|
Home / Technology / Digital Products
A 21” LCD TV – A Versatile Mid-Range Size
By:Ryan Tenney
Some consumers consider a 21” LCD TV to be the perfect size: for TV viewing and for use as a computer monitor. Some take it one step further: they integrate their 21” LCD TV with a home theater PC. It’s easier than you think, and a home theater PC setup lets you access any media files like digital image files, audio files, and videos. You can also watch your favorite television shows or DVDs, and you can even use the 21” LCD TV as a computer monitor. It’s no surprise, then, that some consumers feel a 21” LCD TV is one of the most versatile screen sizes available.
If you watch digital TV on your 21” LCD TV, you could be already taking advantage of the possibilities of Digital Video Recorders (DVR) or TiVo. You can go one step farther; integrating your 21” LCD TV with a home theater PC setup is the ultimate in versatility. And it’s not that hard – here are a few ways available to you.
1. Buy a PC with the Media Center version of Windows XP and make sure it has a TV tuner card capable of capturing digital signals from your cable or satellite box. Once it’s installed, it works just like a DVR. You won’t need to buy a high-end PC to integrate with your 21” LCD TV if you just want to record and play shows and movies – if you also want to play graphics-intensive video games, you may need a more expensive PC with greater graphics capability. Just make sure you get plenty of memory.
2. Upgrade your PC. You can buy a copy of Microsoft’s operating system with Media Center. Frequently it comes bundled with a TV tuner card you’ll also need. If you have decent computer skills you can handle the installation fairly easily and your 21” LCD TV home theater PC setup will be running in no time.
3. If you don’t want to upgrade to a new operating system, a number of software companies produce applications that perform the same chores as Media Center does. A few are available as freeware, but the features they offer tend to be limited. You’ll still need to factor in the cost of a TV tuner card – a TV tuner card won’t be included with the freeware.
Once you’ve decided how to set up your computer, you can integrate it into your home theater system so your 21” LCD TV can handle the video feed you send to it. A 21” unit is ideal for this purpose; sets that are larger sometimes deliver reduced image quality when the TV signal is sent through the computer.
How you send the signal to your TV is the main hurdle to overcome. There are many different audio and video options for joining the two; the method you choose will obviously depend on the inputs and outputs available on both your PC and your TV. Older, standard-definition LCD TVs will have, at a minimum, a composite-video connection (a yellow video connection that's usually accompanied by red and white stereo audio jacks). Hopefully, it will also provide an S-Video port. Newer 21” LCD TVs should provide component inputs, and more advanced 21” LCD TVs that are HDTV capable will supply DVI or HDMI inputs. If you haven’t purchased a 21” LCD TV yet, try to find a model with DVI or HDMI inputs.
Once your computer is connected to your 21” TV you can use Media Center to keep track of your media files and handle your DVR recording needs. If you want to record TV without using Media Center, similar products on the market can do the job. For example, SnapStream's Beyond TV comes bundled with many TV tuner cards, so if you're building a home theater or upgrading a machine you already own, you might end up with a copy by default. And you can take a further step and add the Beyond Media program for organizing photo, music, and other media files, and it does pretty much everything Media Center does. Beyond TV doesn't support every TV tuner card on the market, so check the hardware specs for your 21” LCD TV before you install it.
Even if you have no interest in recording TV programs, you can still use programs like Windows Media Player, iTunes, and PowerDVD to manage your preexisting media library using software you already have.
Whichever option you choose, make sure you have plenty of hard disk space; once you start recording television programs or watching your home videos on your 21” LCD TV, you'll find you need all the space you can get. And due to its increased versatility, you’ll find your 21” LCD TV is an even bigger part of your home entertainment system.
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: tv plasma, television, lcd, lcd television, liquid crystal display television
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Ryan Tenney is an author at www.wearelcdtvs.com. Click Here to learn about LCD Television news right now.
|
|
| Top Digital Products Articles |
- 1). Digital Camera Care By : Sara Wells
After spending money on a quality digital camera, it is important to take the time to maintain it properly. Your camera will last much longer if you take preventative measures to keep it in the best condition.
The most important, and delicate, component of your digital camera is the camera lens. This serves as your window to the world, and once scratched it will require professional intervention to fix.
|
- 2). Finding The Right 27” LCD TV By : Ryan Tenney
A 27” LCD TV provides a much better picture than the old CRT televisions – and they come in much more attractive styles. In many homes an LCD TV has become an integral feature in the entertainment room’s decorating scheme. They’re versatile, too. A flat screen 27” LCD TV can be mounted on a wall, under a cabinet, on the ceiling, or it can sit on a stand or on top of furniture.
|
|
|
- 4). MTL 1daycourseplans: What The Internet Was Made For By : Eric Garner
Have you ever wished you could have a huge supply of training course plans at your fingertips just waiting to be delivered? No research? No designing? No planning? Well, if so, MTL 1daycourseplans from ManageTrainLearn, is the product you’ve been waiting for.
MTL 1daycourseplans comes from the Internet e-learning company ManageTrainLearn and, as their name implies, it’s designed for anyone who is a manager, trainer or learner.
|
- 5). Buying A Digital Camera By : Albreht Moy
When it comes to buying a digital camera, you need to ask yourself one question. “What type of pictures am I looking to take?” Then from that point on, try to envision the image perfectly in your mind, also how you would like then to turn out for others to see. From there on in, it can be easy clicking and all this can be done just by picking out what you are looking for in the features of a digital camera and the picture you have seen in your mind.
|
- 6). Voice Changer Software In The Market By : Jenny Le
- Hey, it seems that Britney Spear is online voice-chatting!
- Wow, that’s a funny cartoon with lot of animal singing voices. You have to pay much money and time to collect them, don’t you?
- What a lovely and surprising gift, darling- a CD of my voice chatting with music background and also a sweet kiss’ cover!
Do you say “yes” to the first question?.
|
- 7). What Is An iPod By : Galadriel Anderson
What is an iPod? Who are you, my mother? Well, it’s a reasonable enough question. Chances are that you are probably aware that it’s an iPod is a little gadget that your grandson wants for his birthday and that its costs a lot of money and what wrong with this transistor radio anyway? What’s wrong? Everything.
You want to know what is an iPod? It’s a product created by Apple.
|
- 8). Choose The Right Stand For A 42 Inch LCD TV By : Amy Metz
Unless you’re mounting your new 42 inch LCD TV on the wall or on the ceiling, you’ll need a solid and reliable stand to support it. Many TVs come furnished with an appropriate stand, but some require that the stand be purchased separately. If the manufacturer furnishes your 42 inch LCD TV stand, and it meets your needs in terms of styling, you’re in great shape.
|
- 9). Review of Directory Generator by Armand Morin By : Donna Knight
Directory Generator is a software product that can generate hundreds of keyword-targeted web pages. The purpose is to help you get targeted traffic to your website so you can make more sales or earn commissions.
I was one of the earliest users of Directory Generator before it launched publicly August 26, 2004, so I’ve had a little head start in testing it.
|
|
|
| New Digital Products Articles |
- 1). ViewSonic Plasma Consumer Reviews of the VPW4200 42 inch EDTV-ready Television By : John Lloyd
One glance at the ViewSonic VPW4200 42 inch plasma TV will send shivers down the average consumer’s spine. This fantastic plasma television has so many attributes that it is hard to fit them all in one small article. A collaboration of ViewSonic plasma consumer reviews will enlighten the reader to the many benefits related to the purchase of this plasma TV.
|
- 2). Satisfaction Guaranteed: Purchasing a Video Camera By : Steve Frazier
Finding the right video camera requires a few simple steps. Start by researching the various products available in the marketplace.
If you're unfamiliar with video cameras, doing your homework now can better ensure you'll be satisfied with your final purchase. Many consumers are use to particular brand names, and the quality and features associated with each.
|
- 3). Music And Movies Download Sites - Are They A Scam? By : Harry Rackers
Surfing the Internet, looking for music and movies to download, you will find a lot of so called music and movie download sites. These sites do not provide you with music, or movies to download, no, they provide you with file sharing soft ware you can use to search for, and download music, movies and games. Most of them also provide you with cd burning soft ware and they have a helpdesk for those members who run in to problems with their downloading.
|
- 4). So, You’re In The Market For A Video Camera By : Maxine Schel
There are momentous events that occur during our lives that later on, we will end up wishing we had on tape. Photographs are no longer the preferred method of storing memories, giving way to video cameras instead. As more technological advances are made, there are bigger and better video cameras on the market available for purchase. It is ultimately up to you to decide which video camera will best suit your needs.
|
- 5). What Is An iPod By : Galadriel Anderson
What is an iPod? Who are you, my mother? Well, it’s a reasonable enough question. Chances are that you are probably aware that it’s an iPod is a little gadget that your grandson wants for his birthday and that its costs a lot of money and what wrong with this transistor radio anyway? What’s wrong? Everything.
You want to know what is an iPod? It’s a product created by Apple.
|
- 6). All About Plasma Televisions By : David Stone
Plasma televisions have flooded the market, but there are some important facts you should know first. They are a premium price but they offer one of the best combinations of features for a High Definition television today. Plasma screens offer a flat screen of 4” thick that have one of the best pictures available. The newest televisions have resolution capabilities of up to 1080p.
|
- 7). Satellite Communication Security By : Krishna Anand
Communications Intelligence (COMINT) involving the covert interception of foreign communications has been practiced by almost every advanced nation since international telecommunications became available. COMINT is a large-scale industrial activity providing consumers with intelligence on diplomatic, economic and scientific developments.
Various communication intelligence equipments have been and are been designed in order to provide all with a secure communication channel.
|
- 8). 75 percent of people buy the wrong digital camera By : dave4
When I teach a new class learning digital photography, over 75% of the students turn up with the camera the salesman suggested.
Guess what? They soon find out that it’s the wrong one for them. This can be a very expensive mistake. So the big questions are what is the right one for me and how do I know which is best for me.
One of the first things.
|
- 9). A Look At HD Tivo By : John H. Rogers
Have you ever heard someone say they were going to Tivo a program and wondered what they meant? HD Tivo is a term used to describe a high definition digital video recorder, which permits the owner to record television programming and store it to an internal hard disk for later viewing. So, the next time someone says they are going to Tivo something, they are simply saying that they are going to record it so that it can be watched at a later, more convenient time.
|
- 10). A review on Digital Pianos By : Janani
A piano is a musical instrument that is classified as a keyboard, percussion, or string instrument, depending on the system of categorization used. Playing the piano is wide-spread in western music for solo performance, chamber music, and accompaniment, and is also trendy as an abet for composing and rehearsal. Materials used for pianos are strings, pin blocks, strings, plates and soundboard.
|
|
|
