Questions on LCD Monitors..Please Help!

So I havent bought myself any geek toys lately, and since my laptop is running so well, I havent felt the need to replace it yet.

So in answer to my quandary, Im considering getting a large LCD monitor for my laptop.

Something like this:

http://www.play.com/ProductReviews....CD+Monitor+With+TV+Tuner+And+HDMI&cpage=2&pa=

Question is, I dont know what cable will need to connect to my nc8430, or even if my laptop will support an external monitor, or anything like that.

I dont know about any of these acronyms:

DVI
HDMI

and what the differences are between them, and which are useable with my laptop.

Also, this is probably a stupid question, but what do you do with your laptop screen why you buy an external LCD monitor?

As you can see Im a bit of a newbie when it comes to this sort of thing.

Any advice appreciated.

 

You'll need a VGA cable.

DVI a digital video which your notebook does not have,

HDMI = DVI + sound cable, which your notebook does not have.

You can use your lappies screen as a secundary screen.

 

Ok thanks for the reply.

If I wanted to use the External Monitor as the "main" Monitor, would I have to raise it up above the Laptop screen? Twist the laptop at an angle so the laptop screen doest block the external monitor??

Im sure Im missing something here.

 

You can place your laptop to the right or left of your external screen and extend the desktop onto the laptop screen. I'm not entirely sure it's possible to extend the desktop downwards, as in having the laptop screen "below" the external screen. It may very well be a way to do it though.

I'm currently using the exact same notebook as you with my external screen. I have the HP docking station, so whenever I'm at my desk I just dock my notebook, and use an external screen, keyboard and mouse.

 

Thanks again for the reply, that was helpful...pretty much confirmed what I suspected.

If I buy an external monitor, Ill have to buy a seperate keyboard at the same time to make it work the way I want.