Generally not very practical, particularly with an old tv. I suggest you check this link...

Here is a link that might be useful: tv as computer monitor

A video card w/ TV out
or
TView Gold

Video cards with TV out range in price from $40 on up to "OH MY GOODNESS!" LOL Just don't allow the salesman to talk you into anything outrageous since you probably don't need it. Different cards have a different type of interface for output. Which ever video card you purchase, just make sure to get the proper cables for it. Most of the cards have a regular composite interface (jack), for which you will also need to purchase an RCA cable. That should cost less than $10, usually 5 or 6. You can get it with just one end. The computer needs to have a sound card and will use another RCA cable with one stereo end and two RCA ends. The stereo end plugs into the sounds and the RCA ends plug into the Line In jack on your television (same place you plug the VCR/DVD/DVR into). {{gwi:1450726}} {{gwi:1450728}}

If you want to plug into an HD television, make sure the
video card is compatible and you will need an iHBT cable.
{{gwi:1450730}}

TView Gold plugs into your computer's video interface (where the monitor goes) and then you plug the monitor into the TView Gold for it to transfer the signal. It costs around $100 and comes with an RCA cable, but you still need the cable for the sound card.

I'm sorry kudzu9, I didn't see your response since I was so busy looking for those graphics to post. I read over the article you linked to and must say I disagree.

With this particularly.........
"Surprisingly, in both of those cases, video playback can actually look quite good. What I mean is that if you're using your TV as a computer monitor and to do typical things like reading email or surfing the web, you'll be quite disappointed. However if you are playing back a video - say playing a DVD in your computer and watching it on the monitor - it seems to be quite acceptable."

My experience since 1999 is just the opposite. My computer monitor displays just fine. I do video editing and photo videos on the computer while displaying and recording to the television. Those are acceptable also. However, playing a DVD on the computer produces a horrible picture on the TV. The reason is as he explained - the TV does not have enough lines to re-produce the color, so the picture is awful. I cannot explain why when recording to VCR or DVR, the picture is not noticeably affected.

He also suggested S-video hookup, but that cannot work since S-video is output, not input. Both the output device (computer's capability or video card) as well as the input device (TV,VCR, or DVR) must be S-video capable. Most televisions and VCRs are not. Therefore, outputting/broadcasting in S-video is useless when going from the computer to the TV. It's doubtful the television will pick up any signal at all, much less one of better quality. You'd have to go from computer to VCR (or DVR) to TV.

And, that poses still another problem since today's VCRs do not support the signal from the monitor in color, only in B&W. When my old VCR went out and I had to purchase a new, I had a rude awakening. I took it back for a different brand - didn't work either. Took that one back for a VERY EXPENSIVE Sony with all the bells, whistles, and hookups - still didn't work. What I ended up doing was giving my new Sony to my cousin in trade for his old VCR - his beloved old one so it took some doing LOL. Not even the new VERY EXPENSIVE Sony enticed him, so I had to beg. It has been three years and I still get his complaints. When his old VCR goes out on me, my only option is to find one at a second hand shop or a pawn shop.

With all that said, I must include being able to use my DVR for that purpose even though I cannot use a relatively new model VCR. And, it must be a DVR and not a DVD player. DVD players are not input capable (none that I've seen but there may be some) since you must be able to plug the video card into it. Clear as mud? LOL

fwiw,,

I have a newer Sharp sDTV', with the newer digital turner & it also has the old, soon to be antiquated, analog tuner.
.. it has inputs for coax(worst), composite, s-video and component(best, yeah!itsMuchoBetter).

Both my desktop and laptops have s-video out as their best source.

The manual that came with my relatively new Magnavox 32in LC[something] describes how to do it.

bestlawn-
No problem; you're clearly more knowledgeable on this matter. I was just picking up on the OP's comment that the "TV is pritty old," and thinking that he could end up investing his bucks without a decent payoff, when he could get a cheap monitor or workable new tv for the same money.

We have my wife's computer hooked up to the TV.
I download missed episodes of TV shows we regularly watch.
Then we put them on her computer and watch them on TV.
The TV works great for watching video.

But using it for a computer monitor, not very good.
The text and icons are all blurry. Can't hardly read anything.

You can get TV Out cards for your computer.
Just install the PCI card and get the proper cables.
Or there are other devices that convert the monitor signal to TV.
But the devices cost more than a used monitor.
Don't know what a TV Out card costs. Wife's computer already had it.

Pooh Bear

Wow guys! Thanks for all the info. I think I will end up buying a TV Out card. I have a voodoo3 card kicking around somewhere, but I don't think it has TV out. My TV set is older, so some of these options wont work. Now I will have to do some pricing on TV cards. Thank You guys!