Let's see your Notebook/TV setups! Talk about it here!

How many of you use your notebook/TV setups in your living room?

Let's see some notebook/TV setups and talk about it here.
(or bedroom/computer room tv/notebook setups)
In the middle of this thread, I posted how I got it to work.

Here is mine:

Playing games from the comfort of my couch, (before I made a real notebook table).


My corner setup at my couch with custom made notebook table I made today.


Another pix of the custom notebook table I made. The top swivels too.


I also use it as a slide show with a remote when company is over.


I can do spreadsheet, email and stuff too.


For those of you who don't know how to setup your notebook to TV, here is a short course on how I do mine: (tell us how you do yours)

1. Hook up your HDMI cable to TV & Notebook.
2. Make sure TV is on the correct input for the notebook.
3. Then press Fn & F8 twice to get both TV/Notebook on the screen.
3. The sound I just right clicked on the sound icon in taskbar and switch it over to HDMI. You can play with those settings once your in there. Or go to the control panel, go to sound, then change it to HDMI as the default.
4. (to disable the sound from the laptop so that sound only goes to hdmi/tv). If you right click on the speaker in the taskbar, then go to playback devices, double click on HDMI and you can make all kinds of adjustments there like this one... then disable wave-out/speaker and enable spdif you should get your sound working on the tv through hdmi only. it disables the laptop sound.

If I forgot something... I will add it as we go.

Before playing MS Flight Similator, I had to setup my joystick:

 

That's awesome! I'm in a dorm.

I just have my notebook on a desk, and I seldom hook it up to the 20" Dell HDTV we have.

I'll post some pics anyway, just to be cool like you Jack.

 

I like the use of inverted garbage cans

 

Jack53,

That's an awesome setup you've got there. As an avid flight simmer myself, I actually went all out and purchased a full yoke/thrust and paddle setup for use at home. Unfortunately, I am never around long enough to fully enjoy it.

I wanted to ask you what mouse you are using (I especially like the red color). Did you spray paint that or did you buy it like that?

 

Same here booji... not much time for games... and when I play it is only Madden 2006 or MS Flight.

That is a DYNEX wireless optical mouse #DX-PWLMSE and I painted it to match my XPS.

 

I believe this is it http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0KY0TRCBHQV62MP4VQYA

 

Jack53,

Thanks for the response...you wouldn't happen to have the model number of the wireless mouse would you? Also, what notebook stand are you using and how do you like it?

Nizzy1115,

Thanks for the link, but I was interested in the wireless mouse.

 

Nope... he was asking about the other one that was on the notebook table:

I'll have to find the model number as I painted over it. UPDATE: I thought I'd painted my logitech mouse... nope, I looked at the bottom of it and it's a DYNEX wireless optical mouse #DX-PWLMSE

I made that notebook stand myself this afternoon. I used a combination of parts to make it: an adjustable chair swivel, stool legs and oak cabinet doors for the table top.

 

You really should paint your TV to match the notebook and mouse.

 

Jack53, Once I got it, i had no idea that this contained HDMI. It was awesome. I plug HDMI port to HDTV. it looks beautiful!

 

Jack53,

Thank you so much for the responses. Simply amazing. You surely have a nack for the paint jobs! Are you also using a cooling pad with you m1530?

 

Sweet setup dude! Especially loved the laptop table! Wish I had one, would fit my needs

Unfortunately, I don't even have a widescreen TV to begin with, so will just be lurking here. Might want to move this topic outside the Dell forums, too. 'Cause not all people with notebook-connected-to-a-HDTV setups are Dell owners

BTW...

Is that... that thing at the bottom left... is that the thing before the mouse? Was it called the scroll ball or track ball or something? That was my first ever pointing device! Well, not that device itself, but yeah, I used something like that before even knowing mice existed! It was a sort of keyboard combo -- the ball was where the arrow keys can be found right now in your traditional keyboard.

 

It's a Logitech Optical Marble Mouse (USB/PS2)
I like it as I can use it on my lap while watching TV.

 

Cool, so it is a trackball! I really felt nostalgic when I saw it. Nice

You sure have a lot of stuff there... Why not use the SLR to take the pix instead

 

I don't have pics (yet), but I have an m1730 connected to my 47'' Philips Ambilight tv, a 5.1 SLS sound system, and a Loft Goods Gamepod chair with built in stereo speakers and a transducer in the base. Thinking of adding Ambx at some point but I'm not 100% sure.

 

I would post some pics, but dont have access to a camera for the moment. Talking about notebookforums, it seems that community (at least wrt Dell) is pretty much dead....

 

Completely agree (with both parts of that statement!)

 

Stating that this thread is a bit redundant was entirely constructive as it happens 'pardes3'. Not least when it has all but been confirmed by the OP themselves that it's very inception was a thinly veiled excuse to massage their own ego.

 

Please keep on-topic and don't post personal insults. More info in the forum rules.

 

Finally got around to taking some pics of my 1330 hooked up to my Samsung 46" DLP. It's an oldie but goodie My eventual goal is to turn our basement into a home theater w/ front projection.

 

and how about a bedroom set up! the fat cable sticking out on the right side is for the desktop, m1530 shares a cable with the hddvd, and the hd-cable tv also connected. i plan on getting an hdmi hub, should be nice.

 

both setups are really amazing..

 

OMG, trip on one of those wires, and the whole thing would fall ... lol be careful & reorganize your self dude .. lol jk .. not ...

@ jack + snork , nice setups guys.

 

this is just temporary until the end of the this year, i hope.

 

Thanks. I'm a fan of Samsung TVs...got 3 of them! The 46" DLP in the living room, 26" LCD in the kitchen/dining room cantilevered to the wall, and a 32" LCD for the bedroom. I'm waiting for their 71 & 81 series technology to filter down in price then I wanna get a 42" or 46" wall mounted in our bedroom These 71/81 series are the first really jaw dropping LCDs I've seen except for the REALLY expensive stuff.

Looks like my old bedroom...tons of crap packed into a 10x12" room! I see you got a set of Klipsh Promedia, I have a set myself for my old desktop which I've had for 7 yrs now and they still sound better than most people's full stereos. That HD-DVD player's gotta hurt though Hopefully you got it on clearance, makes a great upscaling standard DVD player. And another nice Sammy LCD.

 

Quick question: I just ordered a Dell XPS m1530 and I was wondering if it comes with the HDMI cable or do you have to buy your own? Thanks.

 

HDMI cable is not included. When you go shop for one, make sure you don't spend a fortune on a Monster cable unless your laptop and HDTV are 30+ feet apart.

 

You have to buy your own.

 

Here's what I use at home to watch TV, and also use to surf on occasion with my MS Wireless keyboard.

120" of TV goodness hooked up to a dedicated HTPC Desktop which I run SageTV on for TV/Media playback.

(Added a 2nd picture to show my HTPC Tower, Receiver, Wireless keyboard and Digital Cable boxes)

 

Pretty darn HOT setup Khris. I like it!

 

Yeah, actually don't buy any HDMI cable in a retail store, they're all a rip-off. I recommend www.monoprice.com their stuff is good quality and super cheap. I have a 30' VGA cable, works great for hooking up the the TV also several of their 6' HDMI and DVI cables. All are extremely well made and no quality issues whatsoever. The only time I'd recommend videophile grade cables is if you have top-shelf equipment (which includes NOTHING you can buy at Best Buy or Circuit City, LOL).

 

Is http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024007&p_id=3871&seq=1&format=2 the type of cable I need?

 

Yeah, that cable should be fine, but it's only 3' long. You'll probably want something longer if you're going to use it with your laptop unless you have a remote keyboard/mouse and can leave the computer right by the TV.

 

Yeah I have a wireless keyboard / mouse so I just plan on leaving it by the tv. Thanks for the help

 

you got to buy your own hdmi cable

 

Khris...what do you do with THREE digital cable boxes all in one place? I can see 2 for picture-in-picture or watching 1 and recording a 2nd as my DVR has dual tuners, but 3?

 

That's an insanely awesome setup.

3 Cable boxes? Where is the 3rd IR Blaster coming from? The MS IR box only supports 2.

 

What projector are you running... I didn't see one there? I'm going that route myself next month and moving the 52 incher up in the computer room.

 

Hopefully this answers everyone's questions.....

My HTPC is running SageTV which can handle as many tuners as you can throw at it. Currently I have 4 tuners in it (2 x Hauppauge PVR500 dual tuner cards). 3 of those tuners are attached to the 3 digital boxes you see and the fourth tuner is connected to standard cable.

Cable box 1 and 2 (bottom is 1 top is 3) are controlled via the MCE IR Blaster stuck to the wall. Cable box 3 is controlled via USB-UIRT (which can control up to 3 devices) and is sitting just above the volume knob on my receiver.

My Projector is a Dell 1800MP that I have mounted up on the ceiling and everything is controlled with a Logitech Harmony 720 remote, including the motorized screen! One button turns everything on/off via programmed macros.

The main advantage to using SageTV is that I can connect from anywhere over my own LAN, or over the Internet to my SageTV Server and watch Live TV/Recorded TV/Music/Media like I'm sitting in my livingroom. I mainly use my Eee PC as a portable TV when I'm around the house or outside as well as I have another computer setup in the bedroom connected to a 27" TV (with MCE Remote).

 

Hauppauge just came out with a component video encoder box which would be the only way I could record HD from an HD Cable box. Because of all the additional investments to go HD right now, I couldn't be bothered.

I've watched a couple 720p video files and the difference in quality really isn't that important to me so I don't really care that my setup is only SD.

I also got an amazing deal on my projector when I bought it, so there's another reason I didn't care about HDMI.

......and honestly, who's going to complain about only having SD life size Futurama characters on my screen instead of HD!

 

So you get picture and sound through the TV just using HDMI? I am going to have to do that when i get my M1530. So does the software come packaged with it too?

 

Thats pretty damn good, because i have a nice 22" HD TV in my room too, so with a good HD movie on that and the sound through my SteelSeries Siberia's will be sweet! Even better for gaming, but i'm guessing its a killer for graphics performance though.

 

Updated pixs. I have a 'Dell Backlighted Saitek Cyborg gaming keyboard coming next week too.

 

Hehe, I like pic 2 with all those nice cars

 

I have a friend over this weekend who has a new HP dv9000 with Bluray DVD. We could get it on my big screen, but we couldn't figure out the sound. Anybody know how on this one. My XPS works fine with sound, but not the HP

 

Wow, thats a nice setup you have got there I had plans to do something like this, but I'd be moving over to a new place in a few months time. So I shelved the idea for now But I'll remember this thread once I move Nice description about how to set it up as well.

Off topic - whats that you have under the laptop there? I guess it must be a cooler rather than just a laptop stand or something? And if yes, whats the cooler? Looks nice!

 

right click on sound properties....there should be an option for HDMI, enable that

 

That is a Targus Cooler with two 3" fans.

I can do that with my XPS, but not the HP.

 

anyone running their XPS into a receiver first, then to the TV? I'm planning on using my Samsung 205BW as a TV via a receiver and a HDMI-DVI cable, but I don't yet if it will actually work.

 

i guess update ur sound drivers....