Monitor or a TV: what to buy?

[WonnabeBiker]

Hi Guys

I'm stuck in some village where it's a challenge to even buy rice (at certain times). Have no TV and would like to try

playing with old gaming consoles.

TVs can be used as monitors - and vice versa?

Just wondering what you would recommend for 8,000 Baht or less.

Got a PC and a PS2 and the original XBOX. Might add a PS3 soon.

Would a regular monitor work with these older gaming consoles, too?

Can I assume that modern TVs can be used as monitors, too?

Cheers!

[NeverSure]

If the TV has a standard VGA video input jack (same as on the computer end of all traditional video cables) then it should work fine. It won't have the resolution of a monitor, but I have a 32" TV hooked to my computer that way, and it's so big I can sit back from it and not notice the lower resolution.

If any of your devices needs a different cable, there are adapters.

[nuolan]

Yeah, you should be able to find a nice 1080p HDTV for 8,000 or less. If your PC has an HDMI output you can use one cable to connect it to the TV that will output video and sound.

[WonnabeBiker]

Cheers - much appreciated! found a VGA to HDMI converter on Ebay, too.

[infernalman7]

Just a recommendation I would suggest you get a computer monitor with a TV tuner built in.

I once thought that it shouldn't be that different to use an LCD with a HDMI for a computer monitor. How wrong was I. The screen will not display pixel to pixel resolution of the computer output as TV has a crop factor. Basically you won't be able to work very long with that screen especially when you surf the net or do word processing.