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Question

Using Laptop to Stream HD to TV

Jan 5, 2015 3:44AM PST

Hi,

I've been looking for a cheap laptop to use for basic web browsing and to stream video to my HD TV. A lot of what I stream will either be lowish quality webcasts or Netflix.

I found a laptop with decent speeds, a HDMI port and well under my price range. However when I went to buy it the sales rep advised that as the screen resolution was only 1366 x 768 that any HD footage stream would be jerky as it would be mimicking a lower resolution screen.

I didn't buy the laptop and left the shop to do more research, having looked there are very few laptops which are full 1080 HD from what I can see. I have also been to a friends who was streaming via a HDMI cable from a laptop and there were no problems....the laptop wasn't 1080.

Could anyone advise whether what I have been told is correct please, as I haven't found anything about this issue online?

If it helps the laptop I was looking at was the LENOVO Flex 10 10.1" Convertible Touchscreen Laptop.

Thanks,
Paul

Discussion is locked

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Answer
The sales folk really didn't help.
Jan 5, 2015 4:28AM PST

The HDMI output can be 1080 and the laptop can be 768. 2 independent displays. Only if you wanted to MIRROR the screen would this be an issue.
Bob

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Thanks
Jan 5, 2015 4:45AM PST

Thank you for your help.
Sorry, I may be being dull here but if the laptop is on and closed and I run everything from my TV screen, the output would be 1080 so there wouldn't be a problem?
Paul

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Closed lid?
Jan 5, 2015 6:52AM PST
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Answer
why not a small format desktop instead?
Jan 5, 2015 7:05AM PST