Topic awaiting preservation: Connecting laptop TV & HT ? (Page 1 of 1)

Good day =)

I'd like to use my 1.66 Mac mini for home theater stuff but that would mean I'd have to use a Compaq laptop as the main machine?and well that just ain't gonna happen?at least not for a while? so I'm looking for guidance.

We've ditched cable tv but still have cable hi-speed for internet and have the laptop connectred via VGA to our newish TV.

the TV has 2 HDMI ports the Laptop has none and I know there are adapters for the laptop but then the newish Panasonic Theatre in a box comes into play. The panosonic has 1 HDMI port.

So you've probably figured out where I'm going with this.

Is there some way to marry this unholy trinity together - TV, Laptop & HT? There's no optical option on TV.

And if you can point me to any legit sites for streaming tv/video it would greatly appreciated. And in case you're looking for a great site for on-demand stuff, try

nfb.ca Just fantastic.

NJ

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?Privatize the Profits - Socialize the Losses.? Randi Rhodes

Ok well there might be a few different ways to set this up.

Can you tell us the make of your Panasonic Home Theatre box?

Most simple way would be to use a VGA>HDMI convertor and plug your laptop into your TV, then plug the audio from your computer into the Home Theatre box.

What country are you based in? different streaming sites only allow certain countries to stream from them.

Hey there =)

This is the HT in a box. http://tinyurl.com/3yq7sva

The Laptop (Compaq 3000) is connected to TV via VGA. Old set of powered speakers into the headphone jack on laptop. An adapter I see is available for the earphone jack that should allow connection with Pan0-HT. (At least I think so.)

Will the VGA>HDMI adapter actually make a difference?

I'm in Canada... and yes I've hit the 'Not available in your geographic location.' I see there's a Firefox add-on that may cure that.

OK my poor little brain is perhaps starting to grasp this.

HDMI converter to TV. HDMI from Pano-HT to 2nd HDMI on TV (allows for DVD/CD) Audio adapter into Compaq headphone jack to Auxillary Audio in on Pano-HT.

Close?

Thanx

___________________________________________________________________________
?Privatize the Profits - Socialize the Losses.? Randi Rhodes

'Ello Monsieur Jive
I haven't owned a television for a long time and I wouldn't thank you for one (to coin a phrase). Still, there's some good stuff to be viewed out there so I have been selectively hopping from site to site whenever I want to watch a film or a programme. Here are a few I've found to be useful and, as far as I can tell, legal.

SeeSaw
Great Stuff TV
Free TV
Wireless Host
Mega Video
Top Documentary Films
Stagevue
VeeHD
OVGuide

Oh I didn't realise you have VGA on your TV also, you won't need to get a convertor then, you're right.

Looking at the Features page, you'll get benefits if you plug your laptop into your Amp via HDMI, only if your tv is also Panasonic, as you can turn on both devices together and use the integrated remote for them.

Otherwise I think you've got it right.

TV HDMI out > Amp HDMI in (This is for audio to your Amp - You may have to use a standard phono cable instead)
Laptop VGA out > TV VGA in
Laptop Line out/Headphone > Amp Audio In (Use mini-jack to Phono)

That's a pretty standard setup for most TV and Amp configurations, does this make sense?

Here are a couple of links to some TV streaming sites in Canada http://hubpages.com/hub/Hulu-Canada



(Edited by Blaise on 08-04-2010 11:40)

(Edited by Blaise on 08-04-2010 11:42)

Thank you thank you both.

Up and running! Got the mini-jack to phono so the Pano-HT delivers fairly decent sound.

When I asked about the HDMI adapter very nearly shat me-self when the sales lad pointed to wireless adapters running in the $150+ range. Not today thank-you-very-much!

Next up is a wireless keyboard with built in trackball /mouse but not a touch pad...not a fan of those so if you have any recommendations on a keyboard... please do.

It's certainly interesting hunting down TV streams/on-demand feeds... just something I'd never looked into before. As I talk to more people I'm finding more and more who have indeed ditched cable tv in favour of on-line feeds.

NJ

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?Privatize the Profits - Socialize the Losses.? Randi Rhodes

NJ I recently watched a brilliant film on one of those sites, sorry I can't recall which atm. It was Clint Eastwood's latest film Gran Torino. This ol' Guacamole here shed a little tear.

Most simple way would be to use a VGA>HDMI convertor and plug your laptop into your TV, then plug the audio from your computer into the Home Theatre box.

What country are you based in? different streaming sites only allow certain countries to stream from them.

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