Forum Discussion

MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
Mar 13, 2015

MONITORS I Am Puzzled

I have been given an 11 inch laptop to replace a 15. 6 inch laptop. The screen even on the 15 inch laptop was too small for my bad eyesight. It's going to be worse with the 11 inch screen.

I need a monitor and so, why not choose something in the 22 inch to 26 in range?

Then I start shopping for monitors and discover a computer monitor is a lot more expensive than a television, inch for inch.

Is there some reason that I need to know why a computer monitor is superior to a television?

The monitor is going to be traveling. I am hoping to save enough money for a 17 inch laptop. But until I get the 17 inch laptop a separate computer monitor is going to have to serve me. Televisions are relatively inexpensive these days. However by being limited by using a Telcel phone on a computer line I am crippled as far as doing fast searches for televisions better in the small range of 22 23 inches. A 26 inch monitor television would be the limit that I would be able to carry. A $120 small television would be wonderful. This seems to be about half the cost of a computer monitor of the same size. When I finally get the 17 inch laptop I will suffer with its screen and a pair of strong reading glasses while on the road. The larger television monitor would be used at home. Online shopping using this tiny smartphone is a nightmare. 80% of the online inquiries end up with a screen saying web page not available. Any leads for an affordable monitor television or computer would be much appreciated. A 22 inch computer monitor in Mexico cost about 600 US dollars. I must purchase a monitor for the least amount of money I can. what am I looking for what do you recommend?

Many Many Thanks!

44 Replies

  • You will be very disappointed in the quality of the image using a TV as a computer monitor.
  • Wanderer,
    I went here to be sure there is a Walmart near to you:
    https://foursquare.com/v/walmart/4e1645d6c65be9c55e8436df

    Go here to read about the options:
    http://www.wikihow.com/Connect-PC-to-TV

    With a bit of search, the basic information about using a TV as a monitor has a couple of significant considerations:
    First - Does your portable have a function to use a remote display? Nearly all current models do - it is just a matter of finding the function key or setting panel to activate the remote monitor. Assuming it does, then the next is
    Second - deciding on the connection from the PC to the monitor. Once again, it depends on the capabilities of your portable and the TV to be compatible: HDMI to HDMI, USB to USB, VGA to VGA, s-video to s-video, RGB to RGB, All but the first two only transport the picture, so an additional audio cable is needed.

    I'm not sure how the local Walmart there has pricing, but you should be able to get a current model HI-Def TV at a reasonable price. My local Walmart store has an RCA 24 inch Hi-Def TV at $149 plus tax.
  • what output does the laptop have? only vga?, hdmi out would allow you to use a tv
  • $600 is way high. Walmart has many choices for under $200 and some under $100. Even Best Buy has them under $200:

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