Some consumers consider a 21 "LCD TVs are the right size for both watching TV and using as a computer monitor. Some people go a step further and combine their 21 "A home theatre PC and an LCD TV. It's easier than you think, and a home theatre PC setup lets you access all kinds of media files, like digital photos, music, and videos. You can also watch your favourite TV shows or DVDs, and you can even use the 21 "Use an LCD TV as a computer screen. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that some customers feel a 21 "LCD TV is one of the screen sizes that can be used in many different ways.
If you watch digital TV on a 21 "If you have an LCD TV, you might already be using a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) or TiVo. You can take it even further by combining your 21 "Setting up an LCD TV with a home theatre PC is the most flexible thing you can do. It's not that hard, either. Here are a few ways you can do it.
- If you don't want to switch to a new operating system, there are a number of software programmes that do the same things as Media Center. Some are freeware, but they don't have as many features as the paid ones. You'll still have to pay for a TV tuner card, since one isn't included with the free software.
- Upgrade your PC. You can buy an operating system from Microsoft that includes Media Center. It often comes with a TV tuner card, which you'll also need. If you're good with computers, the installation shouldn't be too hard, and your 21 "It won't take long to set up a PC for an LCD TV home theatre.
- Buy a PC with Windows XP Media Center and make sure it has a TV tuner card that can pick up digital signals from your cable or satellite box. It works just like a DVR once it's set up. You won't have to buy a high-end PC if you want to connect your 21 "LCD TV if all you want to do is record and watch TV shows and movies If you also want to play games with a lot of graphics, you may need a PC that costs more and has better graphics. Just make sure there's enough memory.
Once you've decided how to set up your computer, you can add it to your home theatre system so your 21 "The video feed you send to an LCD TV can be handled by it. A 21 "unit is perfect for this purpose. When the TV signal is sent through the computer, the picture quality on larger TVs can sometimes be worse.
The biggest problem is how to get the signal to your TV. There are many ways to connect the two in terms of audio and video. The method you choose will depend on the inputs and outputs on both your PC and TV. Older LCD TVs with standard definition will have at least a composite-video connection, which is a yellow video jack that is usually paired with red and white stereo audio jacks. It should also have an S-Video port, we hope. Newer 21-inch LCD TVs should have component inputs, and 21-inch LCD TVs that can handle HDTV should have DVI or HDMI inputs. If you haven't already bought a 21, "If you don't have an LCD TV yet, look for one with DVI or HDMI inputs.
When you hook up your computer to your 21 "TV, you can use Media Center to keep track of your media files and manage your DVR recording needs. You don't have to use Media Center to record TV. There are other products that can do the same thing. For example, SnapStream's Beyond TV comes with many TV tuner cards, so if you're building a home theatre or upgrading a machine you already own, you might end up with a copy by default. You can also add the Beyond Media programme to organise photos, music, and other media files. It does almost everything that Media Center does. Beyond TV doesn't work with every TV tuner card on the market, so make sure your 21 "LCD TV before you put it in your home.
Even if you don't want to record TV shows, you can still use software you already have, like Windows Media Player, iTunes, and PowerDVD, to organise the media you already have.
No matter which choice you make, make sure you have a lot of space on your hard drive. Once you start recording TV shows or watching home videos on your 21 "LCD TV, you'll need as much space as possible. And because it can be used in more ways, you'll find your 21 "Even more important to your home entertainment system is your LCD TV.
