Which LCD monitor for watching movies from computer?

[Mai]

Our LCD just died and we are now looking for a replacement.
Our computer is a media centre with a TV tuner. We watch avi movies and TV shows on them all the time. We don't play games on it.

Can anybody recommend a 24" LCD monitor that would last a long time?

Can one plug an external drive with avi files to a LCD with a USB slot to play movies?

If we add s-video output to the media centre, can we play it to our regular TV with s-video input?

Thanks for your help.

[Jaytee]

Can anybody recommend a 24" LCD monitor that would last a long time?

Can one plug an external drive with avi files to a LCD with a USB slot to play movies?

If we add s-video output to the media centre, can we play it to our regular TV with s-video input?

Thanks for your help.

Stick to a quality brand name LCD maker like Samsung or Dell and a LCD should last a very long time.

As far as I know, you cant plug in a external drive directly to a LCD, you need some time of player like PC, PS3, DVD Player.

You can plug in a s-video out to your TV but the quality wont look very good and you need to figure out how to get audio to room with the TV. S-Video is only video.

[JLee]

For movies, you definitely want to get an LCD with a PVA or IPS panel.

Most TN panels have fairly crappy colour and/or lower viewing angles. Although some newer TN panels are showing some improvement.

I don't know any models off the top of my mind except a Dell 2408WFP.

It uses a PVA panel of sorts and has lots of the functionality you are looking for.

[Mai]

Oh, good point. I didn't think about the sound.

Thanks a lot for the help and recommendation guys.