Fellow OzBargainers,
I am looking at purchasing a monitor to use with my laptop at home.
Now, I use the laptop on a desk in my bedroom that is adjacent to my bed.
So, I am thinking of the possibility of using this monitor as a TV - what is the best way of doing this?
Or should I forget about using the monitor as a TV and get a TV for the bedroom if I really need a TV in there?
Thanks in advance for your help!
All HDMI enabled monitors I have, all have speakers.
None of mine have speakers! looking at the other comments here, others are in the same boat as me.
What brand of 'monitor' are you using?
No him but I recently sold one of these BenQ monitors https://www.cnet.com/au/products/benq-e2400hd-lcd-monitor-fu… that has in built speakers. They were garbage, but they were there.
I have a BENQ, and an ACER and a HP, plus a generic one I can't remember. They all have sound capabilities.
@JimmyF: I can't see a speaker on any of my monitors too, but they're present and produce sound.
But here's a HP monitor with sound:
https://h20386.www2.hp.com/AustraliaStore/Merch/Product.aspx…
@Rumbaar: Hmmm interesting… I've got 'older' business grade display port jobs, no speakers here!
Must be the latest and greatest thing to add back into monitors!
@JimmyF: I think there were speakers in HDMI monitors before there were display ports. I try to ensure that any monitor I get has sound capabilities. They aren't rare, in the customer market. Business models I'm sure they take them out on purpose.
TV has 3 extras compared to normal monitor:
1. Receive FTA TV channel - if you dont watch FTA channels, then this is not a problem.
2. Speaker - some speaker from laptop can be too soft to be heard when you are sitting on bed. TV or external speaker can help.
3. Remote control - for a lazy people like me who concerns about power usage, this is a must.
Before I started using my monitor as a TV, I was worried about the last two (don't watch channels often, so first one doesn't apply to me) but I got some $20 speakers and installed unified remote, end cost was $21 and I can use it how I used my TV. If you want to add in a TV tuner, I believe it costs around $10, so you're still only looking at $30 extra to use a monitor as a TV.
Been using TVs as laptop monitors,except for the bedroom. Have a FHD projector in there :)
I've been using a monitor as a TV for a while - just make sure you have decent speakers as most monitors don't have any built in
And you won't get freeview on it
I looked into this a few years back. It was possible buy a usb tvtuner that you could use. This requires the pc to be on when watching tv.
I'm a bit unsure of the software required to drive the hardware though.
Using a monitor as a TV is easy. Get yourself a usb TV tuner. Can get them on ebay for less than $10. Download sichboPVR software. It's free. You're pretty much good to go after that. You can buy a monitor with build in speakers if your laptop speaker are a bit weak.
Good Luck
I have these super duper computer speakers I bought in HK decades ago - they are damn good. Think I will run with your suggestion.
Ooops - that means though that I have to get out of bed to turn the TV off. :o((
Get out of bed? No Way! Get yourself one of these bad boys https://www.pccasegear.com/products/34674/logitech-k400-plus…
Stay in bed all day!
Umm why don't you buy a TV and use that as a monitor for your laptop instead?
never thought of that. Pardon my ignorance but how will that work?
Your laptop should have a display output and depending on the model either HDMI, Displayport, VGA etc. You just need to find the right cable and make sure you buy a TV that supports it.
If your monitor has HDMI input, you just need to buy a cheap STB and powered speakers. Probably cost you around $50 all up. No need to mess around with USB TV tuners/software.
already have the STB for this CRT TV that I am hanging onto for dear life - will I still need to have my laptop on though?
Not if you're using the STB..
I love a good stb
Monitors can't tune TV stations, They are just for display. No speakers either!
So you could play media via the laptop or get a STB or a fetch mini if you want to tune into FTA stations etc, assuming the monitor has a HDMI input port (most do), but you'll have to get a soundbar etc for sound.