Digital TV Recorder, avi playback, dvd player, netflix streaming - what is the best?

empage

Calling all tech geeks, I need your help.

OK I am debt free and finally not living in a shared flat with lots of other people! I have a new tv (that I didnt have to buy!) and I would like to be able to do the following:

I want to be able to

• watch some DVDs on my TV (I dont plan on buying lots of new DVDs nor BluRay etc I just want to be able to watch the various DVDs I already own).
• stream netflix on to my tv
• record programmes on to a digital recorder to watch later
• watch .avi files on my tv (my tv has a usb port but doesnt allow avi playback)

I have a pretty old laptop and an ipad 2 already.


I am thinking the cheapest way is to:

• Buy a cheap DVD player and hook it up to the TV (pretty normal)
• use the ipad for streaming netflix to my tv (via an ipad HDMI connector which seems to be available for about £30)
• Buy a digital tv recorder (maybe a HUMAX if I decide to splash out!)
• Hook up my old laptop to my tv when I want to watch avi files (not totally sure if my old laptop can take an HDMI cable or not and am not 100% sure how this would work so should probobly check this...)

Do you think this is the best/cheapest way to achieve all this? Is there any one machine that allows you to play DVDs, acts as a digital recorder and has a USB port that allows playback of avi files? Even better if it also allows NetFlix playback (though I am less concerned about this bit as I think the ipad connection will be just fine for this...)

FYI I really do fancy an xbox which I think would allow dvd playback and .avi playback too via a USB but I am not sure I can justify the cost of this and a digital recorder! But do let me know if this actually is a good way to go!

thanks for any help in this! :rotfl:

Em

hanwellmike

If you want to watch avi files on your tv then one method would be for you to buy a DVD player that has a USB port dedicated to that use. There are plenty DVD players out there that have this feature (I have a Philips which cost around £35). Transfer your avi files onto a flash drive and plug into the DVD player, easier than trying to hook up your laptop.

almillar

Playstation 3 (second hand) can do Netflix, DVD and Blu Ray, and you can get an addon that will record Freeview (not HD).
That leaves .avi files. I'm not 100% on what the PS3 is capable of here, but if it can't do .avi, you can convert the files.
If the old laptop doesn't have HDMI, and I guess it doesn't, you need to check the connections on it, the TV, and also the TV's manual.
I guess you'll need a VGA cable, and a 3.5mm (headphone) to stereo phono (red and white) to take picture and sound to the TV. Make sure it's a phono INPUT you're looking at on the TV. Maybe labelled PC AUDIO IN or something.
The TV manual may tell you what resolution it's capable of taking over VGA, some aren't very good. You could end up with not a great picture, maybe squashed, from your old laptop, but if it's just for occasional, SD .avi files, maybe you can make do.
Other option would be as above really, a cheapo DVD player that specified it does .avi, plus a FreeviewHD or FreesatHD recorder. This leaves your laptop to stream Netflix.

neilwoods

I currently use my Xbox to watch my dvd and can be used to watch netflix and other premium channels (but you do need a gold live subscription for this), BBC iplayer is free to use.

I also use the Xbox in conjunction with my pc to stream all downloaded content onto my Tv with a program called tversity. All my films are on an external hard drive, and the tversity is a media server that allows you to stream from Pc to tv and the best thing about it is with the right codec pack it will decode the film's on the fly, as xbox only likes certain avi files. I think it can used with an Ps3 as well.

Or maybe something like the Echostar sling, which is freesat but does streaming from pc or ipad, records, also watch it anywhere in the world. So if you go on hols and want to watch a program you have recorded, stream it straight to your ipad from your own home.