Something to play dvds and/or videos on

[terrywogan]

Is there a device or 'tv' that will just play back DVDs or Videos? I don't watch broadcast television: I've either seen it before or the programme is not to my taste (sport, soaps, 'reality', discussions, etc.) and I don't see why I should HAVE to pay for something I don't use. I know DVDs can be played back on a computer/laptop but the screen is a bit small.

[chameleon]

what about a portable dvd player.?

[terrywogan]

The only ones I've seen have a smaller screen than a laptop: also, can you play videos on one?

[terrywogan]

Basically, what I need is a TV that doesn't accept the transmission signal of an ordinary television.

[terrywogan]

Chameleon, thanks for the idea, though. I've had a look at the portable DVD players and the screens are very small. But it did lead me to look at flat screens; they, apparently, can be used for watching DVDs. I just have to find out if a video player can be connected to it. I'll take a little trip down to PC World and pick their brains.

[philandlil]

You could ask at the link below
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/index.jsp

[Ethel]

Would a computer monitor hooked up to dvd player and video player work?

You can get very large lcd tv monitors, but I don't know if a dvd player is reliant on something inside a tv to work.

[LeMarchand]

Either a flat panel/TV with no built-in tuner or a projector will do the trick, then just hook up your DVD player and/or VHS to it. You can also get converter boxes that will let you play back on a computer monitor, some monitors will accept component or composite video that most DVD players can output, and many new monitors have DVI or HDMI connections that newer DVD/BluRay players can connect to.

However, I suspect that "officially" the VHS is a no go as it will still be capable of receiving a TV signal (they all have built in tuners - as do DVD recorders) so to be completely legal you would need to ensure that nothing in your setup includes a TV tuner.

[Ethel]

There is a video cassette player that connects to a pc via usb to convert tapes; you can also hook it to a monitor to simply play tapes. It doesn't have a tv tuner and cannot record:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=2 24587&C=24376&U=FreqArchUSBVHS

[terrywogan]

philandlil, thanks but the TV licensing are ONLY interested in screwing money out of you. There is another website that DOES explain about de-tuning and stuff but I haven't got it on this laptop.

[terrywogan]

Thanks, LeMarchand. That's what I'm trying to find. If I can't tune in to a channel and I have no aerial, I shouldn't be able to received a signal - that's exactly what I want.

[terrywogan]

Ethel, I have a DVD player, I have a Video player, I also have a clapped out tv (de-tuned and no aerial) but it's on it's last legs so I wanted to be able to buy something that will allow me to watch the millions of tapes and DVDs that I've accumulated over the years - legally. The little tape machine attached to a laptop is too small for me to watch properly. I really need to go to PC World or somewhere like that.

Thanks for all your help - you've given me something to think about.

[Ethel]

You've confused me now, Terry. I thought you was sorted with the information given.

You can buy a large flat screen monitor.
You can buy a very small dvd player that doesn't have a screen very cheaply and connect it to the monitor.
You can buy the video player I linked to and connect it to the monitor.

So now you watch dvds and video tapes on a large screen without having the ability to receive a television signal.