Tv for output
 

I have seen lots of places where people have TVs hooked up to thier editing system to see what it looks like on a TV screen. My question is, are those just normal small TVs with (I assume) a S-Video input or specialized monitors? If they are monitors, where would one go to get one?

In the professional world these are broadcast (HD) monitors that
they are using. These monitors are calibrated and show the
correct colors etc. Also they tend to be switchable between 16:9
and 4:3 and allow you to see the underscan area (the area normally
lost on your TV).

Ofcourse you could just use a normal TV and try to calibrate it
as best as you can. This will be the cheaper approach.

I use both.

A broadcast monitor to use with normal editing operations and an old Sony consumer TV to check on overscan problems and the sound out a cheap & tiny speaker.

I don't agree with Rob that these are (at least normally) HD monitors or even 16:9 as those features add a lot of cost.

SD and 4:3 is still a nearly $1,000 cost for a good 14" monitor with cross-pulse, underscan, color off, and blue gun only.

You can check with the DVi community sponsors or go to someplace like B&H. Also, if you live in or near a large city, there are pro-video sales companies around. For example, here in the San Francisco Bay Area, there are at least 5 non-storefront video sales companies. And several storefront operations too.

A good way to buy this type of gear is to ask for 'B' stock. This is gear that has been used by the manufacturer for a trade show, loaned to an organization (like the Olympics), or just used for demonstrations. Those units carry a full warranty and sell for 20 to 30 percent less, sometimes more. I paid about $800 for my 14" JVC from B-stock.

I've had really good luck with the JVC monitors both in my studio and at the local community college. Sony does make a sort-of affordable 4:3 & 16:9 monitor but it is still above $1,000 IIRC.

I think you misunderstood me, Mike. I'm not saying that you should
get a 16:9 monitor, or for that matter a professional monitor
at all.

I'm just saying that when looking into professional editing suites
I tend to see those kind of monitors (16:9 HD), but that might
have been just coincidence since I haven't seen much....

I leave it to the pro's :)