Posted: 8/6/2014 5:04:42 PM EDT
| I want to hook my older laptop up to a TV to act as a dedicated computer for watching Amazon Prime videos without hooking up and disconnecting my main laptop to the HDMI. The only issue is that my older laptop lacks an HDMI connection and only has USB and HVI. Will I get a lower quality picture if I use an HVI to HDI adapter to hook the two together? |
|
Quoted:
With the current bit speed of USB 3.0 you should. A+ Certified Tech. Quoted:
Quoted:
From what? The USB? Could I just use a USB-USB cable to run video & audio to the TV? With the current bit speed of USB 3.0 you should. A+ Certified Tech. Not sure what speed the USB connection is on my older lap top. IIRC it is a 2009 Dell Inspiron 1545. |
|
If you need the hardware bits to hook that all up your cheapest bet is tmart.com. you could probably get everything you need to set your laptop down beside your TV from there for $10 shipped, or $20 if you want to run a cable from your TV to situate your laptop next to where you sit. Just make sure that all of your purchases say "shipped from us warehouse.". If you want a little bit more quality wise you can get the stuff from monoprice, though it'll be more expensive ( though still probably 30+++$ cheaper than buying it locally).
Edit--once you've had a full function computer hooked up to your TV, you'll be spoiled. The only thing that compares is having a component like a bluray player hooked up that allows you to play flash drives or external hard drives of your media |
|
Quoted:
Try chromecast. Plug it into your HDMI port on the TV and it synchs with your wireless. I know it works with youtube and netflix, etc, not sure about Amazon. jd1 This is the correct answer. Chromecast allows you to beam anything that's on your computer screen to your TV. Very simple to set up and operate. |
|
It looks like I will need a VGA-to-HDMI adapter cable and a headphones jack-to-TV audio input adapter cable. Anyone done this before?
I'm looking to have the laptop just sit (closed) under the TV with a wi-fi mouse and keyboard to control it. From what I read Chromecast is not good for streaming a duplicated desktop? |
|
If you want to use a laptop as your streaming device then buy a new laptop with an HDMI connection.
I tried all of the suggestions - all were waste of money. Unless it's an HDMI connection it's shit. I bought a new Sony Vio with a BluRay player and HDMI. I can connect it via HDMI to my plasma TV with no issues. |
|
It's almost certainly a USB 2.0 bus.
Not an A+ Certified Tech. 
Quoted:
Not sure what speed the USB connection is on my older lap top. IIRC it is a 2009 Dell Inspiron 1545. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
From what? The USB? Could I just use a USB-USB cable to run video & audio to the TV? With the current bit speed of USB 3.0 you should. A+ Certified Tech. Not sure what speed the USB connection is on my older lap top. IIRC it is a 2009 Dell Inspiron 1545. |
|
Quoted:
From what? The USB? Could I just use a USB-USB cable to run video & audio to the TV? Just get a Cheap Blu Ray Player with on-board Wi fi for like $99.00. Panasonic DMP-BDT230 Smart Wi-Fi 3D Blu-Ray Player (2013 Model) ETA: Will Amazon ship to Somalia?? |
|
Quoted: It looks like I will need a VGA-to-HDMI adapter cable and a headphones jack-to-TV audio input adapter cable. Anyone done this before? I'm looking to have the laptop just sit (closed) under the TV with a wi-fi mouse and keyboard to control it. From what I read Chromecast is not good for streaming a duplicated desktop? That's how i plugged my XBMC PC into my TV. It works fine. 20+ years doing IT. |
|
Quoted:
I found a USB-HDMI adapter that requires software to be loaded on the laptop for it to function. This seems like a simpler solution. Anyone have experience with one? The VGA to HDMI/dvi is simpler. I thought you were concerned about picture quality? Does the laptop only have a VGA out or does it have a dvi or HDMI connector. The audio situation is solved simply by running what is basically a headphone cord from the computer to the tv. I wouldn't bother trying to get a HDMI connection for the sake of theoretically having the "highest quality picture" in your situation, or to avoid having to run an audio cable. Does your TV only have HDMI connections or does it have others like VGA or dvi? |
|
It depends how highly developed your sensibilities are and how easily they become offended.
I know some people who can still watch VHS on a CRT, and I know some people who will not allow their eyes to even glance at anything less than HD because they may be traumatized by the experience. I am kind of in the middle, my TV has a monitor port though, so I just run a monitor cable from laptop. |