I'm planning on buying an external monitor for my MacBook Pro. As I'm searching for like a 24-26" monitor I run across some that tout themselves as HDTV/monitor combos. They are usually like 100 bucks more. The question I have is, aren't like all new HDTV's now able to work as monitors too? This is going to be a monitor first and a TV second for me, so if these are just TV's being marketed as monitors, I def would rather just go with a monitor. But again, if I can buy a monitor and throw in an extra $100, sacrificing no quality in the monitor's ability to display 8 tables or w/e Im doing, then it's seems pretty cheap for an HDTV.

Here is the one I am looking at, as well as a couple others. All opinions on this matter would be extremely helpful, the more knowledge I have, the better decision I can make. Also, if people have any models they would recommend please do so.


This is the one I'm leaning toward:
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Touch-...4402160&sr=1-2

Not all HDTVs have PC input. Those that do might only support analog (D-SUB/VGA), so you won't be able to take advantage of digital (DVI-D) display.

The Samsung HD monitors are true computer monitors with built-in HDTV tuners. They have higher resolution than pure TVs with no degradation in response time.

HDTVs in the 24-26" range only go up to 720p (vertical resolution of 720). Computer monitors, on the other hand, have vertical resolutions of 1200. You'll probably be able to get a lot more tables on a monitor than on a pure HDTV.

If your primary use will be as a computer monitor, then the Samsung unit that you've highlighted is much better than an HDTV with PC input.