TV Solutions for the Dorm Room

Zeromus

So, I'm entering my second year at NYU, which means that I'm going to be in an apartment-style dorm with a good friend as a roomie

Yay!

But we have a bit of a problem; we're both pretty big gamers, and we don't have a decent television to hook our consoles into. I'm wondering if you guys could recommend some decent TVs to get for this setting, preferably nothing over $300 (which might limit things, but we're on a budget here). We're not adverse to ordering online if need be.

As a secondary question, this TV is not going to be used for anything other than gaming and DVD viewing; is it possible to get some sort of flat screen computer monitor to plug the console into? I seem to remember seeing such things. If so, feel free to include those in your recommendations or tell me more about them! :P

Thanks!

KalTorak

I'm pretty sure Dell makes a nice line of LCD monitors that accept composite inputs - i forget what they were called/how much they cost tho.

RUNN1NGMAN

Have you checked Craigslist? I know the price of flat-screens has come down, but I don't think they have really come down that much. What size are you looking for?

Deathwing

A max of $300 is not going to get you a ton as far as LCDs go, unfortunately....A quick search on Newegg looks like 22" monitors/TVs is about the biggest that shows up in that price range.

That said, I actually have one of the Viewsonic 22" widescreen monitors at home, and it is very nice for PC gaming, I just don't know how well it would work as the main TV for a room.

If there's any way you'd be able to save up more like $500-600 before buying something, you'd probably be able to get something more in the 30"+ range.

Dehumanized

You probably should hop on craigslist and buy something secondhand. 22" in LCD terms is extremely tiny to the point where you'll have to sit like, 2' away from it to be able to discern detail like text.

Zeromus

It doesn't have to be an LCD monitor, that was just a thought I had.

We're both pretty strapped for cash, but I'll ask him what he thinks. Maybe Costco has some decent TVs on the cheap? :P

Deathwing

It doesn't have to be an LCD monitor, that was just a thought I had.

Yeah...If you want to buy new, CRTs are pretty much on their way out. I couldn't immediately find them anywhere on Newegg or Costco's websites, and Best Buy has...2.

I see a couple 26" LCDs at Costco for about $399 here and here

As a couple people said, you're probably much better off trying to go secondhand if you can't afford a decent sized LCD. Along with Craigslist, maybe see if your school has some kind of classified listings/bulletin board/whatever for fellow students selling random stuff?

Dehumanized

You really, really should just buy a cheap secondhand TV. Living in the dorms is a temporary situation, and you don't need to have really nice things to get through it.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/ele/

example:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/ele/803467668.html <-- 36" CRT w/ display stand, $300, probably weighs 250 lbs.

Zeromus

Yeah, that's probably the best way to go...