Connecting Laptop to HDTV

mercman1969

Firstly,

good idea or not?

I have taken delivery of a new 14" laptop (HP DM41150ea)

I notice it has a HDMI port
I have a 42" full HDTV and i thought it might be a nice idea to be able to use the TV as the display from the laptop

How would this best be done. Naturally I already have a wireless connection in order to connect the laptop to the net

What else would I need

Obviously need a keyboard and a mouse, but how would these be connected to laptop wirelessly in order to work from other side of the room

DCFC79

Well get a wireless mouse and keyboard or a bluetooth 1

Hammyman

Buy a wireless mouse and keyboard that'll have a receiver you plug into the USB port on the laptop. CHECK THE RANGE THOUGH as many only work up to 6ft.

Get a HDMI cable, plug it into the TV and laptop and press the Fn button needed on the laptop to change the display over to the TV.

KillerWatt

Don't forget to enable the audio over HDMI (assuming your laptop can actually do that).

mercman1969

KillerWatt wrote: »

Don't forget to enable the audio over HDMI (assuming your laptop can actually do that).

WHAT?:eek:

KillerWatt

mercman1969 wrote: »

WHAT?:eek:

If you are going to use the HDMI output on your laptop and want the sound to go with the picture on your television screen, your laptop has to be capable of sending the audio down the HDMI lead as well as the picture.

Not all laptops can manage this for some strange reason, which pretty much defeats the object of having an HDMI output in the first place.


PS
As far as wireless keyboard/mice combo's go, I'd pick either Logitech or Microsoft for both build quality and transmission range.

2sides2everystory

Yes ... audio both ways possibly too

(Audio out from tv via HDMI is dependent on the tv)

Is your HDTV DNLA compatible? Can you connect the tv to your network ? The possibilities are really beginning to open up ... I am using my Sony Bravia right now as an Extended Desktop for my laptop with BBC News as PIP. Alternatively my laptop can act as a DNLA Server via the network so I can watch laptop media content on the TV via the network if I wish. But I am also connected via a standard VGA cable at the moment (my laptop doesn't have HDMI).

Last week I was setting up an Onkyo AV Receiver with a Surround Sound system and an HDMI TV. The only connection between the tv and the Onkyo was via the single HDMI out cable from the Onkyo yet it was handling Audio both ways (e.g. Surround sound out from TV Analogue tv broadcasts as well as sound in to tv via the Onkyo from an HDMI Media Player/Sat Box combined). It's called Audio Return Channel (ARC) on the tv. Only some recent tvs have it I think.

The other technology via the HDMI cable is the ability to use one remote control via the AV Receiver for example to control compatible components such as the TV or Media player or Sat Box or DVD player or (you name it if the component has an HDMI port and the necessary firmware). Remote Interactive over HDMI (RIHD) that's called. You do not clone the IR signals like a "One for all" - you actually are sending the remote message to the tv via the AC Receiver which becomes the centre of the universe. The Onkyo I was setting up even had internet radio built in with presets and last channel memory, plus it automatically adjusted the speakers/subwoofer in the surround system in sophisticated ways using a special sampler microphone and socket with associated firmware.

You'll notice that random specification I just linked to on the web for the Onkyo mentions Windows 7 compatibility (DNLA 1.5). But I suspect that the next Media Centre Medion Laptop at Aldi might be quite a marvel to behold too !

mercman1969

I assumed a HDMI cable took both audio and picture.......

The laptop is a HP Pavillion DM4-1150ea

How would i find out if it is capable and how to do it

KillerWatt

mercman1969 wrote: »

I assumed a HDMI cable took both audio and picture.......

They do, but that doesn't mean your hardware can do it.

mercman1969 wrote: »

How would i find out if it is capable and how to do it

Connect the HDMI lead and switch the laptop on.
If you get audio through the TV then all well & good. If you don't, post back and I'll have a quick gander at your user manual to help steer you in the right direction.

mercman1969

The TV I have is

LG 42LF7700

Would I be able to simply view the internet over the TV without needing my laptop

Interested in getting the best out of my equipment with as few wires as possible

KillerWatt

mercman1969 wrote: »

The TV I have is

LG 42LF7700

Would I be able to simply view the internet over the TV without needing my laptop

Dunno bud, I don't have time right now to read your user manual but I'll take a look tonight and let you know if you haven't read it for yourself in that time.

mercman1969 wrote: »

Interested in getting the best out of my equipment with as few wires as possible

I'd personally forget using the lappy as a media centre and buy a dedicated media tank.