Using TV as a monitor...problems

**Jeff** · 08-01-2007, 08:39 PM

I'm using my 52in Panasonic LCD TV as a monitor right now. MM is HUGE but the text is really small. I went into the disabllity assistance thing on Vista and made the text larger but it only worked in windows...not on the actual websides. Also the clock and the vista logo are not round, they are kinda oval looking, so everything on the screen is streched a bit. Where would I go to correct these issues? Also no video games will load...is this beacause they do not support the S-video out from the laptop?

**Jeff** · 08-01-2007, 08:41 PM

ok, I fixed the font size. I told it to ignore the font size specified by the website. It screwed the google ads but everything else seems ok.

Apoc · 08-01-2007, 08:42 PM

TurboOmni08 Wrote:Also the clock and the vista logo are not round, they are kinda oval looking, so everything on the screen is streched a bit. Where would I go to correct these issues?

Change the TV's aspect ratio to 4:3 or change the computer to something closer to 16:9 (i.e. 1680x1050).

**Jeff** · 08-01-2007, 08:48 PM

the computer won't go any higher then 1024X768...and 4:3 is a waste of my screen. Is the lack of wider options due to my graphics card?

Apoc · 08-01-2007, 08:55 PM

I know my Dell only allows me 1024x768 when undocked or there's no secondary monitor. I'm not that familiar with Vista but you should be able to extend your desktop to your TV as a secondary display and set that independently.

FWIW, 4:3 isn't wasting anything if you can't set your laptop to 16:9... it just doesn't stretch everything to fit. It's the same as SD programming stretched to 16:9... which looks pretty silly IMO.

white_2kgt · 08-01-2007, 09:13 PM

You need to find the 'native' resolution for the TV and drive it at that. Probably 1280x720, but doesn't sound like you can go that high, is this a built in video card? I use my plasma all the time, CTRL+(+) (the plus key) will make text bigger, the minus will make text smaller. Also try upping the DPI to 'large' fonts in XP its in the display settings area.

**Jeff** · 08-01-2007, 09:48 PM

how big is your plasma? My bigger problem right now is that it will not load Battlefield 2 or even Battlefield 1942... It says something about a graphic card error or some bullshit. Could it be that the S-video out does not support the same output as the VGA? The TV has a VGA input but it is on the front...uber gay for a semi permanent TVputer install.

**Jeff** · 08-01-2007, 09:54 PM

Freakin Kitten Cannon plays like freaking Need For Speed II on a Pentium I...I'm loosing my mind here...

white_2kgt · 08-01-2007, 10:01 PM

TurboOmni08 Wrote:how big is your plasma? My bigger problem right now is that it will not load Battlefield 2 or even Battlefield 1942... It says something about a graphic card error or some bullshit. Could it be that the S-video out does not support the same output as the VGA? The TV has a VGA input but it is on the front...uber gay for a semi permanent TVputer install.

50"
You are using S-video? You realize that is standard def right? It won't output a highdef signal. You need to use Component, DVI, HDMI or VGA, I'm using VGA, I tried use Component but text looked like crap.

**Jeff** · 08-01-2007, 10:06 PM

I know it is standard def, that is fine. is VGA a high def signal? I just wish the damn TV had the freaking thing on the back, plugging it into the front is so 90's camcorder style...

**Jeff** · 08-01-2007, 10:21 PM

I've been looking at VGA to Component convertors...those things are rediculous expensive...anyone know where one could get such a beast on the cheap? I've found them online from 95+shipping (ebay) to $350+.

white_2kgt · 08-02-2007, 08:39 AM

TurboOmni08 Wrote:I know it is standard def, that is fine. is VGA a high def signal? I just wish the damn TV had the freaking thing on the back, plugging it into the front is so 90's camcorder style...

Do you know what high def/standard def means?

With that SVideo connection the best resolution you can get is 640x480. VGA can drive resolutions into the thousands of lines of resolution. Just plug the computer into the VGA port and don't make it any more complicated. Yea, you could convert the VGA signal, but it's going to suck for anything other than watching movies. Does your video card not have Component outputs? Most these days come with a breakout box or a cable w/ all sorts of output connections on it.

CaptainHenreh · 08-02-2007, 09:12 AM

white_2kgt Wrote:Does your video card not have Component outputs? Most these days come with a breakout box or a cable w/ all sorts of output connections on it.

He's using a Laptop.

white_2kgt · 08-02-2007, 09:16 AM

CaptainHenreh Wrote:
white_2kgt Wrote:Does your video card not have Component outputs? Most these days come with a breakout box or a cable w/ all sorts of output connections on it.

He's using a Laptop.

Well I guess we'd need to know how old it is then. Still even w/ a laptop they come /w the breakout box that plugs into a SVideo LOOKING port and gives you Component and SVideo out connectors. Still, I'd just the VGA port and be done w/ it.

Does the TV have and HDMI or DVI ports on the back? You could convert the VGA to DVI and use that. I converted VGA to HDMI for a short bit and it worked fine. MUCH better than converting VGA to component.

**Jeff** · 08-02-2007, 11:00 AM

It does have an HDMI, but only one port. I'm using it for an up converting DVD changer I have. I have 3 component ports. The only problem I have with the VGA is it looks stupid on the front of the TV. As to if I understand what std vs. high def is, of course I do, I just did not know that VGA falls into the high def category. I know S-video is oldschool...my parents 1988 build TV has it.

Is the high quality of VGA the reason that most of the first High Def boxes had a VGA output?

As for the laptop, its like a 3 month old Dell Inspiron. It has top of the list (they offered) everything EXCEPT the graphics card. I don't game a lot so I didn't think it was a big deal until now.

white_2kgt · 08-02-2007, 02:02 PM

So you have a HD LCD TV that has 1 HDMI, 3 component and no DVI and the VGA is on the front? How old is it?

Sorry to say, but you are probably SOL if you refuse to plug it into the VGA port.

**Jeff** · 08-02-2007, 09:19 PM

white_2kgt Wrote:So you have a HD LCD TV that has 1 HDMI, 3 component and no DVI and the VGA is on the front? How old is it?

Sorry to say, but you are probably SOL if you refuse to plug it into the VGA port.

I'm using the VGA now...the picture is SWEET. It looks a little gansta' with the wires running to the front, but there is a little channel along the bottom of the screen to tuck them. With auto loom over them it doesn't look too bad.

It is about a year and a half old...but I got it BRAND NEW for $589... New retail on it was $2000. It was on a repair ticket and forgotten for over a year. Someone called and said their Panasonic was messed up so this one got put on a repair hold to replace theirs...but they never came to claim it. So when it was cleared off the ticked the price dropped and I was first in line...being the one to discover we even had it. The manager that cleared it off the ticket said she would buy it if I did not so there was no time to think. It was a fluke thing, I've been told its the best deal anyone has ever gotten on a TV at our store. So I'm not in a position to bitch too much about what inputs it does or does not have.

white_2kgt · 08-02-2007, 10:12 PM

720p? Panny makes some nice stuff.

**Jeff** · 08-03-2007, 09:38 AM

white_2kgt Wrote:720p? Panny makes some nice stuff.

Yeah, 720p/1080i. I use it in 1080 for most of my movies. 720p for anything slower action. Thats the only reason I'm not going out and getting an Xbox 360 or PS3...I won't be buying another TV anytime soon (a big one) so I won't have 1080p anytime soon.

white_2kgt · 08-03-2007, 09:41 AM

There's no 1080i with LCD's.

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