Laptop into TV/ TV into laptop??

nalibz

Hey guys,

I'm wondering if any of you could help me..

Next year im in my second year of uni and moving into a house. As my room is going to be the smallest in the house i am wondering if you could give me any advice here..

Basically i am wondering:

1) I realise its possible for a laptop to be used for TV but firstly, what kind of TV card would i need for an Inspiron 6000, and is it possible to get SKY/NTL on a laptop too?

2) Is it possible to connect a laptop to an LCD TV in such a way that you can use the keyboard and mouse of the laptop but use the screen of the LCD TV?

Many thanks for any help that anyone can offer,

nalibz:)

hobo28

You can buy either a PCMCIA TV tuner or a USB one. Both will let you watch TV on your laptop. Of course you will still need an aerial to plug in and a TV license!

As far as watching Sky/NTL is concerned, if you mean can you plug in a Digibox then I suppose you could plug it into the TV card and tune a channel into it. You could also buy a freeview receiver but I've never used one and have no idea if the little aerials work. All I know is my big one on the outside my house has trouble picking up all the MUX's so I am doubtful they would work.

And for 2), yes. Check the LCD TV has a D-SUB connector or a DVI.

nalibz

hobo28 wrote:

You can buy either a PCMCIA TV tuner or a USB one. Both will let you watch TV on your laptop. Of course you will still need an aerial to plug in and a TV license!

As far as watching Sky/NTL is concerned, if you mean can you plug in a Digibox then I suppose you could plug it into the TV card and tune a channel into it. You could also buy a freeview receiver but I've never used one and have no idea if the little aerials work. All I know is my big one on the outside my house has trouble picking up all the MUX's so I am doubtful they would work.

And for 2), yes. Check the LCD TV has a D-SUB connector or a DVI.

Seems like the second option of using a TV as my laptop screen is the better option, many thanks for your advice and any more anyone can offer will be much appreciated..

nalibz

I was looking at my computer today and there is a port at the back with the picture of a TV with an arrow going from the inside pointing outwards, what does this port do?

k750man

hobo28 wrote:

As far as watching Sky/NTL is concerned, if you mean can you plug in a Digibox then I suppose you could plug it into the TV card and tune a channel into it. You could also buy a freeview receiver but I've never used one and have no idea if the little aerials work. All I know is my big one on the outside my house has trouble picking up all the MUX's so I am doubtful they would work.

I've looked into this, you can get either the PCMCIA or usb interfaces to watch TV on your laptop. The DVB-T (T=terrestrial) types take the digital TV signal from tha air. To use a cable or satellite box you would need an analogue receiver, I'm sure the nomenclature for this is DVB-S (S=satellite), but you never see this name used in advertisements - they normally tell you that it's 'analogue'. A third type of receiver is available and this is a hybrid type that receives digital and analogue signals. I think the going rate for this type is roughly £50.

nalibz

thanks for taking the time its really appreciated.:)

Alitigger

Check out https://www.Novatech.co.uk, who do a USB Freeview-thingy for c.£32.
they also had a 17" Sony TFT LCD screen for c.£130 with DVI input, and dual control, so you plug your USB keyboard & mouse into the LCD screen, and it can be used for 2 connected PC's at the same time.... so you can have TV piped from your USB-Freeview into the screen, and be working on the other PC o nthe sme screen at the same time (now that's really geeky !!)