What kind of TV should I get?

[chakan]

Hey guys. I've played around with GameEx a lot in the past and have decided to finally start looking for a larger TV. I want to be able to sit in the living room, on my couch 12 feet away, and be able to relax after work. Guess I'm getting tired of sitting 2-3 feet from a computer monitor all of the time. XD

My problem is: I've never owned a high-end television. I have no idea of where to start! So I figured I'd ask for advice from the fellows here.

Can anyone recommend a few TVs to me that are in the neighborhood of $1k USD that are a pleasure to GameEx through (along with other windows aps, games, videos, etc.)?

While I'm at it, I might as well ask for recommendations on wireless keyboards and PC game pads. Has anyone tried out a Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2?

[Censored]

Cant help you with the TV, but I can recommend the Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2.

I have 2 of them built in my cocktail table and they work perfect.

[wahoo]

Hey guys. I've played around with GameEx a lot in the past and have decided to finally start looking for a larger TV. I want to be able to sit in the living room, on my couch 12 feet away, and be able to relax after work. Guess I'm getting tired of sitting 2-3 feet from a computer monitor all of the time. XD

My problem is: I've never owned a high-end television. I have no idea of where to start! So I figured I'd ask for advice from the fellows here.

Can anyone recommend a few TVs to me that are in the neighborhood of $1k USD that are a pleasure to GameEx through (along with other windows aps, games, videos, etc.)?

While I'm at it, I might as well ask for recommendations on wireless keyboards and PC game pads. Has anyone tried out a Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2?

I am using a pair of the Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2 and they are working great. I use the BTC 9019URFIII wireless keyboard and like that as well. I just purchased a new TV to replace the one I was using with GameEx. In shopping around, I wanted to make sure that I got features that were important to gaming as well as for movie and broadcast programming.

In deciding to make your TV purchase I would recommend looking for the following features that are important to gaming:

A dedicated VGA / DVI (rare) PC input or enough HDMI inputs to support all your AV equipment including one for the PC. An HDMI or DVI input for the PC is preferred since it is digital and will deliver the clearest picture. You can get a DVI to HDMI cable fairly cheap.

A display mode that has no overscan. This is typically called "Dot by Dot" or "1:1 pixel" mode but may be called different things by manufacturers. This will save you from having to purchase the Powerstrip software as well as save you many of tedious hours of tweaking the Powerstrip software. Make sure that this display mode is available on the input you plan to use for the computer. Some PC inputs limit you to specific resolutions, try to avoid this.

Here is a list of TV's that support this "dot by dot" feature:

Master list of LCD/PLASMA with 1:1 pixel mapping

If going with an LCD (which is what I did) make sure that it has a fast response time less than 8 ms or less if possible.

Finally I would make sure that it has 1920 X 1080 resolution. Many 1080P televisions especially plasmas advertised as 1080p/i actually have less than 1920 vertical lines of resolution.

In considering which type of TV to go with your choices are: LCD or Plasma flat screens or Projection (DLP, LCOS, LCD). I went with LCD flat screen. I avoided projection because of only fair off angle viewing, overscan and not best for very bright rooms. I avoided plasma because the potential to burn-in static images (this will be used for gaming and computing after all) which projection and LCD flat screen do not suffer from.

I ended up with a TV from the Sharp Aquos line because of fast response time (4 MS) and almost no glare whatsoever and of course dot by dot mode. I am very happy with it!

Happy shopping, hope this helps!

[chakan]

I am using a pair of the Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2 and they are working great. I use the BTC 9019URFIII wireless keyboard and like that as well. I just purchased a new TV to replace the one I was using with GameEx. In shopping around, I wanted to make sure that I got features that were important to gaming as well as for movie and broadcast programming.

In deciding to make your TV purchase I would recommend looking for the following features that are important to gaming:

A dedicated VGA / DVI (rare) PC input or enough HDMI inputs to support all your AV equipment including one for the PC. An HDMI or DVI input for the PC is preferred since it is digital and will deliver the clearest picture. You can get a DVI to HDMI cable fairly cheap.

A display mode that has no overscan. This is typically called "Dot by Dot" or "1:1 pixel" mode but may be called different things by manufacturers. This will save you from having to purchase the Powerstrip software as well as save you many of tedious hours of tweaking the Powerstrip software. Make sure that this display mode is available on the input you plan to use for the computer. Some PC inputs limit you to specific resolutions, try to avoid this.

Here is a list of TV's that support this "dot by dot" feature:

Master list of LCD/PLASMA with 1:1 pixel mapping

If going with an LCD (which is what I did) make sure that it has a fast response time less than 8 ms or less if possible.

Finally I would make sure that it has 1920 X 1080 resolution. Many 1080P televisions especially plasmas advertised as 1080p/i actually have less than 1920 vertical lines of resolution.

In considering which type of TV to go with your choices are: LCD or Plasma flat screens or Projection (DLP, LCOS, LCD). I went with LCD flat screen. I avoided projection because of only fair off angle viewing, overscan and not best for very bright rooms. I avoided plasma because the potential to burn-in static images (this will be used for gaming and computing after all) which projection and LCD flat screen do not suffer from.

I ended up with a TV from the Sharp Aquos line because of fast response time (4 MS) and almost no glare whatsoever and of course dot by dot mode. I am very happy with it!

Happy shopping, hope this helps!

Thank you very much for your input guys! I knew someone had to have recently gone through the same transition I'll be experiencing in a handful of months.

It most definitely looks like I'll be picking up 2 (maybe 4?!?) of the Logitech pads. I've spotted them for $30 just about everywhere when I did a quick Google.

That said, I'm still open for any/all suggestions otherwise. I've still got plenty of time before I make these purchases.