Hi everybody, this is my first post here, expect MANY more once I buy LL kit

Ok, lets get down to business:
I am making an inventory of things I will need for my pj. Currently I own a Pioneer 333 dvd, which does not come with a vga output (is not progressive either ) but with the standard svideo/component output.

I DONT want to use any computer as the video source, just a standalone dvd player, so starting from this, I see 2 choices only:

1-Buy a tv box (you name it)
2-Buy a new dvd player with vga output

Searching on the net for some help I found that it is possible to use a cable from component video (from my 333 dvd) out to VGA. I know that a standard CRT monitor woun´t take the signal (transcoding issues?), but I know nothing about LCD ones. (Benq 557s V2 is my first choice), what do you think?

If that is not possible, I think that buying a new dvd (vga+progressive scan) would be the best choice (my old dvd doesnt play mp3 either). I SUPPOSE that the vga output SHOULD work ok with that LCD display because component video has nothing to do with it...

Any comments / advices are welcomed!

(and excuse my poor english )

Buy a LCD TV, can't be simpler than that.
IMO you should be looking at one that has DCDi deinterlacing by Faroudja included. Faroudja holds the crown when it comes to progressive signals.


peace

Watch out for the resolution of LCD TV's. Many of them are pretty low resolution and do a scan (down) conversion to show HD signals.

Guys, I intend to build a LUMENLAB PROJECTOR! why should I buy an lcd tv??

Buy the guide, and you'll have a better understanding of what we are talking about!

I will buy it eventually (or not, I have a pretty good idea about designs and experience about wood & electric working)

Besides, LCD tvs are more expensive that computer LCD displays like Benq. I KNOW, LCD tv comes with all kind of inputs you can imagine, but that is not what Im asking about.

Your best choice for a monitor would be to get one which includes both a VGA input and a DVI-D or DVI-I input. Then find a DVD player with a DVI-D output, if you can't find one now they will be available soon.

Why LCD-TV, you ask.
If you want your projector to be ready to accept various source of signals (other than VGA), then you have to get a converter/scaler/etc. box beside the LCD-panel.
These tuner boxes has many inputs and a few outputs (VGA, DVI). The cheap ones just are tuner boxes. You will get a TV tuner and some inputs (SVHS, composite video in etc.), BUT no higher definitions of signals can be accepted with those.
If you want a decent picture, you want a High Definition tuner box, which has the right component inputs (NOT just compoSITE), or DVI inputs etc. It's not harmful if the box can do upscaling to 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i, and can output up to 1280x1024 (for a 17" LCD panel) in VGA or DVI.

After all, if you add up the costs of this kind of scaler/tuner box and the 17" LCD-monitor, you will see a sum, what is nearly equal or more than a GOOD 17" LCD-TV. Then why wouldn't you choose that LCD-TV, which consists of a good LCD panel (with at least 400:1 contrast and around 16ms resp.time) AND a high definition tuner+scaler with lotsa inputz, perfectly matched to the LCD? Why would you reinvent the wheel for the same money?

That is what I will do: I get a 16:9, 17" LCD-TV, the I strip that down. The rest in the plans...

Thanks for your thoughs Tom.
Perhaps I should be clearer with my little dilemma (I hope my english is good enough this time )

Here (in Argentina) there are very few lcd tvs and they are QUITE expensive ($1000+), and plasma tvs are totally out of question

I need a reasonable solution for my future pj, thats why I started asking those questions (I want a "wheel" I can buy, thats all).

So, should I buy a new dvd player (for the reasons I have explained before), would the vga output be compatible with the Benq input or not? Does Progressive Scan pass trough vga outputs, or any kind of outputs?

Cheers,

i notice here in Ontario Canada more and more LCD tv's are coming with VGA inputs!! the ones i've seen so far are 20"+ but i imaging they will make them in smaller flavours soon enough.

i hope BenQ decides to make one.