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Thread ID: 78870	2007-05-01 01:08:00	What is best way to use plasma as second monitor?	Gimmee (6238)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
545864	2007-05-01 01:08:00	Hi all Just looking for some advice on how to best use a plasma as a second monitor. The trouble is the desktop computer is in the other room from the plasma. I want to be able to play movies from computer and watch them on plasma. Video Card has VGA, DVI, SVGA outputs. How long a cable can I get for VGA and DVI. I suppose going from one room to next with VGA and DVI would not be possible? SVGA would run that far but is the quality bad or alot worse than VGA, DVI. Or maybe I could wait and get a HDMI video card and run that? Now what about the laptop. I have a simple wireless home network with Desktop, laptop, ipaq, printer. The family uses laptop quite a bit wirelessly to cruise net and things like that. What would be available to use plasma as second monitor for laptop wireless if at all possible. Some sort of bridge to plasma or something maybe? Look forward to any help and ideas you may give me on this. Cheers Gimmee :):)	Gimmee (6238)
545865	2007-05-01 01:17:00	Well, I would say the only way you're going to connect the laptop to the plasma to to put it in the same room. Since I doubt you can do it wirelessly, unless the plasma has wireless as well. Or just get a DVD player and connect it to the plasma.	Speedy Gonzales (78)
545866	2007-05-01 02:13:00	According to Google (www.google.co.nz) the maximum cable length depends on resolution required and type of DVI connection, but the most you could hope for is 9m max. How far away from the plasma is you PC? Getting a video card that outputs in component could be an option, chances are component cables can be longer than DVI. If you laptop has DVI output then it could be a viable option, since you've got a plasma you really want to output at the highest resolution you can. HDMI is electrically compatible with DVI, meaning you can convert a DVI cable to HDMI and vice versa. Perhaps consider something like the AppleTV or build your own HTPC? You could easily build your own HTPC for under $1000, it would give you far greater flexibility and coupled with Linux and a frontend such as MythTV could become an awesome project/hobby.	Pete O'Neil (6584)
545867	2007-05-01 23:39:00	Hi there thanks for that The main computer is about 10m away from plasma so vga would be out. I had a look at myth tv last week, that looks promising. I have only been running linux for about 8months and still feel pretty green on it. Am getting there slowly though. Running FC6 64bit on my desktop and Ubuntu on laptop. Unfortunately my laptop is a couple of years old and doesnt have the dvi output. Would definately look at the myth tv again, I think i have a home hacking book that has all the details on building a box with mythtv and setting it up. Just thinking though that the tv comes with a hard disk dvd recorder. If they play avis that would be great. Probably to much to hope for. Thanks for the ideas Cheers Gimmee :):)	Gimmee (6238)
545868	2007-05-02 00:42:00	AVI playback is becoming a fairly common feature of DVD players now so that could be your simplest & cheapest option. My solution is to use a mediagate MG-350HD, this is a linux based standalone media player that can stream music / videos / pictures from any shared folder on a network or you can install a hard drive and store the files on the device and play them without the pc being turned on. Think these cost around $250 + hard drive ( if you want one ) The interface is a little sluggish and the remote could use some improvement (its not the most user friendly and has to be pointed straight at the receiver) but all in all I love this thing. A media center pc would be better but this plays almost everything and is much cheaper. Coincidentally check this out pcworld.co.nz And no I don't work for them	dugimodo (138)
545869	2007-05-02 03:02:00	Here another review over at Extremetech, looks like quite a neat product! My girlfriend stole my media PC so its something i'm going to look into. www.extremetech.com	Pete O'Neil (6584)
545870	2007-05-02 05:28:00	Hmm, first of all, I really would advise against using a Plasma as a second monitor... LCD OK, but plasma no...... Because of the "burn-in" effect. Makes your plasma have a 'ghost' image after displaying the same images for a long time.. (Eg: The windows taskbar) But if you ignore that, then you could copy a similar setup to mine.. Laptop connects wirelessly to the network, and just use the VGA plugs to connect to the plasma. And hook the laptop up with a nice wireless mouse and keyboard.. To complete the setup, hook up a new 'lan disk", costing about NZ$130 for 160gb to your network. Sweet!	jesseycy (1046)
545871	2007-05-02 05:35:00	I have just got a new Plasma TV and I spent the day gaming on it :D all 42 inches of goodness :lol: also watched a movie of course :p But you do have to watch the screen burn (burns an image onto the screen if the same image is there for a few hours) but if things are changing often there is no problem with it	The_End_Of_Reality (334)
545872	2007-05-03 13:47:00	Thanks for those helpful hints. I always had visions of cruising net on plasma wirelessly with laptop. I am not too worried about burn in as the main use for plasma will be movies and tv, etc, and if I could sometimes do some simple net stuff, but wouldnt be using it as a word processor type of second monitor. I have been looking for awhile and wanted a 50" lcd screen but I have not been able to find a really good multi purpose lcd over 30" that doesnt pixilate and blur so I have opted for the Panasonic 50" HD plasma although I think the Pioneer looked a little nicer but not for the extra 1500 bucks I would have to pay. The mediagate sounds interesting as well. Cheers Gimmee :):)	Gimmee (6238)
545873	2007-05-03 14:50:00	hook up a new 'lan disk", costing about NZ$130 for 160gb to your network. Thats just what I was looking for, but I couldnt find one. Could you tell me where I could get one of those?	Cato (6936)
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