Cable Type/Name?

[annie0000]

What is the cable called that I'll need to connect my boy's netbook to a tv that he can use as a screen - the tv has an HDMI slot and the netbook has one of those pin type slots that looks like it is for the screen (has 15 holes!).

Just need to know what to look for/ask for.

Thanks!

[bazwillrun]

sounds like VGA to HDMI if it looks like this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VGA_port.jpg

or if you already have the VGA lead then just a VGA to HDMI adapter

easily got online or if you have one near you pop into a Maplins or PC World etc

[annie0000]

That's exactly it baz, thanks :)

[Hymie]

bazwillrun has correctly identified the PC connector for you pointing out that besides a cable you will need a converter (VGA to HDMI). It is possible that a converter is not required if the laptop supports digital signal output through the VGA port. You will need to investigate the laptops advanced display properties to find out.

[LCDMAN]

Not a cat in hells chance of that ever working. VGA is STRICTLY analogue and HDMI is a digital standard (Hymie, I think you're confusing it with DVI, which can have analog{VGA} and digital elements). You will need a VGA to HDMI convertor box (A-D) to re-format and re-scale the image at the very minimum - not just a cable.

If the TV also has a 15 way VGA connector then use that - get a VGA cable - it will support all the laptop screen resolutions, above and beyond anything the TV might accept. Be sure to set the laptop to the native resolution of the TV (probably 1366x768 if "HD ready" or even 1920x1080 if "Full HD") for best results - then the TV will not try to scale the image.

[annie0000]

oooh - proper confused now :o(.

It's for my almost 11 year old son.

He has a Acer Aspire netbook and I've bought this TV:
http://www.sharpdirec...ssignusgrref=affinity

Thought all I had to do was connect the tv screen to the netbook and it would work. I've ordered one of those cables and head off on holiday tomorrow and he'll be getting it for his birthday the day after we get back. I thought I was all sorted. Bit worried now that his birthday present isn't going to work.

[ChuckFickens]

At least one person who answered actually knows what they are taking about! (LCDMAN)

The cable you have ordered will not work! you need a standard VGA monitor cable for the video
http://www.amazon.co....qid=1309158636&sr=8-2

And one or the other of the two below for the audio (depending on what type of input the TV has for PC sound)

http://www.amazon.co....qid=1309158719&sr=1-8

http://www.amazon.co....qid=1309158763&sr=1-1

[annie0000]

Thanks Chuck - just got back today and the birthday is tomorrow so ran out to buy a cable. PC world wanted £40, Currys wanted £30, and I ended up paying £15 for one in Comet just because I'd ran out of options by then - woman in Currys wasn't that impressed when I told her that was scandalous as I could get one for a fiver on the net!!! Anyhoo - I hope it all works when I set it up - not sure what I need for the sound, there is one of those multi plug efforts in the box with the tv so I'll just wait till it's set up. I don't think he is that bothered about sound to start with anyway, it's just to make his minecraft addiction a bit easier!!! Thanks again!

[annie0000]

Thanks again all who helped me out - got it set up this morning and have a very happy birthday boy! - now he wants to buy a pc tower with his birthday money to replace his netbook as he says it is too "laggy" - he must know all this stuff cos he is 11 now!!

[Old_Geezer]

IMO computers and that ilk are always too "laggy".

Yeah, some say cables are not always good value ;-) http://www.reghardwar..._retail_hdmi_grumble/

[annie0000]

Thanks old geezer - it is an absolute con and tbh if it wasn't for the fact that I needed it for this morning I wouldn't have paid £15 either.

When we bought him the netbook it was prior to his minecraft addiction and for some reason (due to the age of our PC) we can't get it to run on our family PC.

[ChuckFickens]

This is one of my pet hates! I have butted in on several salesmen in various stores when I've overheard them telling people they need to buy a £80+ HDMI cable to "get the best picture" from their new TV/Blu-ray player/PVR..... they don't like it when I ask them to explain exactly how a cable gives a clearer stream of 1's and 0's with a digital signal!

I've actually been thrown out of a certain electrical store named after a celestial body due to doing this, the customer walked out behind me, thanked me and went to buy the TV elsewhere.

[marval]

Good for you Chuck

[annie0000]

i know, I fully expected just to be able to walk into any of these shops and pay £5-10 for a cable. There wasn't a lot of choice without ordering on the net and obv didn't have the time - didn't mind paying a little over the odds for the convenience and urgency, but no way was £40 reasonable!!