Help me watch laptop content on TV please?

TiddlyPom

Slightly complicated by the fact that the TV is older so doesn't have a USB port,but the DVD player I use does have one.

I would like to be able to watch stored mp4 files on TV rather than go through the conversion to .avi process.

Had looked at the Chromecast but understand that I would have to run files through another app before streaming and I would like to keep it simple if at all possible.

Could someone please advise me the best kit to get to achieve this - wirelessly?

Many thanks

googler

Upload them to YouTube and then watch through a Chromecast?

If you can play them back within a Chrome browser on the laptop, you can also send them to a Chromecast.

Avoriaz

Do your laptop have HDMI output and your TV HDMI input?

If yes to both, then a HDMI cable will carry both video and audio.

If not, then what outputs does your laptop have and what inputs does your TV have.


My four year old laptop and four year old TV both have HDMI.

TiddlyPom

Thank you. Yes, they both have HDMI.

Is that the easiest option? My concern with Chromecast is, obviously, that it won't plug direct into the tv but would go in the DVD player and I'm not convinced that will work.

Will have a play about this afternoon if I get a moment.

googler

TiddlyPom wrote: »

Thank you. Yes, they both have HDMI.

Is that the easiest option? My concern with Chromecast is, obviously, that it won't plug direct into the tv but would go in the DVD player and I'm not convinced that will work.

Will have a play about this afternoon if I get a moment.

The Chromecast needs to plug into an HDMI port on the telly. The HDMI port on the DVD will be an output, not an input.

Why do you think it won't 'plug direct into the TV' ?

NiftyDigits

Cheapest way would be to use a £9.99 NOW TV box. You can 'side load' PLEX to the box.

TiddlyPom

googler wrote: »

The Chromecast needs to plug into an HDMI port on the telly. The HDMI port on the DVD will be an output, not an input.

Why do you think it won't 'plug direct into the TV' ?

Because TV has no USB port.

TiddlyPom

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Cheapest way would be to use a £9.99 NOW TV box. You can 'side load' PLEX to the box.

I had wondered about one of these. Are there pretty simple guides online on how to do this with PLEX?

spud17

TiddlyPom wrote: »

Because TV has no USB port.

It plugs into HDMI.

http://www.google.co.uk/intl/en_uk/chrome/devices/chromecast/

NiftyDigits

TiddlyPom wrote: »

I had wondered about one of these. Are there pretty simple guides online on how to do this with PLEX?

One such..

googler

TiddlyPom wrote: »

Because TV has no USB port.

The Chromecast plugs into an HDMI port (as i said in the post you quoted) and needs USB for power. It comes with a mains adaptor for power, if there's no USB port nearby.

You do know that USB and HDMI are different, don't you?