Lap-top-v -TV

[Deleted User]

Hi I was at a coffee morning recently and there was an argument (discussion ) about whether it was cheaper to use your lap-top to watch tv on or to put your main TV on. I think it was more about electricity consumption than anything else I hadn't a clue as I have never used my lap-top to watch tv unless I was away from home and wanted to watch something on catch-up on I-player;)

Only lady got quite insistent that it must be cheaper for the electricity to use her mains tv.Anyone got any ideas at all ?

JackieO xx

Brambleberry

It entirely depends on which laptop and tv you compare.

The easiest thing to do is check the wattage of both appliances on the information panel (or transformer on laptop charger) then you need to figure out how much it costs for a full laptop charge and how many hours viewing it will give you compared to similar for tv.

An interesting question and definitely one to exercise MSE muscles- time to dig out my calculator...

ETA:
OK - back from peering round the back of tv - here are my numbers:

TV: 45W
Laptop charger:45W

As they are identical, I've not bothered with calculations! In my case then it all depends on the charge/time of use for the laptop. My laptop usually charges in about an hour and I usually get about 2 hours-ish when using it on battery alone (I'm not sure of the exact numbers) so it might be slightly cheaper to use the laptop, but the sound and picture are much better on the tv.

LameWolf

Brambleberry wrote: »

It entirely depends on which laptop and tv you compare.

Exactly my thoughts.

Being hard-of-hearing, I always use the tv, as you can't get subtitles on catch-up on the laptop.

Pollycat

Brambleberry wrote: »

It entirely depends on which laptop and tv you compare.

The easiest thing to do is check the wattage of both appliances on the information panel (or transformer on laptop charger) then you need to figure out how much it costs for a full laptop charge and how many hours viewing it will give you compared to similar for tv.

An interesting question and definitely one to exercise MSE muscles- time to dig out my calculator...

ETA:
OK - back from peering round the back of tv - here are my numbers:

TV: 45W
Laptop charger:45W

As they are identical, I've not bothered with calculations! In my case then it all depends on the charge/time of use for the laptop. My laptop usually charges in about an hour and I usually get about 2 hours-ish when using it on battery alone (I'm not sure of the exact numbers) so it might be slightly cheaper to use the laptop, but the sound and picture are much better on the tv.

Unless the savings were significant, I'd not want to watch any programme on my laptop when I have a perfectly good 40" Sony TV.

[Deleted User]

That's what I thought,but not being very technical I wasn't going to argue.I have a mains tv which gives me a reasonable picture ,although saying that I have a Mac Air lap-top that I can get BBC Iplayer on and also does subtitles

zippychick

Hi, we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Zip

matelodave

zippychick wrote: »

Hi, we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Zip

Might have been helpful if you'd told us where you'd moved it to:(

footyguy

matelodave wrote: »

Might have been helpful if you'd told us where you'd moved it to:(

As is usual practice, a marker has been left on the original board so people can still find it

D_M_E

We have a Samsung 32 inch LED tv which has a power requirement of 31 watts, or about 33 hours running time per kwh.

The laptop charger has a sticker on it saying 65 watts so in this case if the laptop is left plugged in permanently the tv would use less power even after allowing for the fact that the laptop does not draw the full 65 watts all the time.

ajbell

My 50" plasma draws 400w, I need a new TV.
My 17" laptop draws about 60w, or 80w when charging battery.

JJ_Egan

Tv = does not require a phone line and broadband package to watch .
That would be the cost that would count PA .