Some of the 17" panels have a DVI input. What is , can it be used?

It's a digital VGA input. It gives a better picture because there is no need for digital-analog/analog-digital conversion as is needed for the normal VGA signal. But is is only usefull if you have a videocard with DVI output.

Thanks for your help, I wonder if the N6 or something like it has DVI output?

fbahr,

No the N6 does not have DVI input\output, some TV\Upscaler do have DVI hookup but you pay big for the most part. You could also look into a DVD player with DVI out

Many midrange\high end video cards for your computer have DVI output.

Radeon has a few models with both VGA and DVI.

Radeon by ATI

Cheers,
Lee

I've both and honnestly It's very hard to tell the difference. DVI usually is for very hight resolution (correct me if Im wrong).
If you plan to go witha 15'' panel, VGA will do the job. Unless you want to use it with DVD-HD player with DVI out like samsung 931.

I dunno, there is a difference even on my desktop 15" panel, the thing I notice most is there is much less video noise, (there is a lot of interence in and around my desk)
There is a greater sharpness as well.

And also whenever I read a review of a LCD panel with dual inputs they always talk about better colour performance with DVI. Although I can't really vouch for that.

I can't help but think that in a situation where you are going to magnify a picture, you want the original to be as sharp as possible.

And practically all gfx cards ship with DVI these days.

But 15" panels with DVI are rare these days, it seems. Obviously I'm the only one that notices that much of a difference.

The difference between DVI and VGA is not cut and dry.
More important is the monitor. If your monitor has both, then I say use DVI,
but read reviews to determine which monitor is better. I have read many reviews
with a VGA monitor coming out on top.