UPDATE: Before you read the original content of this review, the latest 24" monitors have recently come down in price (regularly in the $250 range) and typically include both speakers and an HDMI port.  If it has DVI and a 3.5mm headphone jack input, then you can hook both those cables directly to the monitor's cooresponding inputs negating the need for an outboard audio source (computer speakers, etc) and the speakers are now integrated with the bezel on most of these 24" monitors as well.

Check Slickdeals dot net forums for the latest LCD deals.

Original content:

With computer LCD's at an all time low, this is a guide to how to save 50% on an LCD TV to use a computer LCD as a TV.

In order to use an LCD monitor as a TV, you must have a few things:

1. A tuner with a DVI (HDCP compliant) or HDMI output, whether it be a cable box, sat receiver or Over the Air (OTA) antenna (not sure if these exist with DVI/HDMI outputs).

2. An LCD monitor with a DVI input.

3. A DVI to HDMI cable (if using a HDMI source)

4. An audio tuner/stereo or simple computer speakers (if none are included with your monitor)

5. A three prong to two prong power adapter, 3.5mm female to RCA male adapter and an extension cord.

The following information is useful to note:

1. 1080p signals use a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels

2. 720p signals use a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels

Therefore, you will not be able to get a 1080p monitor for as much of a discount as a 720p monitor. Pixels on LCD monitors are true.  In other words, whatever the max resolution is for that LCD, that is exactly how many physical pixels it has.  Tube CRTs utilize a different technology that works indepdent of actual pixels.  For this reason, you can find 17" monitors that will do much more than 1280 x 720 pixels.  For bargain priced monitors, the smallest LCD you can get that will do the resolution you need for true 1080p is 24".

Limitations:

You are limited by the number of inputs on the monitor.  External switchers are made for HDMI as well as Component Y-splitters and active switchers will only be able to have one source attached to your monitor.  If your monitor only has DVI and VGA connectors, an HDMI Y-splitter, HDMI cable box and an HDMI DVD player will get you both signals over one wire.  Extra expense for active switching can also come with a remote to switch inputs.

Ideally:

In order to maximize savings, this would be a good deal for a bedroom application.  I have a 22" widescreen monitor that will do resolution high enough for 720p.  I have it hooked to my cable box via a DVI->HDMI cable.  I had to tell the cable box in HD setup that the display can NOT do 1080i.  Most cable boxes default to this and when you first plug the monitor in, you will not be able to see an image.  You may need to do this setup before plugging your monitor in with a regular TV - I ran into this issue and used my 13" tube TV I had hanging around.

I purchased this monitor at a local brick and mortar store for $169.  The equivalent sized LCD TV at the time exceeds $399.  I saved 50%+ just by buying something without extra inputs or a TV Tuner.  The monitor included internal speakers that are passable at normal listening volumes.

My cable box allows for a switched outlet in the back of it that will turn off whatever is attached to the box when the box is turned off.  I plugged the monitor (used a 3 prong -> 2 prong adapter for the LCD plug) into this outlet.  Now when I switch off my cable box, both components switch off.  The sound is created with a simple 3.5mm --> RCA adapter that I purchased at Radio Shack for about $5 that's plugged directly into the cable box.

HD looks great, and SD (Standard Definition) looks just as good as you can expect from an HDTV.  With a little tweaking of the cable box settings, HD content is unzoomed and sharp and SD content is stretched across the screen.  This setup looks just as good as any 37"+ LCD TV I have ever seen.

If you're looking to save money and you LOVE HD content, this is a good solution for you.  Playing a DVD becomes a little cumbersome as you cannot switch sources from your remote, but if you don't play DVDs that often, this could be the solution for you.

I hope this helps.