Connecting PCs and laptops

With the Sony KDL-52 V 5500, PC pictures reach gigantic proportions.

Most TVs can connect to a PC; after all, this is what the VGA connection is for in the first place. But VGA isn't the only type of connection that'll do this - you can also fit a PC with a graphics card offering composite-video, DVI, or even HDMI outputs.

The advantage here is that HDMI and DVI provide top picture quality. But - watch out! - there's also a downside: The socket on the PC must support HDCP; otherwise, nothing will happen. What's more - another disadvantage - plasma TVs in particular are not fully protected against burn-in effects, so leaving static images on the screen for too long can have nasty consequences.

Our comprehensive TV reviews always examine whether a TV is suitable for use as a PC monitor or not. Sony's 52-inch KDL-52 V 5500, for example, displays a superb picture, at the top resolution, via HDMI - and without cropping the picture's edges.

Similarly good for PC video is the Panasonic plasma TX-P 42 GW 10, which also displays precise pictures via HDMI with no edge-cropping (overscan). Via its analog VGA input, pictures of up to WXGA resolution (1,366 x 768 pixels) display correctly.

Panasonic's 42-inch TX-P 42 GW 10, which also comes in 46- and 50-inch sizes, makes a great PC monitor.

Other models that serve PCs well include, for example, the Samsung UE 40 B 7090, the Philips 47 PFL 9703 D, or the LG 42 LH 7000.