AlanG

As per title.
On the back of my laptop, there's 2 USB ports, a 6pin mini-din, serial connection, parallel connection and a 15 pin female whatever that's called connection.
The TV is a rear projection Sony (10yr old at least) with 4 A/V channels, 2 of which aren't used.

Can the TV be used as a monitor for the laptop?

Shark Man

Most laptops have a S-Video mini DIN connector. So yes, it is is possible, providing the TV and laptop have those connectors.

AlanG

Thanks Sharkman.
I'm not a computer type person. The S-video mini Din. Is this one and the same as i've described ( 6pin mini DIN)? or does it look the same but does a different job? If that makes sense..
I'm trying to find out just now what that connection is on the back of the laptop, but haven't found out yet.

It's a Toshiba Satellite Pro SP6050, so a few years old.

AlanG

Hmmm... It's a PS/2 mouse port. I take it that's not useable? I don't use that for a mouse.. obviously!

all it says in the manual is the 15pin (female) connector is for an external monitor. Do-able to TV?

Iain Young

Not all laptops have a svideo output. Sounds like yours doesn't. You'd need to get some sort of vga->tv converter and plug it into the monitor port.

Something like...

www.marssystems.co.uk Product Detail

AlanG

Thanks Iain.
Didn't think i'd need something as elaborate as that and a bit pricey just use TV as a monitor, but i'll give it some thought.

The only other connection i've got on the side of the laptop is a video-out jack.

Pedro_79

As in a yellow coloured phono-type socket?

Your tv is bound to have a composite input for that. It'll most likely be alongside a white and a red audio input. In the highly unlikely event that it hasn't, then you can get a convertor to scart for about a quid.

Shark Man

Yeah I should have added that the s-video connector is not the mouse/keyboard connector. Even though they look the similar If it has one, it would probably be labeled with a symbol showing a box with an arrow pointing to it. Or labelled S-video, TV or projector.

If you have a phono/RCA connector (composite/video out) instead, that will work ok. Just need to buy the connector to suit your needs (depending on what is on the back of the TV ). Picture won't be that fantastic on a large screen, but it'll do the job

BlkKnight

We have a winner! Just hook it up

Your laptop probabily won't default to outputting to TV - you'll have to tell it.

On a Toshiba you hold the function key down and press F5 twice.

AlanG

Yes we have a winner guys! thanks.
Yes Pedro, it's a yellow phono type socket.
Spot on about picture quality. I'm not sure, but there may be a possibility to improve on that via the laptops settings? (will make the laptop screen look odd though i'd imagine..)

I had to lower the screen resolution down to 800x600 to view it properly on the TV, otherwise i'd need to scroll around to see all of the screen. It's a 42" TV,non widescreen(told you it was old!)

Only other thing is i can't view laptop and TV at same time, FuncF5 doesn't let me. It's either one or t'other, even though the option to do it is there. I have laptop, crt/laptop, crt or TV.
Doesn't really matter i suppose cause i intend to keep the laptop shut anyway and use a wireless keyboard and mouse. Sound has to come from laptop though (not that i use it much for sound) cause it's only a video out connection.

Shark Man

For sound your need a cable with a headphone jack on one end which goes to two phonos (red and black), which you should have on your TV (make sure its input and not ouput).

ru'

Standard TV is approx 800x600 (les I think) so there's no way to improve the resolution I'm afraid.

Even HD is pretty pants compared to monitor resolutions.

AlanG

Cheers sharkman.
{sheepish mode on...}
I've had this laptop a number of years but didn't get used much 'til recently.
I've only just found there's headphone jack sockets on the front of the laptop after reading your post! .

I also had a problem recently with sound on this laptop. Everything looked fine, no conflicts blah blah, but some days i'd have sound and other not.

After downloading the manual from the Toshiba site today, i've just found there's a little scroll wheel on the side of the laptop..... ho hum. And there's a slot for an SD card! Never knew that either....
Told you i wasn't a computer type guy!

Thanks for the tip ru'.
To be fair the TV screen is a bit on the big side for this type of use!

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

the tv would be good for films or maybe even games but it wont handle the resolution of the computer on the desktop

AlanG

I'll give it a try.
So far i haven't needed to buy any cabling, which is a nice little bonus for something i didn't know was going to work or not.