Laptop to HDTV

Calzor Suzay · 13 Feb 2008 at 12:32

I'm in the market for a new LapTop as my ageing HP 'thing' is getting on now.

What I'd really like is something that can read and output a blu-ray disc to a 720P tv but splitting the sound to coax or optical so my amp can take it, DVD burner is essential as well.

It won't be used for gaming or anything too strenuous mainly surfing etc.

What's the options?

Calzor Suzay · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:23

No one plugs there lap top into a TV?

devilkazuya · 14 Feb 2008 at 14:30

Calzor Suzay said:
No one plugs there lap top into a TV?

Why not? if you have a blu ray drive or HD DVD drive in your laptop?

My Sony Vaio AR51SU has a blu ray drive. It has a 1080p display on it, but I would be more than willing to use it as a blu ray player connecting to a larger HDTV via the HDMI out

DezUk · 14 Feb 2008 at 16:57

I use my XPS 1330 with HDMI out plugged into my Pioneer 50" plasma and its quality, the machine is ideal for the job of a media centre, when its working that is

Calzor Suzay · 15 Feb 2008 at 11:20

What provision do the lap tops have for porting digital sound out seperately to the HDMI connection?

Matrix · 15 Feb 2008 at 11:37

Calzor Suzay said:
What provision do the lap tops have for porting digital sound out seperately to the HDMI connection?

This is something i'm worreid about i'm looking at getting the XPS from Dell but i want the sound to go to my Amp and through the HDMI cable to my plasma.

So i'm unsure how stream the sound to the HD film off the laptop other than sending it to the amp and then from the amp to the plasma maybe?

Seems most laptops don't have a seprate sound card built in like desktop computers do.

whitecrook · 15 Feb 2008 at 18:56

Matrix said:
Seems most laptops don't have a seprate sound card built in like desktop computers do.

Surely a contradiction in terms? If it is built in, by definition it is not separate?

You can get break out boxes i.e. usb devices which are basically external sound cards. There's a few about.

Matrix · 15 Feb 2008 at 18:59

whitecrook said:
Surely a contradiction in terms? If it is built in, by definition it is not separate?

You can get break out boxes i.e. usb devices which are basically external sound cards. There's a few about.

LOL i know what i meant!

I mean you can put a soundcard in your desktop Pc ( PCI slot) .

you don't seem to have that option on a laptop to add a better one.

Calzor Suzay · 18 Feb 2008 at 13:26

The Sony Vaio's seem to list audio connectivity as SPDI/F so optical.

peetee · 18 Feb 2008 at 18:32

you can get PMCIA soundcards, the pci-express port thingy thats on some newer laptops will probably have some sound cards etc too.

My laptops only got a VGA out, its fine for me though in the TV, and i just use stereo audio cable to connect it to the tv too