Re: HDTV as a laptop monitor

Today I took my new Sony Z1 Laptop to Best Buy to try out HDTV's as
computer monitors.  I tried two large rear-projection HDTV's with VGA
inputs.  (There were other HDTV units that had DVI inputs, but I
couldn't try them since I don't have a Sony port replicator).

The first HDTV I tried was a Samsung 50" DLP rear-projection number. 
I was able to get 1024x768 resolution on the HDTV screen, but my
computer's 4:3 aspect ratio was spread across the HDTV's entire 16:9
screen, widening it and making it harder to read.  The contrast and
clarity was pretty good,though.

The second HDTV I tried was a Panasonic 50" LCD rear-projection unit. 
This one picked up the screen in 4:3 mode (with black bars on the left
and right, in 1024x768 resolution).  I couldn't get my computer to
provide a 1280x768 resolution.  On this Panasonic HDTV/monitor the
text was not as easy to read as on the Samsung (the salesperson told
me it's because LCD units have a much lower contrast ratio than DLP,
and that DLP black colors are much blacker than LCD's).

I created quite a stir at Best Buy while I was testing HDTV as
monitors.  The audience averaged at least 5-15 people.  It seems that
not a single person or salesperson there had seen HDTV's used as a
computer monitor.  Two shoppers told me they were inspired to buy
HDTV's as tax write-offs.

I'm trying to identify which small laptop computers can use HDTV's for
1280x768 or better resolution, and which large rear-projection LCD or
DLP HDTVs work best.

Steve

C G <"piper_chuck"@nospam,yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> Steve Miller wrote:
> > 
> > My goal is to have lightweight notebook which can optionally use a 60"
> > rear-projection HDTV as monitor.  My research indicates that some DLP
> > and LCD rear-projection HDTV's can serve as computer monitors,
> > offering resolutions of up to 1280 x 768.  The manufacturers I'm
> > researching include Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, and Hitachi (are there
> > others?).
> > 
> > Today I purchased a Sony Viao Z1, which is a 4.7 pound 14.2' screen
> > computer that hums.  I'm evaluating it to decide whether it meets my
> > needs.  I need to know if this notbook can use a large HDTV as a
> > monitor, and if so,which monitors can whow which resolutions.
> 
> I assume the laptop has an output for an external monitor.  If you can
> find a TV with such an input, such as you see on projectors, you are
> good to go.  The TV specs will say what resolutions they support.  For
> grins I did a search on google using "sony rear projection 1280x768"
> (without the quotes).  The reading's up to you, here's the first hit:
> http://www.digitalconnection.com/FAQ/HTPC_DTV.htm 
> 
> Chuck