Video Out Component for T61p

Planning to purchase Lenovo Thinkpad T61p and wants some way to hook up the T61p to TVs (either through S-Video, HDMI, or component video, etc).

Unfortunately, VGA out is the only option on the T61p.

Looking for anything out there that will help me with this dilemma. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

This is a unsolved issue, some people have tried the adapters with no luck.

 

The VGA to S-Video adapter (cheap under $10 option) doesn't seem to be working for a few people that have tried. There is a VGA to S-Video adapter that cost more like $75 to $100 that will convert the signal which might work.

Other than that. The advanced mini dock has a DVI output. I suppose it might work to use a DVI to Component or HDMI for the video. Then get a 3.5mm to R/L RCA cable for audio. Unfortunately this option really puts a damper on portability.

 

The transition from a vga output to a component should be direct if I recall...meaning no digital processing should have to be done...you can buy a cable online.

 

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. This doesn't work: http://www.eforcity.com/pothvgasvrc1.html?gad=CNGV0_4CEgjzLnO-zCySDRiJp-j9AyDV7too

This has been tried out by a couple people using both the Intel graphics and nVidia graphics on the T61. It just doesn't work. It isn't supported by these graphics options.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=129586

VGA and S-Video are both analog signals, but they are not identical analog signals. The signal from a computer still needs to be converted to the format used an a TV to work properly. Some video cards are capable of this. So far it seems to be proven that the T61 graphics options are not capable. Therefore it still requires a converter like this:
http://www.svideo.com/vga2video2.html

 

so stupid, a system with such a strong graphics power(t61p) no svideo, juss makes u wonder sometimes about lenovo, cause every notebook has it, this is the only thing holding me back from the t61p because i use the svideo out on my z61m daily

 

Was looking on Newegg and found this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834995036

This might work, but the portability goes right out the window...

 

I'm annoyed by the lack of that option as well. However, that converter I posted about should work. However, I have no personal experience with it to prove it.

 

This might work also, cheap, too bad out of stock:

http://sewelldirect.com/pc-to-tv.asp

This is a bit more expensive, but available:
http://sewelldirect.com/VGA-to-Component-Video-Converter.asp

 

You might want to try the cables from here:
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/vga-rgb-component.html

I've had luck w/them on Nvidia desktop cards as well as my T60p ATI based machine - Connecting to a Samsung 56" DLP.

 

I have been looking for something also but I haven't found anything that worked

 

Did anyone figure this out? Just got my t61p and realized this issue. The only solution seems to be the mini dock (?) for $179 extra. Seems like a major omission for such a graphics oriented version of this notebook.

 

Thinkpads are considered business machines... And apparently business men can’t lose time watching movies... (or they are already so rich they don’t care about old-fashion conventional tvs ).

You can try something like this: PC to TV Converter

Don't buy just adapter cables VGA to S-video because it seems they would not work in a thinkpad without tv support.

 

No, the Advanced Mini Dock (which I own) doesn't have any video out capability. I've seen this incorrectly reported in the forum, but make no mistake--there's no s-video or composite output on the Mini Dock (VGA and DVI only).

 

Someone needs to make some kind of ribbon cable that connects to the dock port on the bottom to offer DVI out.