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id like to use my laptop as a DVR and be able to access all of it from my TV. it seems making my laptop a DVR is as simple as buying a tv tuner card but then to be able to access my laptops HD from my tv is more complicated. any suggestions? reading material? thanks.
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Unless your TV is one of the new models that have a Firewire port such as the Toshiba or Mitsu. These TVs will access an external stand alone hard drive or camera. But accessing a PC is unlikely.
once the laptop and the Tv are connected:
go to control panel and select display-settings-advanced-device selection:select TV
Windows will be displayed on the TV. Select your HD
and you are on your way.....good luck!
1) if your laptop does not have an s-video connection for your tv or your tv does not have connections for a computer monitor, get a scan converter such as the TView MicroSXGA which coverts SXGA (or lower) to s-video; cost $80ish. simple! be sure to get an audio cable to connect between TV and PC as well.
2) a more complicated approach that gains you video file selection, fast forward, etc via a remote control is to connect a Hauppauge MediaMVP to your laptop via ethernet (use a crossover cable or a switch hub). the MediaMVP will require loading server software on your laptop, but you gain navigation - and, if connected to the rest of your home network (note: via a wire, not wireless!), you can pull media off of any of your PCs. $125ish.
AndyN
Note - both of the above suggestions assume you have the tuner card you mentioned to record video ...
If you're interested in HD output, S-video isn't good enough; you'll only get standard resolution.
It *might* work if your laptop (or docking station) has DVI output and your HD TV has DVI or HDMI input (with a DVI to HDMI adapter).
And I have the same issue with my HP Media Center PC. It has no video out ports, strange. Do I just add a separate card to do video out? PCI OK?
Yes, the only thing you need to connect your Desktop Media Center is getting a new Video Card, but first get sure to get one ATI or nVidia card with TV Out, DVI or S-Video depending on the inputs of your TV.
Second get an AGP o PCI-Express card depending on your motherboards available slots.
Hopes this helps.
Regards
Jorge R.
Mexico City
First of all, connecting your laptop to you TV is the first step, but that would just use your TV as an external monitor, to control via your TV what happens on your lap or accesing you HD is another thing.
I shall recommend 2 different things, first get a wireless mouse/keyboard so that you can control your computer wherever you are, by that you can control what to play, pause, even work using your TV as a big monitor, remember that normal TV's won't have as much resolution as a computer monitor except if your TV is High-Def capable.
Or give a try to Linksys http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1115416829578&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper
It's an appliance that connects to you media center PC and your TV with a remote control so that you can control your pc and stream its content to your TV via wireless Wi-fi.
Regards
Jorge R.
Mexico
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