Simple TV Question (HDTV LCD)

[schild]

Anyone had experience with this or any Sceptre TV?

It says 16ms refresh and the inputs are way more than enough. There has to be a catch though. 30" LCD for $1099.99? I see that it can only do 1080i and not 1080p which is sort of a downer. But it can do 720p easily.

Anyway, thoughts? Or other recommendations? I don't imagine I'll spend less than $800 for a 27" (and I don't want to go smaller than that) and I don't want to spend more than $1200.

[Miguel]

Is this for watching TV or for using as a computer monitor?  Will you be viewing HD content (mostly, never)?

My experience is that reponse time isn't as critical a factor for TV watching (as compared to computer gaming), although it is important.  In fact, on my list of important features I would rank #1 as the quality of the built in de-interlacer, and #2 would be contrast ratio.

[schild]

Computer, TV, DVD, everything really. All of my consoles and dvd player will be running through an Silicon Image iScan Ultra and my computer will be run off of DVI. 16ms is the bare minimum for PC gaming and probably console gaming.

I'm more worried about the monitor being absolute shit considering it's size/price-point.

[schild]

An invaluable thread centered around the Naga III from Costco. Sounds like a decent monitor. I'd really have to test it for gaming though.

[Miguel]

I think it would make a good TV.  The contrast ratio is decent.  As I said before, the quality of the de-interlacer will tell you whether it will look good with various sources like 480I (standard TV broadcast), 480P (progressive DVD), 720P (one HDTV format), and 1080I (another HD format).

I have a plasma television that is limited to 800x400, yet HD content is still breathtaking (despite the resolution limitation) all because the scan convertor is very good an interpolating HD signals.  Constrast defines the best 'black' levels you will see, which is very important when watching movies and such.

As for gaming, remember you will be limited to 1024x768 (with bars on the side of each screen), unless your video card drivers can support the 16:9 format.

16ms is pretty good:  I use a Viewsonic LCD on my PC, and it specs out at 21ms, and I have no problem playing even FPS games without noticing any ghosting.  However everyone's tolerance for ghosting is different.

Best bet would be to probably take one of Costco's in-store laptops and plug it into the LCD monitor and see if you like it.  Most Costco's I have been too don't mind you tinkering with stuff, especially if they think there's a sale on the line!

[schild]

One of the things that really got me interested in a widescreen LCD for gaming is 1. My graphics card (geforce FX) does support 16x9 and 2. A LOT of widescreen compatible console games exist. DVDs were the obvious reason to get one, but I wanted to avoid it until gaming caught up. Resident Evil 4 only plays in 16x9 and a number of Xbox games look much, much better at that resolution.

I went to Costco today and they didn't have [the sceptre] in house. I may have to order one and take my chance on it. Though, once it comes down to ordering something, it becomes a decision for another day.

[Miguel]

Costco also has a REALLY good return policy.  If you don't like it, just tell them it's broke and they'll take it back, no questions asked.

[Krakrok]

They also have a 20.1" LCD monitor for $549. I've been looking at that one for awhile.

[Viin]

Schild, did you ever get this monitor?

I just ordered it from Costco, so I'll let everyone know how it goes. I plan on returning it as soon as the new Sammy's are available.

[schild]

As a matter of fact, I went with the $599.99 Phillips 30" CRT. It performs admirably well in 1080i on PS2 and the Xbox stuff is just stunning. In fact, everything in hi-def on it is stunning. It scales very nicely. I decided I couldn't really deal with the greytone (that replaces black) on the current generation of LCDs.

[Strazos]

How in the name of fuck do you play FPS on a 30" monitor? Maybe you have an odd setup, but I'm usually seated about 2' from my 19" monitor....I would get lost in a 30".

[schild]

PC is hooked up to a 19inch Viewsonic A90f+, all gaming consoles are hooked up to the tv.

[Sky]

Thought you had a projector? 30", pshaw ;) 19" pshooey! (hey I paid a lot of dough for bragging rights dammit...and really I'm trying to promote how totally robot mohammed hdtv pc gaming is)

What PS2 games are 1080i? Grand Turismo 4, and I wonder if that's valid info. I thought the PS2 was incapable of real-time hd rendering. There are only a handful of SD progressive scan titles. Xbox....yeah my hdtv has made me a pc whore again.

I hear you on the grey columns, though. They are annoying, and with the brightness of my set, annoying. When I got my HDDVR box, it was set up with grey bars and *shudder* stretch mode. The tech was explaining why the new box was so much better than my old one, and it was all stuff I didn't want. Apparently some people love the stretch, I prefer OAR (original aspect ratio). Now it's black bars, no stretch - so at least it's a good box in that I can configure it. Luckily I don't have to worry at all about burn-in, DLP ftw.

[schild]

I have a projector and an Iscan Ultra, but ya know what - I don't have a wall or screen to throw it on in my current room. It's tremendously annoying. I also can't set up my Integra/JBL Studio home theater shit. Yes, I'm using the tv speakers for gaming. Such a waste.