Easiest way?

[captain_slinky]

tech-nerds, I ask of you! What is the EASIEST WAY to get video from your computer to your regular digital TV set? Is there some device that will allow me to just connect my Laptop to my TV?

Ideal situation would be some set-up where i can sit on my couch with the laptop, use it to browse the files on my desktop computer and then play said files on my TV set in front of me.

I've found plenty of devices that (as I understand the descriptions) send TV shows from my TV to my Computer, but not the other way around? Am I missing something?

Comments

[teegin.livejournal.com]

First, what "in" ports do you have on your TV? Second you will need a video card with a matching port or an on board motherboard port that matches one of the "in" ports on your TV. You could also use cable adapters for a cheap alternative if needed but adapters more often than not tend to cause more issues than they solve.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

I've got RCA and Coax input a-plenty... can you think of any wireless solutions?

[bikerval.livejournal.com]

teegin asks good questions. I have a laptop with HDMI out and a tv with HDMI in... is just a cable to hook the two together then choose the HDMA input on the tv to see what is on my laptop's screen. My understanding is that DVI works much the same way. HDMI carries both the video and audio. I think the other does too.

Some laptops have s-video out. The laptop (henceforth known as lt) s-video out won't look like the s-video you might be used to in the olden days... I've seen them where they look almost like a headphone plug but the little dongle cable that comes with it has one end that plugs into that and the other end that is the olden style for you to plug a regular s-video cable into. That cable does not carry the audio so, what I've done is to get (under $5) a splitter to plug into the headphone output that has female rca audio on the other end and then just run a regular red/white audio cable to that and into your tv. Again, select the proper input on the tv to see what is on your lt. Oh, and one more step... one of the F keys on the lt will have a symbol that looks like a screen... mine is F8... is switches your lt from sending the output to just the LCD or to the LCD and the tv or just to the tv. You rotate through those.

Good luck!

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

This is the weird part - I don't see ANY video out options on thios laptop other than the standard 15-pin monitor port and several USB ports. Optimally, I'd love to see a wireless solution for this. if there isn't one yuet, then why not? And have I stumbled upon the next big electronic gadget idea ???

Thanks for the input :)

[tfcocs.livejournal.com]

There are some VGA to S-Video converters out there; you might also want to consider a VGA to HDMI / S Video converter.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

I wonder if i can find a VGA to RCA cable anywhere...

[teegin.livejournal.com]

K you still have not answered the question required to solve the issue which would be what ports do you have on the TV and what ports do you have on the PC? If unknown take pictures. Then I can help better.

Oh and http://www.iogear.com/product/GUW2015VKIT/

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

TV has RCA and Coax inputs. Computer has VGA and USB output ports. That's all, except for yur standard headphone jack.

Waht I'm currently considering is moving one of the Desktop towers (which has an S-Video Out) in to the living room next to the TV, then getting a wireless keyboard/mouse. Just have to figure where to put the tower so it doesn't look stupid...

[teegin.livejournal.com]

You should see my set up then, I have had mine set up the way your thinking for ages. A cheap fix could be a VGA to RCA adapter then:

http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Component-Cable-7-62m-Black/dp/B000QEDE76.

If you have your heart set on doing the wireless thing however will be way more expensive.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

The only time that Mney is not an issue regarding something that I have my heart set n is when we're talking about prostitutes. Thanks for the link, that looks exactly like what I'm looking for :)

[teegin.livejournal.com]

lol nice