, cause if you put it at 1080i all the tv is going to do is downgrade the 1080i to 720p so just run everything at 720p. It seems good for a college place. If you would like to upconvert your regular dvds to 720p use vga or hdmi, but I don't know if you have a 360 with hdmi. I use component only because my tv doesn't have vga I would use it then. There is a thread on avs forum that can help you out a lot cause these guys points out the flaws and issues that come with this set, there isn't a tv out there that doesn't have some flaw, but if there are serious flaws these guys will be able to tell you they will also be able to give you some good display settings for this tv, so you can get a picture that looks great.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=756206&page=1&pp=30&highlight=OLEVIA+232v

[SuperSaiyan4]

I have my hdtv set on 1080i and I can see an improvement on the visuals a bit so I just leave it on that.

[tbone4690]

Your tv is prob a 1080i native.

[SoccerHooligan]

Thanks guys this is exactly the type of feedback I need :), I know jack about HD and my techie friends know even less :D

So do you all think that I should got with component cords, HDMI, or VGA? I would like to keep the costs reasonable but I dont mind shelling out 20+ for good cables...

[ENNO]

all the same really unless u wann go 1080p wich u wont....so put it like this HDMI and VGA for sharpness and component for more viberant colour!i would buy the cheapest of the 3 because you wont notice the difference!

[tbone4690]

Well if the tv has vga go for vga that way you can upscale all your current dvds. Do you have a 360 that has hdmi? If you do go for hdmi. Also when you get a hdmi cable go to monoprice.com they will cables that are just as good as monster and they are like 15 to 25 dollars and they are great. Monster is overrated.

[SoccerHooligan]

I have a launch 360 so doubt it has HDMI, but VGA works just as good? Also if I go with VGA, cant I connect the tv with my computer as well?

[ENNO]

no HDMI but VGA yes...as for connecting your comp you will need to buy a seperate male to male vga because the xbox has one male side and and xbox 360 input on the other!

[tbone4690]

Yeah go for vga cause then you can upscale your dvds.

[SoccerHooligan]

no HDMI but VGA yes...as for connecting your comp you will need to buy a seperate male to male vga because the xbox has one male side and and xbox 360 input on the other!

heh, wha?

[ENNO]

if u wanna connect ur pc and xbox u will need 2 different vga cables

[SoccerHooligan]

if u wanna connect ur pc and xbox u will need 2 different vga cables

Is there not just some adapter I could use interchangeably?

[tbone4690]

There are things called kvm switches, but you have to find one that doesn't need to have to sources of power. What kind of monitor do u use for ur comp now? You shouldn't need two cables, cause as along as u alerady have one for ur comp u shouldn't have a problem, if you have a lcd for ur computer they usually have a vga cable that disconnects.

[SoccerHooligan]

There are things called kvm switches, but you have to find one that doesn't need to have to sources of power. What kind of monitor do u use for ur comp now? You shouldn't need two cables, cause as along as u alerady have one for ur comp u shouldn't have a problem, if you have a lcd for ur computer they usually have a vga cable that disconnects.

My comp is a Macbook Pro I think, or something.... Its a laptop

[SuperSaiyan4]

Your tv is prob a 1080i native.

No its not, its 1366x768 and is 720p native but I can set it on 1080i via the 360.

[ENNO]

ok soccer let me brake it down to ya,this is what you need to connect your laptop to the TV:http://img.alibaba.com/photo/51182098/VGA_Cable.jpg
and this is what the 360 needs:http://www.uk-consoles.co.uk/shop/images/official_xbox_360_vga_hd_av_cable_360.jpg
as you can see one end is vga and one end is designed for the 360 only!!!

[tbone4690]

Well your tv is still downconverting it, so you really aren't seeing 1080i you are seeing the native.

[SuperSaiyan4]

Well your tv is still downconverting it, so you really aren't seeing 1080i you are seeing the native.

Funny how the visuals are a bit better.

[SoccerHooligan]

Thank you Enno for making it idiot proof for me :),

I may just got component for the first few weeks as my friend who uses component only loves it and says the VGA support is alittle buggy...