Laptop 15.6" with second screen >= 24"

[Captain_17]

I am interested in getting a second screen to run with my current 15.6" laptop. Ideally I'd like to get something at least 24" big to run in extended mode with the laptop.

I've seen that monitors are pretty expensive and I'm interested in the possibility of buying a HD TV instead. Makro has a current special on a Sinotec 24" Full HD Slim LED TV (http://www.makro.co.za/p/7268/sinotec-24-61cm-full-hd-slim-led-tv/) for only R1900.

I have seen people saying that TVs don't make perfect monitors unless they have a specific 'PC mode', resulting in blurred text and unclear images/videos. Can anyone shed some light on using a Sinotec TV (or any TV) as a monitor? Or any other cost-effective things I could try?

 

[DominionZA]

TV's can be k@k without a PC mode. I dock my Alienware with a 32" Sammy TV and it works great - in PC mode. Without PC mode I had horrible overscan.

I tried out a Telefunken 24" TV a while back. Fonts, images, colours, etc... Looked terrible and nothing I could do about it. Just as well I was only trying it out.

 

[Captain_17]

Yeah, it seems like if you want to use a TV you have to splash out on the 'bigger' brands that have a PC mode, like Samsung. Maybe I'll wait in the hope of some Xmas specials soon.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

 

[Pada]

You may be able to pick up a 23" IPS PC monitor for ~R2k.

For example: http://www.wootware.co.za/philips-237e3qphsu-23-full-hd-1920-x-1080-ips-monitor.html
The difference between a 23" and 24" is rather small, especially when the 23" is already an IPS panel...

 

[K.J]

How does the Phillips compare the the LG IPS?

 

[Mystic Twilight]

How does the Phillips compare the the LG IPS?

If it is using the entry level e-IPS then it won't matter, all those panels are made by LG and one other company, not sure who but possibly Samsung.