Buying a 42" screen tomorrow

[Funkstar]

Despite having looked into this months ago and not getting anywhere, i need to go out and buy a 42" screen tomorrow for our stand at Offshore Europe next week.

What are my options for connecting a laptop (vga out only) to these things?

Obviously if i can find a screen in budget and the right spec with a VGA input then i'm laughing.

But what about screens that only have component and HDMI?

Screens usually do HD resolutions over component don't they? Do the simple passive VGA to Component cables work as you would expect?

Even if i had been told on Monday it wouldn't have been a problem. Some of our "management team" are useless.

Thanks all.

[toolsong]

Surely hiring from a professional AV firm would be a better idea?

Especially one located near the event. Flat panels don't travel well, you need a full hardcase so they can stand upright.

[Sinizter]

If its for a stand get one of the Samsung or Sony 40" ones.

Or the Panasonic plasmas. Wouldnt really bother with the rest unless you have a reason.

Personally I am ordering a 42" Toshiba X series. But the viewing angle is limited - which is fine for me room, but not for the use you describe.

[Funkstar]

Our office is nearer the the even than any of the AV firms in the city. We have a van for delivering it too. Hiring a screen for te week would be in the region of £500 for the week. After the even the screen will live in the meeting room and will be used for training, inductions and other presentations.

The plan is to keep the packaging so in 2 years when we attend the next Offore Europe we just box it up and take it round to the exibition center.

Even if we did want to hire one, we are too late. OE is a huge event, all the AV poeple in the city will have all their screens booked by now.

I can't be fussy about the screen i get, although at least i know what i'm looking for. If anyone else went to get one they would probably just get the cheapest they could find :shudder:

Thanks for the input guys, but any help with the question i actually posted?

[toolsong]

Assuming you don't need built-in speakers, see if you can find the Panasonic PF9 or PH10 series.

They are pro models that take plug in boards you can swap out for different inputs - also no Freeview tuner, just a monitor.

You would want one of these VGA ones for £70 http://www.av-sales.co.uk/Plasma-TVs...TM6PB-214-.htm

A TH42-PH10 is £750 incl VAT, all the plug in board options here http://www.av-sales.co.uk/products.php?cat=214

[TheAnimus]

1080p will require terrific demands on the PC outputting the signal, and often anything else will look plain wrong!

I'd recomend something like a LE40R88BD its only 40", but its cheap £750 and easy too connect a laptop too. Its native res is also lower than a 1080p screen (which is probably the way you want it tbh) 1366×768.

this would jack in directly to a VGA type cable.

[Funkstar]

I'm going to be limid to Currys, Comet, JohnLewis, PCWorld and the Panasonic shop when shopping tomoorw. And it will need to be in stock.

Am I right in saying that a passive VGA to component cable will work if the screen doesn't have an actual VGA port?

[floppybootstomp]

Originally Posted by Funkstar

I'm going to be limid to Currys, Comet, JohnLewis, PCWorld and the Panasonic shop when shopping tomoorw. And it will need to be in stock.

Am I right in saying that a passive VGA to component cable will work if the screen doesn't have an actual VGA port?

No it won't work.

If the laptop only has VGA out you'll need a dedicated VGA input on the TV.

I've even known some video cards with composite video out not to work via scart sockets on some LCD TV's, they're fussy.

If you want your laptop to work, the TV must have a VGA/PC input.

I'd recommend Samsung.

Just out of interest, more recent video cards have an hdmi output and if an LCD TV has hdmi in, it works well and looks good.

My BFG 8800GTS 640Mb has hdmi out.

Good luck in reaching your deadline.

[Funkstar]

Originally Posted by floppybootstomp

No it won't work.

Thank you, exactly what i wanted to know

[Gr44]

Also, be careful Funkstar. Many of the Sony TV's have VGA input but do NOT support 1080p - despite the fact the TV its self DOES.

mis-leading?

Basically the only way you can get 1080p on many of Sonys tv is over HDMI - and the DVI > HDMI adaptors aren't always perfect. I know the one for my pc doesn't seem to work ( hoping it will fix its self when I get a new GFX card soon! )

Hope that helps!

[TheAnimus]

seriously mate the samsung i linked, works great for my parents, and i've hooked a tablet PC upto it before and its all worked fine.

Not too mentioned is still stocked by dixons group.

[Funkstar]

Thanks dude.

I'll se what i can get later today

[rentagas]

The main problem with the stores you mention is they usually carry stock in out of town warehouses not the stores and they will not have a clue about specs other than what is written on the price card.

Most LCD screens will accept a VGA input, they often do not accept a input of the screen resolution but will stick to a VESA standard resolution/refresh rate to improve compatibility and will scale to that resolution (ie 1280X1024). If they are widescreen that may make the picture look odd (stretched). Some will accept a maximum resoltion picture but only via HDMI-using a DVI to HDMI converter.

Choose a screen in stock, ask to see the manual and check the resolutions in the specs in the manual. If necessary take your lap top with you and set it up in the store. Whataver you do don't believe a confabulating currys salesperson.

[Funkstar]

Went to JohnLewis and got a screen.

I know what TheAnimus said, but i ended up with a 40" Sony 1080p LCD. cracking screen. The power point looked absolutley fine on it. lso came with a £200 surround sound system and dvd player, so big browny points with the other guys at work. Some of them are speaking about getting a Setanta decoder card for it already.

[bigblue]

Glad you got something you're happy with, and JL are a great place to buy from.

As TheAnimus said though, many of the Sony sets have a crippled VGA input, but I guess you've tried it by now !

Oh, and Setanta is pretty good, but looks horrific scaled up to 1080p I have it for the golf and footy but the picture quality is rotten !

[Funkstar]

The laptop will only go to 1366 x 768 when hooked to it. Thats fine though, it is perfectly acceptable.

I'm going to either get a laptop with DVI or build a SFF pc for it in the long run. running at 1920x1080 it will be great for viewing MS Project files, especially because it will be in the conference room.