Looking For A New LCD TV

[Craig]

Hi all,

I've had an LG 15" LCD TV for the past year, and i am now looking to replace it with a 17" widescreen version.

My current LG TV is up for sale on ebay, and i short listed two TV's.

Philips

Toshiba

Bascially, i'm looking for people to give me some advice on the pros and cons of each model, and an overall 'get this one' opinion!

I want to be able to play my DVD's in their original 16:9 format, but also want good sound and a good picture!

Craig.

[Zfactor]

--NOTE: I looked up some things about PC Monitors and interlaced video, it seems that there is a likelihood that the fact that the philips is interlaced effects your PC quality, anyway read below about what I am talking about--

Well to get you started off, a little observation about the Philips

The video format is 640 x 480i. This type is commonly referred to as simply a 480i format. Now, interlaced (that is the i) is very bad for viewing TV. It suffers from artifacts and jagged edges. The reason for this is that it displays odd pixel rows then even ones (or columns, i can never remember). It runs a row every 1/60th of a second, and displays at 30 FPS total (2/60 for one frame to be completed from even and odd rows). What happens is the video progression lags on one set, odd or even, and you see jagged edges because the image is not exactly lineing up. While many of the more recent Screens have decreased this artifact effect dramatically, it is something to keep in mind.

What you want to look for if using for a TV is a progressive scan model, it will look like 480p or 720p. This displays a full frame (does not skip between odd and even) in one sweep, at 30 FPS, and does not suffer from artifacts of any kind.

If you are uisng the screen for Computer only, then this will not likely be much of a concern for you, but just in case I figured you should know.

EDIT----------

Yeah I saw you said you want to watch DVDs with it. Definately stay away from any interlaced formats if you can (cost permitting). Make sure you get a progressive scan model, that is your best ticket to a better picture. So i say skip the Philips or find a progressive scan philips. The other one does not say if it is interlaced or progressive.

Also, do not worry if your DVD player is interlaced. Most progressive scan TVs will convert the picture by double lineing (i forget the exact term) where it takes the odd and even lines and sends it as one image, but leaves it there for 2/60th of a second for a 30 FPS display.

If this did not help you at all, sorry. But the only stuff i know about it is for TV related use, not really PC related use. I did some quick searches and found it may effect the image quality, but I cannot confirm this for sure.