3D TV Advice?

[whytheheckme]

Hi everyone!

I have a dilemma. I'm leaving for college tomorrow, and I need to buy a TV.

I'd like to get a 120hz TV so that it's nVidia 3D compatible:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/3D_Visi...uirements.html

It turns out that most "120hz" TVs are not compatible because they only accept inputs of 60hz. My options are pretty much as follows:

I can get a 22" display like this:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...155&CatId=2775

OR

I can get a 60" TV like this:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...#detai lspecs

After investigating all of the options, these are pretty much the only two displays that are compatible, even though I REALLY liked this:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...#detai lspecs

My problem is space. In my dorm room, 22" seems way too small for a TV, but 60" seems way too large to use as a monitor at close range. What does everyone think about my quandary? I'd really like the larger display, if people think that it's manageable as a monitor at a desk-like setting.

What do people think?

Thanks!
Jacob

[Schnabel]

Ok, I need to know more about your dorm before I can answer this question. Are you sharing the dorm with anyone? If so this is this going to be shared with him? How big is your dorm?

Personally I have a 19" monitor in my dorm that I have to myself (11ft X 15ft). This monitor is perfect for the size of my room for both up close computing, and far away T.V. / Games. I wish it was just a little bit bigger, but I'm not complaining by any means about it's size. One thing that is really really nice about it though is that it takes up very little space, and is easy to carry up and down stairs.

[MrForbes]

big TVs make lousy monitors.

We had a 60" mitsu dlp tv, given to us, didn't work. Tried to fix it (replaced the capacitors on the PSU board), needed more work, gave up, took it apart and took the pieces to the dump. Intersting stuff inside. I don't think I'd pay money for one though....I'd be looking at an LED backlit LCD TV. Probably wouldn't support 3D gaming though

[whytheheckme]

Hey Eric:

Its a 9.5x12 room. The major items that I'm trying to fit in the room are as follows:
Bed (39x80)
Desk
Dresser
Pinball Machine

It is possible to put the bed up on risers to create a 'loft', thus making the area underneath it livable.

Jim:
Thanks for the advice about the mitsu. The only mitsu I've seen in action was at nVidia headquarters, and that was their 82" panel (not rear-projection). I agree about the LED LCD, but they don't currently support Dual-Link DVI with 120hz input, so thats not an option

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm likely to go with the 22".

[Lil' Lavery]

I realize this may be a bit late, as you're leaving what is now technically today, but:

Give up on the pinball machine. It's not going to fit.
There's no way you're going to fit a 60" TV in that room, either. A 60" TV has a ~54" horizantal area (give or take depending on model), which is 4.5'. That's essentially half of your short wall or 1/3 of your long one. And considering there's 2 people in the room, that's a massive amount of real estate.
I, personally, have this Samsung, which I love. But at 25.5", even it is sometimes to big to use as a monitor on a small desk and I have to roll my chair back. There's no way you're going to get away with using a 60", unless it's all the way across the long dimension of the room.

I have no experience with Mitsubishi TVs, but I can tell you that Samsung is a quality brand from my experience with them.

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Give up on the pinball machine. It's not going to fit.

No....the pinball machine has to have priority over everything else. btdt

(the extra engines will fit in the closet)

[whytheheckme]

Haha thanks Sean, though I forgot to mention that it's a Single (I'm a grad student). The pinball machine fits just fine =D.

I have come to the conclusion that through heavy rearranging, I'd be able to get a 60" TV in here, however, I don't think the real-estate is particularly worth it. Thanks to everyone for their advice

I'm considering asking the Universities permission to put my second pinball machine in the lounge downstairs: perhaps recover some of the cost of my new display

[s_forbes]

Someone has to ask... What kind of pinball machines?

I'm renting a house with two other guys and my '72 Outer Space fits nicely in the kitchen. We're kind of short on space for a second one, though. (but it's not like that will stop me from getting another one any way...)

[MrForbes]

I had my Royal Flush in my dorm room....in the actual dorm that the Nerds got kicked out of by the Jocks in "Revenge of the Nerds". They filmed it the summer after I graduated.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Before you decide you should check viewing distance vs. screen size. Too large (too close a viewing distance) and you will get a headache as your eyes are constantly moving around the screen. check here...
http://myhometheater.homestead.com/v...alculator.html
or
http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/09...o-screen-size/
or
http://www.avforums.com/forums/high-...-distance.html

You are lucky to be able to make this decision. I was not allowed to have TV when I was in school, nor refrigerator, microwave, nor computer. And we didn't have air-conditioning in that dorm either.

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

I was not allowed to have (a computer) when I was in school.

Well, yeah, Al, but IBM 1401s used a LOT of electricity and the 1402 card punch/reader was pretty bulky.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Nope,
By charter, only the computer sciences department was allowed to run a computer on campus. An IBM 360 with punch cards. The engineering lab PDP11 was listed on inventory as $10,000 of misc electronic parts.
Graduated 1973, Bradley University, Peoria, IL.