subject: watch your laptop media on your HD TV [print this page] watch your laptop media on your HD TV watch your laptop media on your HD TV
It's so very easy to re-route a video signal from your Dell laptop (or any other model) to an HD TV, whether we're talking Samsung TVs or other models. Basically, we've got three steps:- What output signal does your laptop produce?- What input signal does your HD TV accept?- What cable do you need to take that input and produce that output?
Most laptops today are designed to send video to an external monitor, either mirroring the display, extending the display, or replacing the display -- use the Properties/Settings of your laptop's display to see what's possible.
Let's look at the input/output signals, highest quality first.
The best connection will be HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) -- all HD TVs have this interface. If your laptop has HDMI output, you're all set -- use an HDMI cable. But, it's likely your laptop will not output HDMI, which means you'll need a cable to convert the laptop's DVI signal to HDMI.
DVI (Digital Video Interface) is one of the standard video outputs for laptops since 2003. Most HD TVs should also have a DVI input. Unfortunately, this signal is video only -- we'll have more on connecting audio later. A standard DVI-to-DVI cable will work just fine.
Your laptop may not have DVI output, but, instead, VGA output. HD TVs have VGA input, so all you'll need is a standard VGA cable. But, VGA is video only -- no audio.
If your laptop does not have DVI or VGA output, then you'll have to use the output from the laptop's graphics card, likely an S-Video connection. HD TVs have S-Video input, but, just like VGA and DVI, there's no audio.
At the lowest level of quality, we have the RCA Composite connection, the familiar three-fold plugs: yellow for video, red for right audio (analog) and white for left audio (analog). All HD TVs take RCA inputs, and it is possible that the graphics card on your laptop uses this output method.
Now, on to audio. For HDMI, there's no problem. However, for all the other types of connections, you'll have to set up cables from the audio output of your laptop (i.e., the socket for your 3.5 mm headphone jack) into the audio input of your HD TV. You may need a cable with RCA connections on the output end for the HD TV. Or, you can take your laptop's audio output and simply connect it to a set of powered speakers
Once all the cables are connected, use the INPUT button on your HD TV remote -- the name may be AV1 or AV2. You'll know you've found it when the laptop's desktop appears on the HD TV screen. You may need to press a function key on your laptop to re-direct the video signal.
