Author Topic: 26" of gaming goodness for under $700 (Read 1229 times)

ALF · « **on:** August 16, 2005, 11:54:34 PM »

LT26HVE 26-inch LCD TV

I've been looking for a larger LCD display that could accept HDTV component input. I was trying to consolidate my Xbox into my PC area without adding a big TV. Id looked at the Maxcent LCD at Costco, but soon found out that their VGA chip came out of a crackerjack box and basically sucked worse than S-video.

I had seen the cheap prices on the Olevia, but had pretty much dismissed them since they were so cheap. While Im not looking for a top of the line LCD, I didnt want someting painful to look at. When I saw one on display at Circut City today I decided to spend some time...

Research gave me some pretty good specs, and most of the reviews were in the good to very good range.

I managed to convince the manager at CC to hook the thing up to a computer and let me play with the resolutions. At first it looked OK, but there was some definite interpolation blur, not much, but enough to distract me. I had set the resolution to the panels actual pixel count 1280x768 but it wasnt perfect.....then I rebooted the system and had the TV auto-adjust....WOW!

Ive got perfect pixel for pixel resolution with no blur, and the colors are very good. Sure its not perfect, the brightness uniformity is a little off near the extreme edges...but its only noticable when you are really looking for it.

Ive got VGA and DVI computer inputs, my Xbox thru the component inputs, and my standard def TV signal comming in with the ability to PIP in the corner.

$699.99 after rebate, and its as good looking as other panels i was looking into getting that were $400 more!

> 15:9 Widescreen Aspect Ratio
> HDTV Display Ready
> 750:1 Contrast Ratio
> 1280 x 768 Native Resolution
> Response Time: 12ms

Reschke · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2005, 12:55:26 PM »

Hmmmm Just when I am looking for something different to mess around with and spend my money on for Christmas...

llama · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2005, 07:09:22 PM »

I'm trying to imagine 1280x768 resolution on a 26" screen. I'm thinking the pixels have GOT to be on the big side.

Are you using this thing in place of a monitor?

-Llama

ALF · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2005, 08:13:30 PM »

I use it as my normal monitor, but Ive got the 19" sony LCD right next to it.

The pixels are certainly bigger than a smaller monitor would be, but by no means is it bad looking. 22¼" wide divided by 1280 is over 57 pixels per inch, so its very acceptable, you can only 'see' the pixels if you get closer than 12" which is a little close, and IN GAME you turn on anti-aliasing and BLAMO its puuuurrrrty. The 768 height resolution is a little 'short' when your used to 1024, but its not bad, after all, most people used 1024x768 until a few years ago.

I would have liked to get an LCD that did a higher resolution, but the cost was higher than I could justify for what I need it for (panels with the real high resolutions are about 5x the cost), and this one will scale upto 1280x1024 interpolated, if you have a page or game or something that you just have to have that resolution for.

BTW · « **Reply #4 on:** August 19, 2005, 05:23:57 PM »

Whats the tape for?

Overlag · « **Reply #5 on:** August 19, 2005, 06:22:14 PM »

looks like he got a anti glare plastic thingy taped over the screen?

BTW · « **Reply #6 on:** August 19, 2005, 07:05:43 PM »

Well judging from that hot spot, it aint working

oops - that hot spot may be AH sun - my bad lol

ALF · « **Reply #7 on:** August 19, 2005, 08:13:43 PM »

The tape is the stupid protective plastic thingy all LCDs come with. I dont take them off untill I check for dead pixels etc....and I just hadnt bothered yet

Sancho · « **Reply #8 on:** August 26, 2005, 09:43:45 AM »

nice. been thinking of a combination LCD HDTV/monitor for my apartment. how is this one as a monitor for general computing, web surfing, etc? The only thing I don't like too much is 1280x768 seems good for games, but maybe a bit small as a workspace.

Edbert1 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 26, 2005, 01:05:26 PM »

I've been using a projector at 1280X768 on a 72-inch horizontal wide-format screen. Pixels are a bit large but if you sit 10-12 feet away you hardly notice it. Problem is, mounting the TIR is tough since I have no monitor in front of me.

ALF · « **Reply #10 on:** August 26, 2005, 08:30:29 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sancho
nice. been thinking of a combination LCD HDTV/monitor for my apartment. how is this one as a monitor for general computing, web surfing, etc? The only thing I don't like too much is 1280x768 seems good for games, but maybe a bit small as a workspace.

Its all very dependant on what your used too and just what you do. Remember 1024x768 was the standard just a few years ago. As with any monitor purchase, you should check it out in person to see how it fots your eyes. I find the 768 as opposed to 1024 a bit confining, but nothing too annoying since I use my other LCD to extend my desktop for photoshop and the like where the screen gets cluttered pretty quick.

The big issue with any LCD, and especially a budget large format one is to play a game or two on it and see if you can live with the response times and overall look. No matter what the specs say, you have to try it yourself. My particular LCD is a budget one, so its not perfect, but its sure perfect at $700 IMHO.

On a side note, I found that the Nvidia graphics set works well with the DVI and the VGA input, but the ATI chipset seems unhappy with DVI and only looked best thru the VGA port.

Creton · « **Reply #11 on:** September 06, 2005, 11:10:46 AM »

I always enjoy seeing pics of other players com.screen j/s setup,ect.It's funny the different ways we all set things to be comfortable and ergonomic .I was looking at someones simpit the other day and told my wife I'd like to build one she says "ok sure but you better put yourself a cot in it."
I dont know if thats an improvement over being in the doghouse or not.
Anyway love the monitor, gotta get me one of those.

JB12

DAVENRINO · « **Reply #12 on:** September 07, 2005, 03:55:20 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Edbert1
I've been using a projector at 1280X768 on a 72-inch horizontal wide-format screen. Pixels are a bit large but if you sit 10-12 feet away you hardly notice it. Problem is, mounting the TIR is tough since I have no monitor in front of me.

When I use the Track IR I have it mounted on the wall behind me and wear my Track IR hat backwards (just like a hip-hop wanna be ganger) Usually I don't use it though cause I can't sit in my High-back massage recliner.

llama · « **Reply #13 on:** September 09, 2005, 07:36:38 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Edbert1
I've been using a projector at 1280X768 on a 72-inch horizontal wide-format screen. Pixels are a bit large but if you sit 10-12 feet away you hardly notice it. Problem is, mounting the TIR is tough since I have no monitor in front of me.

Edbert, my dueling companion,

I too have the same problem: projected image on a wall 10 feet from my head leaves no place for the TrackIR sensor.

I solved the problem, and then solved it again.

Either way, I have the reflective dots on the microphone tip of my headset. That lowers where the dot is on my face to around chin level. Then...

1. I used a document holder (think gooseneck desk lamp, but with a clip instead of a lamp at the end) positioned behind my keyboard to hold the TrackIR Sensor at chin level. Works great.

2. Went to home depot and found, of all things, a powdercoated Stanley aluminum garden hose holder for $5. It looks like a small hoola-hoop bent into a "U" with rounded two right-angles instead of a continuous curve. I tuned it on its end and ziptied the TrackIR Sensor to the top, and then slid the base of this contraption UNDER my keyboard, which elevates the sensor to chin level right above my keyboard. Also works great, but it looks less dorky (amazingly) and there's no gooseneck to accidently bump into.

Hope this helps,
Llama

Edbert · « **Reply #14 on:** September 12, 2005, 09:54:17 AM »

That is roughly 60 inches of AH-screen horizontally, the sheet is 72, I've settled on 1280X768 for the wide-angle effect.

I messed with the exposure on my camera to get itto look right, but the long shutters make it look blurry, short shutters are too dark, and the flash washed it out. This was the best compromise but the blurryness you see is not really there.