I've been using a bulky analogue TV set as a screen for my DVD player. I'd like a flatter screen and asked in a PC store whether a free-standing PC monitor could be connected in any way to the player. "No". The obvious answer is to buy a flat screen TV but that would mean paying nearly £3 a week for a licence, when I don't want to access TV programmes. So I'm now thinking of playing the DVD's through my laptop, a Dell Inspiron 1545 Model PP41L running Windows 7.
If I buy a monitor for this purpose, what specification should I aim for? Looking at catalogues, they list the following inputs: D-SUB, VGA, DVI, DVI-D, DVI-W, HDMI.
Kay
Most DVD players output an analogue video signal in a variety of formats (usually interlaced 480i, 576i or 1080i), whereas PC monitors accept digital video using progressive scan (usually 720p and 1080p). If you overcome that problem, the pixels aren't the same shape (monitors use square pixels). Other hazards include the encryption used to protect DVDs and HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection). Although you could buy a conversion cable like the SCART to VGA SyncBlaster (£67.99) -- now discontinued -- to connect a Scart port to LCD screen, the PC option is usually a better bet.
Flat-screen PC monitors are typically used to display digital signals via DVI or more recently HDMI ports. Unfortunately, your Dell laptop does not have either of those. It has a VGA connector, which outputs an analogue RGB signal. If you buy an LCD/LED monitor with a VGA port, that should show your videos, but the results will not be as good as if you used a DVI or HDMI connection.
I'm hesitant because I suspect HDCP could be problem with DVD movies (unless you rip them first). Windows 7 and Vista both support HDCP, as do "HD Ready" TV sets and presumably HDMI monitors. However, VGA is older than HDCP and I don't know if will carry HDCP to the monitor. If it doesn't, the monitor should display a low-resolution image (480p) or no image at all. That's how it "protects" content.
You can buy a VGA to DVI adaptors but a simple plug will not convert analogue VGA to digital DVI. That would need some form of electronic reprocessing, which will also reduce the image quality.
New laptop or new DVD player?
If you had a desktop PC, you could solve the problem easily by installing a cheap graphics card, but I don't think you can do that with a Dell Inspiron 1545, even if you want to.
If you have a friendly local retailer, try taking your laptop to the shop, connect it to a PC monitor's VGA port, play a DVD and see how it looks. Right-click on your desktop screen, select "Screen resolution" from the drop-down menu, and see what the options are for the second screen. Will it work with a vertical resolution of 1080 pixels? If you still have a friendly local retailer, there may be a simpler, better option. Blu-ray players and some cheap "upscaling" DVD players also have HDMI ports, and these should work when plugged directly into the HDMI port on a PC monitor. I have not tried this so I'd like to see it working before handing over the cash. However, if you specifically make the point that it's the purpose of your purchase, you will be covered under the Sale of Goods Act. ("Goods must be fit for their general purpose and any particular purpose that a consumer makes known to the trader at the time of purchase.")
Bear in mind that you will need to buy a Blu-ray or DVD player that does NOT have a built-in Freeview tuner or you will still have to pay for a TV license. If your current DVD player does not have an HDMI port, then it will be cheaper to buy a new Blu-ray or DVD player than a new laptop.
Choosing a monitor
When it comes to choosing a PC monitor, the general standard is now very good: they only become expensive if you want a very big screen or a high resolution. Your current laptop has a standard 1366 x 768-pixel display so a monitor that displays 1080p (Full HD) should be a significant improvement.
Bob Raikes, monitor expert and founder of display consultancy Meko Ltd, says that "the better panels will tend to be in sets from 24in and upwards, so size is a part of the choice". Since almost all TVs with 27in and smaller screens now use monitor panels, Bob says "fundamentally, there is little difference in reality". However, he does warn that "TV viewing tends to need higher brightness, so it's worth checking the brightness of the monitor. Quality TVs have brightness of 500cd/m2 (Candela per square metre), but monitors are typically between 200 and 350cd/m2. If the TV is watched in the daytime and brightish conditions, then it's worth looking for sets with 300 or 350cd/m2. I would recommend a minimum of 250."
For convenience, you will probably want a "multimedia monitor" with built-in loudspeakers, though these will not be the best speakers. I'd also suggest choosing a monitor with an IPS (In-plane switching) display, and the more input ports the better.
Suggested products
Asus, AOC, BenQ all offer good, reasonably priced multimedia monitors. The IPS options include the Asus MX239H 23in widescreen multimedia monitor (£186 at amazon.co.uk) and the AOC I2367FH (£136.09). There are also 27in versions of the same models at £270.95 and £206.98 respectively, but both have the same 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution.
Cheaper non-IPS options include the 23.6in AOC E2450SWHK (£111.86) and the 24in BenQ GL2450HM (£115.98) or BenQ GL2460HM (£127.80).
There is a much wider choice of monitors that don't have built-in speakers. Good examples include the 23in Dell Dell Ultrasharp U2312HM IPS (£151.63) and the 24in Samsung Samsung S24C300HS (£129.55).
Amazon prices are, of course, subject to change. Finally, if you dispose of everything you own that can receive a TV signal, you can tell the TV licensing authority by making a declaration online. You can also apply for a refund for any quarters you have paid in advance. However, the site warns: "As it is our duty to ensure that everyone in the UK who needs a licence has one, we may visit your address to check that no licence is required. It's unfortunately necessary to do this, as when we make contact on these visits, almost one in five people are found to need a TV Licence." In this case, "you could risk prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000".
