How can I watch movies/shows without buying cable/satellite?

There are a lot of great settop boxes popping up for just this very thing. The cheapest is Roku, which lets you stream many movies to your TV from Netflix. All you need to do is sign up with netflix for one DVD per month—it’s less than $10—and you have unlimited use of Netflix’s online film library. The box is cheap, too—under $100—and it streams wirelessly. Go to netflix site and look for info on Roku. It’s great.

Is your TV monitor digital? Use an hdmi cable. Or firewire if you computer and tv support it. There are also cables that allow you to send a digital signal to your monitor. I think it depends on what inputs and output connections you have on computer and TV. This page at Amazon shows a variety or cables. I don’t know what you need, but a little snooping around should tell you.

@Austinlad – this Roku thing does not allow me to surf the web as far as I can tell and I would like something that will allow me to visit any website – not only netflix. Roku looks great but not quite what I have been dreaming of.

I know there’s a new box/service that just came out—can’t remember the name—that runs around $250 and does what you want, I think. Think it starts with an R. if I can remember or find it on the Web, I’ll let you know.

Boxee

I think the price is going to be dependent on how old your computer is – this is what will effect how easily and seamlessly you’ll be able to use your tv as a monitor.

Since you haven’t bought the tv yet…check to see whether your computer has an hdmi hookup. If so, just get an HD flatscreen with an hdmi hookup as well. Depending on the size, these are pretty affordable. Of course, you also have the option of simply getting a really good quality monitor, which you can do and get a larger size than a stand alone television. If so, you needn’t worry about the hdmi hookup. Just get a good monitor and if you want to use your pc to pick up normal telecasts through a digital antenna, you can get a tv tuner for your computer as well.

haven’t you heard of Netflix? They even have TY serials.
Or watch stuff online.
Get a big ass monitor/tv and hook it up to your computer. Maybe you can even do it wireless.

We have purchased a Blu Ray disc player which has apps already installed on it, although we also have a smart tv now too, but the player will work off a regular tv, you need wifi/internet and of course paying the subscription for netflix, hulu, vudu This player was affordable at Best Buy Too. You can also stream using your I-phone , but it will eat up data. Good luck