LCD TV question (displaying two different sources at same time)
 

I want to upgrade my computer monitor, and have been thinking that I may go the LCD TV route where it has a computer input. My question is, that I want to display both TV (likely from a cable box) and computer at the same time. Will LCD TVs even do that? Maybe via a PIP function? I've looked and that really isn't a feature that's touted from any manufacture. Maybe there is a certain brand that does it. I just want to eliminate having 2 display devices in my computer room.

Well DT, most of them will only display two sources if one of them is the HDMI (or DVI). You are in luck. HDMI to DVI or HDMI to VGA and you should be fine.

So, say going from regular coax, or component, I'd be screwed? That doesn't sound good for what I want to do.

Most TVs with PIP/POP require you to have one of the sources you want to see be from DVI/HDMI and one from something else. Or some version of this. Some won't allow you to use 2 HD signals, so you may need to connect one of the devices with Svideo and the HD connection.

You can always just switch between the 2 instead of seeing both at once. Do you really plan on having PIP on much of the time? I've used my computer in PIP (importing CDs to iTunes), and it is hard to see. This is on a 90" screen. If you are talking a 25-40" flat screen, I'm not sure you'd be able to do much in PIP. You'd likely have to have the TV/DVD source in the PIP window.

Likely it will be a 23" - 26" LCD. I would be using it while I'm on the computer so I can watch baseball games and such.

It tends to be a feature on bigger sets, I think you'll just have to shop for it. Pretty sure my parents' 23" Zenith has PIP, maybe not. You may have to go to 26" to get it, though. A quick scan of Crutchfield shows some Samsungs @ 26" with PIP. You'll find it more common at 32"+, but that might get big for a desktop.

def, I'm pretty sure the dell 24 ultrasharp has what you are looking for. It has a set of regular AV inputs (composite & s-video I think), in addition to dvi & vga, and I think it has a builtin PIP function. I'll check on the ones in the office tomorrow.