how to connect laptop to TV ?

[rfuerst911sc]

My cable company AT&T U-Verse supports ESPN3.COM and because the American LeMans races will be live on that I want to be able to view the races on my Panasonic plasma big screen via the laptop is that possible ? If yes how do you do it ?

[porsche4life]

What kind of outputs does your laptop have? What kind of inputs on the tv?

[stomachmonkey]

Most TV's these days have VGA or HDMI in.

I've never seen a laptop that did not have VGA out.

[Rot 911]

HDMI is the best and easiest. Just look to see if you have a connector on both the laptop and the tv. And don't spend big bucks on the HDMI cable at the local Best Buy or even Walmart. You can get them for less than $10 online with the same quality.

[gr8fl4porsche]

VGA or S video will most likely be your options.

Then you have to tell windows to broadcast on the tv and pick a resolution.

[krystar]

if your have a higher end laptop, it will have hdmi output. that's option 1. hdmi cable is really cheap online.

if you have a modern flat tv, like a lcd or plasma or dlp, it will have a vga port in the back. that's option 2. vga cables...get it at some computer store, not best buy.

[Paul_Heery]

Unless you have a newer laptop, chances are that you will only have a VGA-out on your laptop. Most TVs also have a VGA-in as well. Most people forget that you will also need to bring the sound to your TV. On my flatscreen, if I choose the VGA source, it automatically chooses the 3.5mm stereo input that is next to the VGA-in as well. You need to get both of those from your laptop to the TV.

For that, I would recommend this cable as it has all of the connections that you need:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?p_id=557

This one is 6' but they have other lengths as well.

[Paul_Heery]

Also, I have been playing with ESPN3.com for a few weeks now preparing for the ALMS season. I have been looking at a media device or app to support this. You can get it with an Xbox 360 through Xbox Live or through Boxee. I'm not planning on buying an Xbox 360, so I set up Boxee. It works, but I don't really like the interface other than using my phone as a remote control.

I have come back around and decided the best for what I want to do is using a laptop attached to the TV to watch the ALMS races on ESPN3. I have been using this setup for a few weeks watching some EPL soccer and college basketball games. It works very well. This is one thing to be aware of though. When you first startup ESPN3, it goes to the lowest resolution picture. It will get better and better while it tests the speed of your connection. So, don't be disappointed in the picture when it first starts up.

[porsche4life]

Amazon.com: vga cable

[stomachmonkey]

eCOST.com - Atlona VGA to HDMI 1080P Scaler - AT-HDVIEW

[Esel Mann]

I'm actually going through the same thing also. I've got the welfare cable package (13-ch.) and find myself watching more internet based tv.

There are a few possible permutations. More if you have a sound system being used in conjunction with your TV.

There are two parts you will need to address. The audio and the video.

On the laptop side there is the headphone jack for audio output and depending there can be (a) s-video, (b) VGA, or (c) DVI, or (d) displayport video output(s).

On the TV side you need to identify which audio inputs go with which video inputs so that when you pipe in the video you also have sound to go with it. For video, the TV typically has (a) s-video, (b) VGA), (c) HDMI, or (d) DVI. For audio there typically is corresponding RCA left/right receptacles.

For watching TV, VGA will give you the lowest quality picture, followed by s-video, followed by HDMI or DVI.

I do not know how "new" your laptop or TV is but I seem to recall the latest HDMI spec. supporting sound with the video. If such is true and if such is supported by both your TV and laptop, you may not need the additional audio cable.

[rnln]

Right on. Have to know what is available on the 2 units.

Originally Posted by porsche4life

What kind of outputs does your laptop have? What kind of inputs on the tv?