Originally Posted by
YVR Cockroach
The main disadvantage of the all-in-one units is lack of changeability. You're pretty much stuff with what it comes with but you may not care if you're not into changing components.
A few caveats (as I type watching a 46" LCD TV that is also the monitor of the HTPC).
Know where the overscan/underscan adjustment is so you can see the full screen. ATI chips/drivers seem to want to underscan so the whole display isn't used and the adjustment is a PITA to find.
Not all PCs have HDMI outputs or if they do sometimes the sound component isn't all there (such as only stereo vs. not 5.1 or 7.1 sound) but you may not care.
For those contemplating using VGA to hook up their TVs, be aware that some TVs don't support full screen usage through the VGA port or even 16:9. Check the specs first.
Picked up a
23" Samsung B2330HD at Costco this morning for $200. Even includes picture in picture - there is enough screen real estate that I can monitor TV and not miss the corner the TV image is in.
Other than having to change my default audio to HDMI and a few mintues negotiating between NVIDIA and Windows 7 settings for the monitor locations, it configured perfectly with no need for scaling. Setting the HDMI port in the TV as a PC instantly sets the best image settings. This same laptop was a massive pain to get to work with my two year old Philips TV. I tried three or four drivers until I could finally get audio and scale it properly. Seems someone finally figured out how to get HDMI to be plug and play.