Using 1080p TV as monitor?
 

Is there any downside to using a TV as a computer monitor?
I brought the Asus 27" LCD few weeks ago, but yesterday I saw a 32" 1080p TV for the same price I paid for the 27" LCD ($300)

Is there any real difference between a computer monitor vs a HDTV? or just the label difference?

what brand is the tv?

Well, the simple realities is that with the resolution remaining the same and expanding the size, you're loosing pixel density. Things just plain won't look as sharp. If you think about it, sure you can move it further away, but then it'll just be like using a smaller monitor.
TV's just won't have the 1920x1200 resolution my 24" monitor has.
Also, all your friends and family will think you're retarded if you're going to use 2 side by side. Whereas they'll only think it's getting out of hand when you're doing a triple monitor setup.

Also depending on the the TV and the monitors you are comparing, the TV might have some ghosting. Just think about it this way, most TVs that size are the budget models using the cheapest crappiest panels available to the industry.
Again, depending on the TV, your black depth and color bleeding is probably worse than a monitor.

Not guaranteed, but quite likely.

tv's lack the quality of computer monitors, especially high end computer monitors.

you can totally tell if you compare side by side. the color on tv's is not as true.

even when i compared my old old old old ultrasharp 24inch monitor to my buddy's brand new samsung d7000 52? or 55 inch tv, the 24inch monitor was better.

mind u these are high end monitors. i duno about low end. i wouldnt ever buy a low end monitor.

its all about the refresh rates and contrast ratio....from what ive been told... TVs dont have the quick response times as the smaller computer monitors..

If you dont mind these minor things, then its great.. tons of screen real estate... but if your a heavy gamer, then its better not... some of my friends still use CRT monitors coz they say its still the best..

We use them at work in our conference rooms and I find them awful for doing anything text based. I always have to zoom my documents out to make the text readable, and even then it doesn't seem sharp enough that I could use it day after day without eye strain.

That's a good point... I've been thinking of getting a HTPC, mostly to watch videos, but I never thought that reading text on a 40"+ TV should be kept to a minimum if possible.

Text isn't as good, but I think that's because people end up trying to show too much. That and they aren't running them at native resolution?

A 23" monitor has the same amount of pixels as a 1080p TV. All the pixels are square, it should be doing text the same provided the TV has decent contrast ratio. Those first few years of mass market flat panels aren't nearly as contrasty as the ones today.

ive ran 2x 19", 1x 24", 1x 27", 1x32", 1x40", 1x46", and now im running 1x46" + 2x22" for my setup for work
and by far ive enjoyed the 40" and 46" since it allows me to do so much more without changing to multi monitor setup until recently i got 2x 22" from Dells special and used those in portrait mode for viewing sites etc.
i sit prob around 8 - 12" from the 46" tv and i think its amazing, it may seem like its very close but all my friends that have tried my setup has changed their view afterwards

however, it does take time to adjust your tv settings because you are sitting a lot closer than you normally would

a picture of my setup is in the "workstation" thread on RS

A computer refresh rate is 60HZ. The crappiest LCD TV's have a refresh rate of 60 hz. Most are 120hz some 240hz or higher.

if you decide to go with it, make sure you buy a tv with good return policy
chances are, you are gonna get eye fatigue from reading texts.

I think the biggest I'd go with is a 32" provided you have enough desk space. I don't see how any bigger will work. Too much head motion looking around the screen. I had a 32" but it wasn't far back enough for me to use it comfortably. I'm now using a 26" LED LCDTV and it's just right.

I have 2 24" monitors in landscape and find I move my head too much. By the end of the day my chair has slowly gravitated towards one monitor.

For monitors I really wish we could get 4x3 instead of 16x9, this widescreen shit sucks for doing actual work, its only good for movies and games.

I have the same thing at work. 2x24" 1080p. Having dual screen for work is a greater benefit than not for me so I live with it.

Totally difference experience man. I'm running a 40" and 24" (and my monitor has better images for working), Since the 32" is only running 1080P, you would seem to get more workspace in the 27" with bigger resolution. As other answered, the contrast on TV vs Monitor is different..

I only use the TV to watch video and monitors to do work

Do you have them set up flat, side-by-side, or are they angled towards you?