OT: Disabled Vet Friend Needs PC > HDTV Setup

Soniclight schrieb am 24.03.2015 um 01:01 Uhr


Basic System Computer Specs:

- Compaq 505B MT Business PC
- Windows 7 Pro 32-bit Service Pack 1
- AMD Athlon II 2.9 Ghz x 2
- 2 Gb. DDR3 (Win says only 1.7 usable due to 32-bit OS)
- Onboard/Mobo-integrated nVidia with only VGA out. Current max resolution due to older 5:4 19” LCD monitor is 1280x1024.
________

HDTV: As shown in illustration image, decision on affordable brand has not yet been made (I'm still doing my research), but desired resolution is 39”- 42”.

Mission: Consolidate regular digital (non-cable/satellite) TV Viewing and Desktop/Internet Streaming Viewing into a to-be-purchased HDTV; the latter is also to replace a progressively fading late 80s/early 90s 37” CRT monster.

I'm essentially his tech go-to guy, but not having a TV at all, HDTV or otherwise, I may or may not have all the information or knowledge to make this work for him. Hence why I'm asking for your assistance/input. Here is how I see this being hopefully possible:

A) Connection: He'll have to get some mid-range nVidia or such video card with HDMI out. Then of course get an HDMI cable that will plug in on both ends, mini and/or regular HDMI on the TV end – whatever is required.

B) Usage: If all is set up right, all he will have to do to switch between the TV channels coming through the HDTV's built in receiver and accessing his desktop will be the TV's remote. He will be getting a Logitech or other decent wireless keyboard and mouse and I will most likely build him some kind swivel-away “hospital food table” kind of thing on which he can use those.

Here are a couple of my concerns – and if any other potential problems come to mind, please let me know:

Resolution Issue:

--- His current monitor is as stated, a 19” 5:4 with Windows 7 allowing him a max. of 1280x1024. Will this some affect how the TV shows his desktop or vice-versa? Or do HDTV's ignore computer monitor source resolution and display at 1920x1080.

32-Bit RAM Memory Limit:

--- Will that have any bearing on how, let's say viewing a Hulu or Neflix or YouTube video, etc. through the HDTV-as-computer-monitor will be affected? (Naturally, another important factor is computer's DSL speed; he may or may not have to upgrade his DSL to faster Mps. Since he will be viewing far more things online with such a setup than he could before sitting in an uncomfortable, fold-up chair.)

Maybe I'm being delusional that such a setup is possible or not, and/or I got some things wrong in some of my technical and setup assumptions. Either way, your input and advice is most welcomed--no, needed. This is potentially a rather “big deal” change in his life that I really DO want to help him pull off.

Thanks.

~ Philip

Kommentare

Chienworks schrieb am 24.03.2015 um 01:33 Uhr
You're waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over thinking. Plug it in, turn it on, and use it.

It would be best to set up the PC's desktop resolution to 1920x1080 to match the monitor for the sharpest display. If that makes things too small to see, then try 1280x720. This will be ever so slightly fuzzier, but everything on the screen with be about 33% bigger without being distorted.

The monitor won't care about the computer at all when it's tuning in other inputs.

Probably the most important choice to make is if you're going to keep the old monitor connected as well, in which case you need to decide if you're going to clone the display or extend the desktop. If you clone then you'll see the same thing on both screens. Keep the resolution set to match the old monitor and the new TV will cope with it, though with black bars on the sides. If you extend then you'll use the new TV as more desktop space, but you'll probably end up with the Start menu on the monitor and not on the TV.
Soniclight schrieb am 24.03.2015 um 06:39 Uhr
Thanks for reply. You wrote, "It would be best to set up the PC's desktop resolution to 1920x1080 to match the monitor for the sharpest display." I am assuming that he would do this after he is viewing the desktop on the HDTV, for as I said, his current 19" LCD monitor only lets Windows Display settings go up to 1280x1080, Meaning that the new video card would recognize the HDTV as a 1920x1080 "monitor".

Correct or incorrect assumption/understanding?

In that situation it then seems that he would have to choose between viewing on old monitor and respective max. settings and viewing on HDTV monitor since the former aren't the same or proportional, unless he sets the old monitor's desktop to your suggested 1280x720.

As to using the old CRT, not in the plans for I don't even know what inputs it has, certainly not HDMI or DVI. Probably VHS composite or something, probably no VGA either.
TheHappyFriar schrieb am 24.03.2015 um 13:49 Uhr
If you turn off the computer, unplug the old monitor, plug in the new one, turn the computer on it should do almost everything for you, including setting the resolution.

Chienworks schrieb am 24.03.2015 um 14:14 Uhr
What i was asking in my last paragraph is whether he's going to have *both* the old LCD and the new TV connected to the computer simultaneously or not. If you're merely retiring the LCD and are going to use only the TV then the steps are as simple as Soniclight suggests. Just switch to it and you're done.

All the other stuff i mentioned is *only* if you're keeping both monitors connected to the PC.

And of course, if you're switching to only the new TV, you wouldn't adjust the resolution until after you've made the switch.
John222 schrieb am 24.03.2015 um 16:39 Uhr
Whats he actually using the computer for? If it's just web browsing and spreadsheets he just needs a laptop.

If you get him a smart TV, netflix, hulu and everything else is available on the TV without the PC.

Your making it way too complicated
Soniclight schrieb am 25.03.2015 um 09:56 Uhr
OK, thanks for all of your input. Looked into, read some articles about smartTV, overkill for him. I'll just go ahead and find the right HDTV, accessories, etc., he buys, I help him set up. And hopefully it will all work as easily as Chienworks allude to that it would be. As I said, I'm new to this, just more tech savvy than my friend (built my last two systems), so we're in new territory, that's all.
John222 schrieb am 25.03.2015 um 18:11 Uhr
I would suggest you take a trip to the local BestBuy or some other TV stores. Most all TV's are Smart TV's. You have to dig pretty deep into the clearance rack to find a TV that doesn't get Netflix and so forth. It would really simplify your setup.
Chienworks schrieb am 25.03.2015 um 19:27 Uhr
I would agree with that. You can completely and utterly ignore the 'smart tv' features if you wish, but the first time you press the 'netflix' button on the remote you'll be sold at how nice and easy it is. There isn't any substantial additional cost either. The 26" i bought recently came in two otherwise identical versions, one with 'smart tv' and one without. The prices were $148 and $142 respectively.

Do keep in mind that in order to use the 'smart tv' features the TV must be connected to the internet, but this can be done in half a minute with either a network cable or through WiFi.
Soniclight schrieb am 25.03.2015 um 23:40 Uhr
Thanks for further replies. OK, considering SmartTV since it seems more or less ubiquitous and cost-effective. But still have some questions.

Chienworks wrote:

"You can completely and utterly ignore the 'smart tv' features if you wish, but the first time you press the 'netflix' button on the remote you'll be sold at how nice and easy it is."

I understand the user-friendly potentiality of such interfaces -- I've seen some in articles, etc. However they are useless unless one has a paid subscription to whatever buttons/large icons are offered. I.e. if one does not have a Netflix or BBC America or HBO or whatever account, they are simply just links, not access to content. My friend's only income is is Veteran's disability and like me, he does not own cable or Dish and so any such paid streaming sites would be pointless. He did used to have Netflix, may subscribe again or not. We'll cross that bridge in due course.
________

"Do keep in mind that in order to use the 'smart tv' features the TV must be connected to the internet, but this can be done in half a minute with either a network cable or through WiFi."

Wifi is a non-starter, he has only basic phone-line connection for his computer (ethenet cable to modem, skinny flat phone line to wall). As to "the TV must be connected to the internet", I assume you are stating that he would have to have a separate, parallel or second ethernet cable from the TV itself to plug into his modem for that. I doubt his modem as more than one Ethernet input, but perhaps that can be corrected with some form of y adapter/splicer or hub... or new multi-input router. If so, let me know.

THAT said...

His DSL is via Verizon and as you know, big companies like that can be a pain with their proprietary--and expensive routers, and such. Though sometimes one can do a work around with a router that is similar to the "unlocked" phones. Or not. I really hope a splicer or y-connector is possible for far more affordable...

And last but not least, if all of this SmartTV stuff is ultimately useless to him, he can still access free and other content via Win7 and his browser. I'm simply following up on your suggestions of considering SmartTV -- within the context of his finances.
John222 schrieb am 26.03.2015 um 01:04 Uhr
You can plug any wireless router into your modem.
Soniclight schrieb am 26.03.2015 um 09:19 Uhr
OK, thanks for that tip on wireless router.

Also my apologies to all for being so ignorant about HDTV and entertainment technologies of today, but my old CRT TV with digital box is in my closet and I only watch Neflix (I get DVDs and stream), Hulu free and whatever other free content I can find, i.e. links to shows on CBS like NCIS, etc. I have my dual 24" Samsung monitors so I can spin them around where my easy-chair is and that's how I watch those things.

Point: Never could afford cable or dish - so that's why I'm ignorant with all this modern HDTV stuff. :)
Chienworks schrieb am 26.03.2015 um 14:53 Uhr
Other than the "smart tv" functions, there really isn't much of anything new about them. These new televisions do everything that old TVs do and act just like them (but with more features). They also do everything your computer monitors do and act just like them (but with more features). It really really really is that simple.
John222 schrieb am 26.03.2015 um 18:17 Uhr
You know that you can have 3 connection on a basic netflix subscription and they can be in different houses. You can get one netflix subscription and share it. You can each simultaneously watch 2 different show for only $8/month total. Hulu+ might be the same you have to check.

But you still didn't explain what he is doing with the computer.. You can get a very nice laptop for $300, for browsing and so on. You can also download LibreOffice (microsoft office clone) for free. A laptop is nice if he goes places. Maybe even a tablet PC. Other than website browing, is there any thing he really need that desktop PC for???
Soniclight schrieb am 26.03.2015 um 18:59 Uhr
"Other than website browing, is there any thing he really need that desktop PC for?"

Not really. I did point to why he wants this set up: due to his situation, it's far more comfortable to sit in an easy chair the stiff fold-up chair he uses for his current table on which his computer monitor is; he has some lower back compressed vertebrae disk problem that doesn't help. Due to his vision, it's hard for him to concentrate for reading for too long on a small screen too.

So he wants to be able to view PBS Nova and such programs that are archived online through a TV. His old 37" CRT is dying out and being able to surf and watch whatever he does on his TV in one unit (his to-be-purchased HDTV = consolidation and ease-of-use.

He has no need for a portable table, laptop or even smartphone. He spends most of his time at home.
Soniclight schrieb am 26.03.2015 um 19:15 Uhr
As to bringing up WiFi capability, not sure he has any use for it, but then who knows. He lives in a one-bedroom apartment, so it's not like a house where mobility of device is a nice and useful option. His to-be-HDTV will be in the living room just as his current CRT TV and computer are.
Soniclight schrieb am 28.03.2015 um 08:29 Uhr
Alright, looks like I had the right idea from the start and/but the additional feedback on options was welcomed. So time to close this thread. Thanks again to all. NRN.

~ Philip