watching laptop videos on TV?

[LordOpie]

I'd like to watch videos from my laptop on my big screen TV. What should I do?

Is there a reason to go with a third party device instead of just going s-video (laptop) to s-video/RCA (TV)? Seems like my laptop supports laptop-TV-dualmode.

[ALEXIS_DH]

how big if your tv? is it hd?
what resolution are your videos?

s-video isnt that good. and it kinda sucked on my tv, although i suspect on a smaller tv (like <42") would look better.
RCA flat out sucks. but if your videos are like 320*200, it wouldnt be so bad for full screen video anyways...

[LordOpie]

36" TV

Resolutions are 320 to 640.

S-Video looked fine going laptop to TV (just found the s-video cable). But I guess s-video means just that, so I'd have to hook external speakers to my laptop.

If I go this route, I'll want a 6foot+ cable instead of the 2' one I have so I can keep the laptop on the table between the couch and TV.


Other than this inexpensive option, what else?

[LordOpie]

also, and most important... is s-video hot-swappable? I don't want to have to power down the laptop everytime I want to add or remove the cable.

EDIT: in case anyone's interested :) I'll take an 1/8" male to 2 RCA male connectors to get the audio from laptop to TV. Probably buy 12' cables for audio and video, tape 'em together.. $20?

[ALEXIS_DH]

also, and most important... is s-video hot-swappable? I don't want to have to power down the laptop everytime I want to add or remove the cable.

i´ve hot swapped many times s-video without any problems.

get a longer s-video cable. the best one you find. it makes a lot of difference.

s-video is, IMO, the best option. your videos are 640*480, thats pretty close to the 480 lines that s-video can carry.

if your tv supports 720p or 1080i you *could* buy a dvi/vga-component thing, but last time i checked they were like 100-200 bucks, but i remember they tend to have overscan problems and can require a significant deal of fiddling. but since the limit to full screen playback is the resolution of your videos, you´d be fine with s-video.

[LordOpie]

Thanks bro!