What is a 640x400 LCD TV supposed to do with higher resolutions ?

[Damion]

I know from experience that the smaller Sharp "Aquos" TVs handle interlaced screens, in fact, they are rendered perfect with no flicker.

Couple of issues though:

While NTSC screens were fine, PAL screens would do weird things... even though the monitor is supposed to handle PAL (various flavors of PAL, NTSC, and SECAM are selectable). However, perhaps the units sold in PAL regions will perform differently.

AGA palette was reduced (16-bit). There are a ton of variations/different models, so all may not be the same.

**edit**

Also, I've tried the Samsung 171MP, which is an older (but still pretty nice) PVA panel (also handles AGA perfectly). Interlaced screens look decent, but they do flicker a bit. (Not like an old 1084, but noticeable.) Fantastic for most games though, even if 17" makes them look a tad blocky.

Only problem with my NTSC model was that it (aargh) didn't handle PAL. Not a problem for you, though. They've been out of production for a while, but they pop up on ebay. 170MP and 172MP *probably* work, but stay away from the 15" models as I'm pretty sure they were all TN.
 

[Damion]

This raises the following question : is every LCD TV/monitor that bad ? This one is my first LCD TV, so I can't tell. In that case, a usable replacement for CRT monitors is yet to be invented.[/quote]

IMHO, dynamic images (still) do not appear as "fluid" as they can with a good CRT, though they can be entirely acceptable under the right conditions (and with a good quality LCD).

Would these problems be related to the "TN" technology D is referring to ? Yet they don't appear in analog VGA.

Probably not -- generally, TN may have an edge over other panel types when it comes to moving images. Only problem is color loss (edit -- and viewing angle), which can have a negative effect with AGA.

@-D-

D, you are saying that the Samsung 171MP is "fantastic for most games". Would my model or yours be an exception ?

Hard to say, since I've only tried a few LCDTVs. Bottom line is it's almost impossible to get a display that will do everything (or doesn't have at least one major shortcoming) without spending a lot of money, possibly thousands.

The 171MP (PAL version) should be a good LCD for playing games and demos, since it displays non-laced amiga screens very well (and is also decent PC monitor). Naturally, this is keeping in mind some of the limitations of LCD technology, especially with an older panel like the 171MP -- moving images will not be quite as fluid as a CRT (but not terrible, and I'm a little picky), and black levels are only OK. The upshot is colors are bright and beautiful, it makes a good PC (and TV) screen, and it should be easier on the eyes than your average CRT.

There are probably better screens for the task than what you got, and unfortunately it is a crapshot. You may have to try several before you find one that is acceptable. Plus, there's a huge subjective element here -- what one finds "perfect" might look like total crap to you.
 
I hate to say it, but a good quality scaler + good quality CRT monitor is probably the overall "best" for classic amiga use. Maybe Jens will release his rumored scandoubler sometime...

[Damion]

arkpandora wrote:
@D

Thank you again for your help.

There is obviously no comparison between the problems I am running into and what you describe - which are definitely normal drawbacks of the LCD technology.  I have used several LCD monitors in VGA until now, and none has ever brought me anything close to such an awful result, which doesn't show up with the VGA input of the same monitor either.

OK, cool. We are definitely on the same page then!

Can you confirm that you haven't ever noticed the problems I mention on the LCD panels you have used, for example the awful mouse pointer animation, which can't be missed ?

No, (except *maybe* the part of the screen being cut-off aspect) those things aren't normal. Amiga screens (that worked) looked just fine on the 171MP and the Aquos, the Aquos even handled the interlaced screens like a champ. I've even played a fair amount of "Battle Duel" on my 740T (using native "vga" modes) and it looked just fine. It does sound like your monitor is either broken or the scandoubler is poor.