how do i connect laptop to TV ?

Pal

sorry if its a dumb question.
I have an IBM thinkpad.
want to hook it up watch videos and streaming stuff on a TV.
easy ?
asked before ?
any help appreciated

quigo

The thinkpad will have either a s-video connection (circular black looking) or it might have a yellow composite connection (the size of a regular audio jack buy yellow)

Find out what connector you have, this will determine that cable you need ie svideo & RL Phono or a composite cable.

The tv will have an aux imput for the audio side of things, there should be a connection for the video signal.

The quality from watching dvd'd on the laptop will be very good but for regular use the resolution won't be great.

Tom Dunne

It depends on the model of Thinkpad. My current Thinkpad doesn't have any kind of tv output, whereas most of the previous models I had did.

Even at that, they were a non-standard mini s-video port that needed an IBM supplied cable to convert to regular s-video.

So, Pal, what model is it and what ports does it have?

Pal

model is ThinkPad X30

one of these
http://www.pcworld.com/product/specs/prtprdid,615903/specs.html

I will have a look at the ports when i get home

thanks in advance

AlmightyCushion

Going by the link it has a svideo port.

Pal

so i get a cable with svideo out and what on the other end ? A scart ?
will i need to load a driver or something ?

Tom Dunne

Pal wrote:

so i get a cable with svideo out and what on the other end ? A scart ?

Depends on what your TV has

If it is a newish tv, it may actually have a VGA input meaning you can go directly from the VGA out on your laptop to the, erm, VGA in on your tv.

If it is SCART, or RCA , this is what you are looking for.

Pal wrote:

will i need to load a driver or something ?

No, just connect the cable.

Pal

many thanks

Soundman

If you are going the S-Video road then you will also need these items so you have audio as well.

Either this on its own: http://www.svideo.com/proscart12.html

or these three items:

http://www.svideo.com/mogami4u.html

http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/187082/art/belkin/y-audio-cable-mini-jack.html

http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcables/AD001.html


IGNORE THE PRICES ON THOSE LINKS
THEY ARE FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY!

You will be able to pick up any of the options for cheaper/cheap enough in the likes of Maplins, Peats, PC World or most audio/camera shops.

Linoge

I tried to connect my laptop to TV via s-video - scart before but it was just coming up B&W (as said in the links). Why would this happen does anyone know?

Soundman

Sounds like one of two things:

1) Check your display settings and make sure the output is set to PAL-I and not NTSC

2) You have a bogey S-Video lead. It happens, even from new.

Pal

Soundman wrote:

If you are going the S-Video road then you will also need these items so you have audio as well.

Either this on its own: http://www.svideo.com/proscart12.html

or these three items:

http://www.svideo.com/mogami4u.html

http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/187082/art/belkin/y-audio-cable-mini-jack.html

http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcables/AD001.html


IGNORE THE PRICES ON THOSE LINKS
THEY ARE FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY!

You will be able to pick up any of the options for cheaper/cheap enough in the likes of Maplins, Peats, PC World or most audio/camera shops.

many thanks.

Soundman

Pleasure. Just remember to check the output settings of your graphics card to make sure that it is set to display as PAL-I and not NTSC which seems to be the default on the majority of cards.

beolight

hopefully someone can make a sticky dealing with this

it seems to pop up every second week

_Whimsical_

Linoge wrote:

I tried to connect my laptop to TV via s-video - scart before but it was just coming up B&W (as said in the links). Why would this happen does anyone know?

That happened to me too. I tried absolutely everything I found suggested online to get it working properly.Eventually I dug out the TV manual (genius!) and found a section on changing a setting on the "Input" menu on my tv to s-video and after that it worked perfectly. I find that the picture quality is excellent and fully comparable to my DVD player in that regard. Try having a look at your telly manual or just flicking through the settings on the TVs menus.

InkDispatch

Does anyone know if it is possible to connect to your tv via a wireless connection??

Overheal

InkDispatch wrote: »

Does anyone know if it is possible to connect to your tv via a wireless connection??

With most laptops that have an HDMI port, or a 2nd gen iCore processor, sure. One requires you to plug a transmitter into your HDMI port, the other uses Intel WiDi, which also requires a receiver like the Netgear Push2TV. That will let you use your TV as a desktop wirelessly.

Or if you're not into all of that you can limit your TV to just being able to stream movies music and photos through a DLNA certified device - of which there are hundreds to choose from. Each acts as a Media Extender that Windows Media Player/Center can pick up on through your wireless network.

And to answer the zombie thread's question: nowadays via S-VGA, or HDMI. Both of which are supported by most TVs now.

InkDispatch

I see a USB port on my new tv, does anyone know if I can just connect an external hard drive and play my movies from that?

D'Agger

InkDispatch wrote: »

I see a USB port on my new tv, does anyone know if I can just connect an external hard drive and play my movies from that?

You should be able to yes

Overheal

InkDispatch wrote: »

I see a USB port on my new tv, does anyone know if I can just connect an external hard drive and play my movies from that?

PaulieC wrote: »

You should be able to yes

Not necessarily. Samsung TV's only have a USB port for the express purpose of adding a Wi-Fi adapter to access the SmartTV features.

D'Agger

Overheal wrote: »

Not necessarily. Samsung TV's only have a USB port for the express purpose of adding a Wi-Fi adapter to access the SmartTV features.

I've yet to come across a TV that hasn't been able to pickup USBs to allow media playing

That said I haven't come across that many different models have only used LG & Toshiba myself and they've worked. Purchased a Hanspree TV myself lately so must test it but I have a PC connected to it as a media centre so had no need yet

What model is the TV you're using InkDispatch?

InkDispatch

PaulieC wrote: »

I've yet to come across a TV that hasn't been able to pickup USBs to allow media playing

That said I haven't come across that many different models have only used LG & Toshiba myself and they've worked. Purchased a Hanspree TV myself lately so must test it but I have a PC connected to it as a media centre so had no need yet

What model is the TV you're using InkDispatch?

It is a Toshiba tv, and do I need to install a media player or something as I have tried to play a movie but it doesnt seem to pick it up??

mordeith

What's the model of the TV? Its possible that the file you are trying to play isn't compatible with the TV

InkDispatch

mordeith wrote: »

What's the model of the TV? Its possible that the file you are trying to play isn't compatible with the TV

Why is there a certain format that you need to have the file in for the tv to pick it up?

InkDispatch

InkDispatch wrote: »

Why is there a certain format that you need to have the file in for the tv to pick it up?

Just got it sorted - needed to install first then disconnect and reconnect for the tv to pick up the clips - thanks for all you help though guys!!