Damage from connecting computer to Toshiba HDTV

[zim12]

Hello,

I just purchased a new Toshiba 26HF84. The manual says that you shouldn't connect a computer. Anybody know what damage it can cause? Has anyone connected there computer? How long the computer has to be connected for damage to occur?

Thanks for any help!

[RonInBigEasy]

This might be a stupid question, but if the manual specifically says NOT to do it, #1 why would it matter what damage it would cause? and #2 why would you think that someone would risk $600.00 on such a silly act? But hey, that's me. You obviously have something in mind with your new TV and your computer, so hook it up, turn it on the post your results for all of us to get a good laugh at.

[Ratman]

I believe that they, in a round about way, are trying to warn you about the possibily of 'burn in'. There may be other issues that I may not be aware, but... others have done it I'm sure.

I do agree somewhat with RonInBigEasy, except I would have been less condescending in my remarks.

[Kevin_in_ga]

Toshiba is simply protecting themselves from a potential burn-in issue, whether or not it occurs. Many people in this and other forums have done what you are proposing, and the extent of reported damage seems very small (in fact I don't think I've seen any posts describing damage from hooking your PC up, but be aware that it could occur).

Ron: ease up ... this is his first post, and you treated him poorly. That is not how this forum usually responds to honest questions from people trying to learn.

[RonInBigEasy]

I apologize. I just found the question pretty funny. I guess I have more of a sense of humor then some. Like someone at the Niagra Falls and reading a sign, DO NOT JUMP FROM HERE, then asking, "would I get wet from jumping off off here?" or "has anyone else jumped from there and could you tell me what your experience was like?".

[zim12]

Well alright,

Thanks for the responses - even Ron's. I think I'll leave well enough alone with the computer though. Moving on: I've noticed during some parts of DVDs the picture seems a bit grainy. Is this just inherent in certain DVDs? The one thing I found is I keep having to tweek to the picture settings. Something I have to get used to I guess but right now its a bit of pain in the ass.

[Ratman]

IMO it isn't a funny question.

Sometimes, we read warnings and would like an explanation.

[RonInBigEasy]

IMO it isn't a funny question.

Sometimes, we read warnings and would like an explanation.

WOW.....maybe you should consider a break from here and take a vacation. If that is true, you might be wound a little tight my man. Laughter is a cure all to a lot of woes in the world! :Party6:

[Ratman]

With DVD's, once you get your settings, you shouldn't have to tweak.

What DVD player are you using, how's it connected?

You may want to read some of the FAQ's about setting up your new HDTV. There's a lot of good info.

[Ratman]

Laughter is a cure all to a lot of woes in the world!

Sometimes laughter at other's expense is not always funny.

Maybe being in 'The Big Easy' is a little too easy?

You know why you can't "bury" the dead in New Orleans?
Because Satan pushes them back up! He doesn't want them either! :whistle:

[Kevin_in_ga]

The ref steps in and stops the play ... I think the key here is to recognize that everyone is actually in agreement that the question was valid, and it has been answered.

Beyond that, it is a matter of how you frame your answer. I know that here it is typically without sarcasm, and I hope it will stay that way.

Unless zim12 has more questions, I'm done with this thread.

Kevin

[zim12]

I'm using a Playstation 2 - one of the new slim ones that has progressive scan. I've hooked it up to the TV using a Sony component cable. I do not have another DVD player.

[kevinw]

Y'all need to start playing nice..this thread is lifeless now.

[mjones73]

I'm using a Playstation 2 - one of the new slim ones that has progressive scan. I've hooked it up to the TV using a Sony component cable. I do not have another DVD player.

That's probably part of the problem, consider getting yourself a dedicated DVD player...

[Lobstah]

Back to the original question... :)

Hooking a computer up to your TV certainly CAN be done, but is not for the technically feint-of-heart ;) As was printed on many oldworld maps from when the earth was flat "There be monters here..."

So Toshiba, like many manufacturers, does NOT want to be in the business of trying to support this exercise, which frequently involves additional computer hardware, software, etc.

And quite frankly, I don't blame them. General consumers barely understand HDTV, if at all.

If you want to give it a shot, check out info over at AVS. Lots of stuff there.
And yes, primary concern for damage is burn-in. People get busy, phone rings, etc...and next thing you know you've got a faint image of your desktop permantently displayed :)

Lob

[lorenzow]

Do a Google search on HTPC. There's lots of info from people that like to tinker with that stuff.

I'd also recommend a dedicated DVD player. Consoles should be used for what they do best - play games.

[zim12]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I did a bit more research into connecting computers to the televisions: HD or otherwise. Looks like the primary concern is burn in. My friend has his iMac connected to his television (non-HDTV) through a special adapter for 60 Hz NTSC for playing some movies and has not blown his set yet. Anyway I was wondering if there would be a difference between non-HD and HDTVs. Looks lie there isn't.

[Ratman]

Other than price and perhaps... sensitivity, an HDTV should probably have a little more attention to prevent problems compared to an NTSC/analog set.

Just be careful...

[Heavy_Equipment]

I have had my PC hooked up to my Toshiba 51H83 in the past, and presently to my 42" plasma. There was no problem with either.

First and foremost, right click your windows desktop, go to properties>screensaver and do one of two things:

Go into the EnergyStar power settings at the bottom, and set the monitor to turn off after 1 or 2 minutes. This is my personal favourite method.

The other option is to set the screen saver to blank, and set the time to 1 or 2 minutes. This is less desirable in my opinion, because it still shows an image on the screen, it's just a dark image.

My plasma bounces a box around the screen to tell me there is no input signal when I use the power off method, so I'm forced to use the screen saver.

These are just for oops factor, so the desktop doesn't stay on for 4 hours someday when you get distracted. It doesn't replace common sense, like not playing games with static menus or HUDs for hours and hours on end.

From what I can gather, the plasma is the most susceptable when it comes to burn in issues, and I play Civ 3 for a few hours a sitting, and have no problems at all.

The only thing you are going to have to worry about is overscan.
Have fun.

[chrisr]

Please review this post. The TV and a computer work fine. This specifically is about connecting a 34HFX84 to a Macintosh.

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/

"Hi, Mike,
I wrote to you a few weeks ago about hooking up my dual G5 thru the KDS DVI-I to Component adapter to the component inputs of a Toshiba 34HFX84 HDTV monitor.
A few days ago, I hooked the dual G5 up directly to the Toshiba HDMI input via the Mac's DVI output (using a standard DVI-HDMI adapter; HDMI carries audio as well, while DVI just carries the digital video). Booting the Mac after turning on the Toshiba, Apple's standard display detection recognized the HDTV as a "TSB-H84S" and offered three resolutions: 1280x720, 1344x756, and 1920x1080, all at 60Hz. DisplayConfigX was not necessary this time (last time, I reported using it for the KDS component adapter). I guess the turn-on sequence might not be too important after the first time, as you can always hit "Detect Displays" in the control panel. It didn't work the first time that way, and I didn't try it subsequently.

Because Apple labeled the 1920x1080 selection as 60Hz, I was hesitant to try it at first for fear of ruining my TV, as 1920x1080i (interlaced) would normally be considered 30Hz (the labeling should be frame based, not field based). Thankfully, the higher number was just Apple hype (or error), and it worked perfectly with the Toshiba; I.e., it is 1080i (interlaced).

My memory might be off, but I am quite sure this did not work under 10.3.6. Back then, when I switched from 1280x720 to 1920x1080, the screen went blank. I am currently at 10.3.8, so maybe they changed something. My memory may be off again, but I think 1920x1080 was only offered in the past in mirrored mode with my Viewsonic PF790 monitor, so it was probably progressive, not interlaced. Now, it is offered in non-mirrored mode for the Toshiba HDTV and is apparently interlaced.

At 1920x1080i, there is a little flicker on small text. (The image is more stable than thru the Component input with the KDS adapter, even though the latter was limited to 1280x720p with the then version of DisplayConfigX.) At 1280x720p (progressive) thru DVI/HDMI, the flicker goes away and small text is very readable (even though the Toshiba is upconverting to 1080i). It also offers a 1344x756 setting, but I have not investigated this except to see that it works.

Same overscan issues I mentioned last time. (Today's announcement of a new DisplayConfigX promises a fix under Tiger to the front porch setting being stuck at 15.)

The only problem I have is that my relatively new Toshiba apparently has faulty HDMI inputs. The shadow detail is lost compared to the Component input. This is not a matter of the computer's DVI being incompatible, because I saw exactly the same problem when I tried out a Samsung SIR-T165 set top box's DVI input to the Toshiba. So I will be calling Toshiba for service during warranty after I acquire a decent set top box with HDMI or DVI (I returned the Samsung for numerous bugs). I dare not show the repairman that I have connected a computer, because the Toshiba manual forbids it, probably because of fears of static burn-in rather than an actual incompatibility.

The burning question now is, will this work from the Mac Mini's ATI 9200 with DVI? Then the Mac Mini would stand a chance of being a High Definition media center without any additional active adapter if your HDTV has DVI (or HDMI with adapter cable). I don't have a Mac Mini, but hopefully one of your brave readers will try it out and report back.

I'll let you know later how DisplayConfigX detects the Toshiba HDTV thru DVI/HDMI (DisplayConfigX still needed for adjusting the overscan; no provision in the Apple control panel for that), and also how the new DisplayConfigX version with 1920x1080i works with the KDS adapter. Thanks. - Paul"

[fudgebrown]

Mac Mini as a media center sounds awesome. I am very interested in that, since I am a Mac user, I am also interesting in connecting my Powerbook to the HDMI input on my new Toshiba 46HM84 DLP. I guess the key here is to keep the refresh at 60hz. I don't see how this can damage a DLP TV, I mean if it's simply a video signal what harm can be done? I will now go to ebay and see if there are any cheap HDMI to DVI cables.. and I feel better now that I've had my Mountain Dew...