netbook with vga slot to hdtv connection?

kate36 · 02-03-2014, 05:47

is it feasible to connect my netbook which only has a vga slot [which i think is analogue] to a hdmi slot on my hdtv?

i have seen vga/hdmi cables but am reluctant to buy unless i know they will work, i always thought you needed something else as well?

feedback appreciated, thanks

chrisjr · 02-03-2014, 11:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by kate36

is it feasible to connect my netbook which only has a vga slot [which i think is analogue] to a hdmi slot on my hdtv?

i have seen vga/hdmi cables but am reluctant to buy unless i know they will work, i always thought you needed something else as well?

feedback appreciated, thanks

The only way a VGA to HDMI cable can possibly work is if the graphics card in your netbook has the ability to feed digital signals out of the VGA socket instead of the normal analogue. Not many such machines I have seen have this capability.

You will probably need a box to convert the VGA format to HDMI format. Always assuming of course that your telly does not have VGA on the back.

Nigel Goodwin · 02-03-2014, 12:10

Yes, she will need an converter, which is fairly expensive - the silly leads are useless and highly misleading.

But as Chris said, most TV's also have VGA connections for just such a purpose - post the make and model.

gomezz · 02-03-2014, 12:40

And note that a separate audio connection will be needed for sound. TV sets with a VGA input normally have an associated audio input socket which can be connected to the headphone socket of the tablet.

kate36 · 02-03-2014, 18:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Yes, she will need an converter, which is fairly expensive - the silly leads are useless and highly misleading.

But as Chris said, most TV's also have VGA connections for just such a purpose - post the make and model.

thanks all, i will see if tv has vga, as you say im sure it will but will it stream a decent quality picture? i want to stream lovefilm instant to tv

chrisjr · 02-03-2014, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by kate36

thanks all, i will see if tv has vga, as you say im sure it will but will it stream a decent quality picture? i want to stream lovefilm instant to tv

VGA is perfectly capable of delivering very high quality images at full HD resolution if required.

Unless that is you use a cheap and nasty cable over a very long run. But with good quality cable on up to 5m runs it is unlikely you would see much difference between HDMI and VGA. The quality of the stream is more likely to limit the picture quality than the connection to the telly.

c4rv · 02-03-2014, 22:23

not used it myself but seems to be pretty good reviews on amazon,

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Mounta...3798900&sr=8-1

note, might be a bit tricky if your headphone socket is on the opposite side of VGA connector.

kate36 · 02-03-2014, 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

VGA is perfectly capable of delivering very high quality images at full HD resolution if required.

Unless that is you use a cheap and nasty cable over a very long run. But with good quality cable on up to 5m runs it is unlikely you would see much difference between HDMI and VGA. The quality of the stream is more likely to limit the picture quality than the connection to the telly.

thanks for that; i've just checked tv in bedroom, that doesn't have a VGA slot just two HDMI slots and it has s-video and audio slots and Pb ? py? slots not sure what they are!
will check the tv in the lounge tomorrow; that is the main one i want to hook up with really

thanks again

grahamlthompson · 02-03-2014, 22:59

Not being in anyway judgemental, I have a PC with a dual output graphic card connected to two identical monitors. One is connected digitally via a DVI connection, the other is by a analogue VGA connection.

The PC can output an image to both monitors.

Using Photoshop to display the same image at the same zoom resolution I defy anyone to tell which monitor has the digital connection and which has the analogue one.

HDMI output has one capability the analogue one does not, its sod all to do with quality, rather more to do with copyright anti copying protection.

A digital output can be protected with HDCP (High Definition Copy Protection), the same quality output by XVGA cannot.

It's a myth that digital is capable of higher quality output than analogue, the real truth is that digital can get very close to analogue using lossy compression like mpeg2/AVCH264 using a very small amount of the carrier bandwidth using much less than a analogue channel would require.

Digital TV uses a clever way of reducing the amount of video data by essentially discarding some video information that may be able to recover most of the information later. How much is lost depends on the resources allocated to the video capability.

The process uses industry standard compression standards, SD channels use the same system as used on DVD-Video discs (mpeg2). Advances in the way digital content can be compressed means that HD channels use the more efficient H264/AVC compression codec, which means that HD video is now possible using similar bandwidth to that used for the best SD channels of just a few years ago,

Digital offers many advantages over PAL analogue, it is capable of transmitting many channels in the same bandwidth as used by one . As in all things the more content you add to the analogue carrier, the worse the picture gets, as it's a compromise..

Look at crap picture quality of Channel 5 on a satellite box if you have one, and compare it to mainstream channel like BBC1. Now look at most pop channels, unlike the BBC which uses 720 x 576 pixels for SD content backed up by a sensible bitrate, and compare the quality (many are just 544 x 576 pixels)

A new compression codec (H265) now offers 4 times the resolution of the current Full-HD (1920 x 1080) pixels at much less than 4 times the broadcast requirements for full HD.

http://www.eoshd.com/content/11534/n...ty-1-file-size

Nigel Goodwin · 03-03-2014, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

Not being in anyway judgemental, I have a PC with a dual output graphic card connected to two identical monitors. One is connected digitally via a DVI connection, the other is by a analogue VGA connection.

The PC can output an image to both monitors.

Using Photoshop to display the same image at the same zoom resolution I defy anyone to tell which monitor has the digital connection and which has the analogue one.

Just as I've always said, VGA is just as good as HDMI (I use VGA on my home computer even though both computer and monitor also have HDMI - no reason to change it).

Likewise, for SD signals RGB SCART is just as good as HDMI as well - both greatly exceed the signals requirements.

scruffpot · 03-03-2014, 11:03

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/vga-to-hdmi-converter-adapter

are these any good?

Nigel Goodwin · 03-03-2014, 11:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by scruffpot

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/vga-to-hdmi-converter-adapter

are these any good?

They don't appear to mention HDCP compatibility?.

And again, try mentioning your TV's make and model number.

scruffpot · 03-03-2014, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

HDCP compatibility?.

.

whats that then nigel?

kate36 · 03-03-2014, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Just as I've always said, VGA is just as good as HDMI (I use VGA on my home computer even though both computer and monitor also have HDMI - no reason to change it).

Likewise, for SD signals RGB SCART is just as good as HDMI as well - both greatly exceed the signals requirements.

neither tv has VGA connection

i think both tvs have RGB connections, but can i use these in connection wtih vga on netbook?

totally confused now, i may just as well buy a low priced tablet with hdmi slot!

emptybox · 03-03-2014, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by kate36

neither tv has VGA connection

i think both tvs have RGB connections, but can i use these in connection wtih vga on netbook?

totally confused now, i may just as well buy a low priced tablet with hdmi slot!

If you give us the make and model of your TV, we might be able to see online what connections it has.

chrisjr · 03-03-2014, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by kate36

neither tv has VGA connection

i think both tvs have RGB connections, but can i use these in connection wtih vga on netbook?

totally confused now, i may just as well buy a low priced tablet with hdmi slot!

Anything other than a proper VGA input on the telly is likely to involve faffing about with converter boxes of one sort or another to get satisfactory results.

If by RGB you mean three phono sockets coloured Red Green and Blue labelled Y, Pr and Pb then these are Component video. Which is not the same as RGB which is usually available on SCART connections.

VGA to SCART leads exist but it is a bit of a lottery whether they actually work in my experience.

chrisjr · 03-03-2014, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by scruffpot

whats that then nigel?

HDCP is a content protection system. It's purpose is to prevent copying of copyright protected material.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-ba...ent_Protection

scruffpot · 03-03-2014, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

HDCP is a content protection system. It's purpose is to prevent copying of copyright protected material.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-ba...ent_Protection

thanks nigel

Nigel Goodwin · 03-03-2014, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

VGA to SCART leads exist but it is a bit of a lottery whether they actually work in my experience.

Not a 'lottery' as all, they don't work - end of story

SCART and VGA are completely incompatible - the (mostly useless) leads are for connecting RGB SCART output from a games console to the SCART socket on a TV - where the games console uses the VGA style socket for outputting SCART signals.

It's no use whatsoever for anything to do with VGA.

gomezz · 03-03-2014, 17:27

I used to use a VGA to Composite converter box. Awful sub-VCR results though.

kate36 · 04-03-2014, 04:58

thanks all, i will post exact details of make and model asap

oilman · 04-03-2014, 11:12

Here is a USB to HDMI adaptor - £24.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1080P-USB-...-/251048108087

Nigel Goodwin · 04-03-2014, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by oilman

Here is a USB to HDMI adaptor - £24.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1080P-USB-...-/251048108087

It's not an 'adaptor', it's just a USB video card - unlikely to be of any use unless you can source and install suitable drivers on the netbook.

oilman · 04-03-2014, 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

It's not an 'adaptor', it's just a USB video card - unlikely to be of any use unless you can source and install suitable drivers on the netbook.

Text from website below says it has the drivers except for Windows 8.1?
So as far as I can see, this would work, unless they are lying?
Opinion?

------------------------------------------------

- Compatible with Window XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Window 8.0(only), Apple Mac OS* X operating systems, Snow Leopard 10.6.8, Lion 10.7.2, and 10.8.0.
CAN NOT Support Windows 8.1 , because factory has no 8.1 driver at the moment !

Applications:
- Multi-task more effectively without overlapping windows.
- Compare two documents simultaneously across two screens.
- View/display financial charts/data on multi screens at the same time for financial analysis.
- Edit/type on one screens while surfing the Internet information or viewing referene material on the other.
- Multi-screen presentations/exhibitions in bussiness conference or trade show.
- Working on one monitor while displaying movies for your family on the other.
- View videos on one screen and review on the other.
- Get additional perspectives for game playing.

How to USE?
1. Install the correct driver for your computer's system,the driver is in the Mini CD.
2. Plug the item into computer's USB and 3.5mm audio port directly, use a HDMI cable to connect it to the TV.
3. Restart the computer,then set the output in screen resolution. All done.

grahamlthompson · 04-03-2014, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by oilman

Text from website below says it has the drivers except for Windows 8.1?
So as far as I can see, this would work, unless they are lying?
Opinion?

------------------------------------------------

- Compatible with Window XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Window 8.0(only), Apple Mac OS* X operating systems, Snow Leopard 10.6.8, Lion 10.7.2, and 10.8.0.
CAN NOT Support Windows 8.1 , because factory has no 8.1 driver at the moment !

Applications:
- Multi-task more effectively without overlapping windows.
- Compare two documents simultaneously across two screens.
- View/display financial charts/data on multi screens at the same time for financial analysis.
- Edit/type on one screens while surfing the Internet information or viewing referene material on the other.
- Multi-screen presentations/exhibitions in bussiness conference or trade show.
- Working on one monitor while displaying movies for your family on the other.
- View videos on one screen and review on the other.
- Get additional perspectives for game playing.

How to USE?
1. Install the correct driver for your computer's system,the driver is in the Mini CD.
2. Plug the item into computer's USB and 3.5mm audio port directly, use a HDMI cable to connect it to the TV.
3. Restart the computer,then set the output in screen resolution. All done.

Can't see any reason other than the computer not having enough processing power to handle HD content why it would not.

Doubt it would work very well on my Atom processor Win 7 starter netbook for example.

02-03-2014, 05:47	#1
kate36 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 7,577	netbook with vga slot to hdtv connection? is it feasible to connect my netbook which only has a vga slot [which i think is analogue] to a hdmi slot on my hdtv? i have seen vga/hdmi cables but am reluctant to buy unless i know they will work, i always thought you needed something else as well? feedback appreciated, thanks

02-03-2014, 11:29	#2
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by kate36 is it feasible to connect my netbook which only has a vga slot [which i think is analogue] to a hdmi slot on my hdtv? i have seen vga/hdmi cables but am reluctant to buy unless i know they will work, i always thought you needed something else as well? feedback appreciated, thanks The only way a VGA to HDMI cable can possibly work is if the graphics card in your netbook has the ability to feed digital signals out of the VGA socket instead of the normal analogue. Not many such machines I have seen have this capability. You will probably need a box to convert the VGA format to HDMI format. Always assuming of course that your telly does not have VGA on the back.

02-03-2014, 12:10	#3
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Yes, she will need an converter, which is fairly expensive - the silly leads are useless and highly misleading. But as Chris said, most TV's also have VGA connections for just such a purpose - post the make and model.

02-03-2014, 12:40	#4
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	And note that a separate audio connection will be needed for sound. TV sets with a VGA input normally have an associated audio input socket which can be connected to the headphone socket of the tablet.

02-03-2014, 18:00	#5
kate36 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 7,577	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin Yes, she will need an converter, which is fairly expensive - the silly leads are useless and highly misleading. But as Chris said, most TV's also have VGA connections for just such a purpose - post the make and model. thanks all, i will see if tv has vga, as you say im sure it will but will it stream a decent quality picture? i want to stream lovefilm instant to tv

02-03-2014, 19:18	#6
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by kate36 thanks all, i will see if tv has vga, as you say im sure it will but will it stream a decent quality picture? i want to stream lovefilm instant to tv VGA is perfectly capable of delivering very high quality images at full HD resolution if required. Unless that is you use a cheap and nasty cable over a very long run. But with good quality cable on up to 5m runs it is unlikely you would see much difference between HDMI and VGA. The quality of the stream is more likely to limit the picture quality than the connection to the telly.

02-03-2014, 22:23	#7
c4rv Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Essex Posts: 16,218	not used it myself but seems to be pretty good reviews on amazon, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Mounta...3798900&sr=8-1 note, might be a bit tricky if your headphone socket is on the opposite side of VGA connector.

02-03-2014, 22:38	#8
kate36 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 7,577	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr VGA is perfectly capable of delivering very high quality images at full HD resolution if required. Unless that is you use a cheap and nasty cable over a very long run. But with good quality cable on up to 5m runs it is unlikely you would see much difference between HDMI and VGA. The quality of the stream is more likely to limit the picture quality than the connection to the telly. thanks for that; i've just checked tv in bedroom, that doesn't have a VGA slot just two HDMI slots and it has s-video and audio slots and Pb ? py? slots not sure what they are! will check the tv in the lounge tomorrow; that is the main one i want to hook up with really thanks again

02-03-2014, 22:59	#9
grahamlthompson Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redditch Worcs Posts: 17,293	Not being in anyway judgemental, I have a PC with a dual output graphic card connected to two identical monitors. One is connected digitally via a DVI connection, the other is by a analogue VGA connection. The PC can output an image to both monitors. Using Photoshop to display the same image at the same zoom resolution I defy anyone to tell which monitor has the digital connection and which has the analogue one. HDMI output has one capability the analogue one does not, its sod all to do with quality, rather more to do with copyright anti copying protection. A digital output can be protected with HDCP (High Definition Copy Protection), the same quality output by XVGA cannot. It's a myth that digital is capable of higher quality output than analogue, the real truth is that digital can get very close to analogue using lossy compression like mpeg2/AVCH264 using a very small amount of the carrier bandwidth using much less than a analogue channel would require. Digital TV uses a clever way of reducing the amount of video data by essentially discarding some video information that may be able to recover most of the information later. How much is lost depends on the resources allocated to the video capability. The process uses industry standard compression standards, SD channels use the same system as used on DVD-Video discs (mpeg2). Advances in the way digital content can be compressed means that HD channels use the more efficient H264/AVC compression codec, which means that HD video is now possible using similar bandwidth to that used for the best SD channels of just a few years ago, Digital offers many advantages over PAL analogue, it is capable of transmitting many channels in the same bandwidth as used by one . As in all things the more content you add to the analogue carrier, the worse the picture gets, as it's a compromise.. Look at crap picture quality of Channel 5 on a satellite box if you have one, and compare it to mainstream channel like BBC1. Now look at most pop channels, unlike the BBC which uses 720 x 576 pixels for SD content backed up by a sensible bitrate, and compare the quality (many are just 544 x 576 pixels) A new compression codec (H265) now offers 4 times the resolution of the current Full-HD (1920 x 1080) pixels at much less than 4 times the broadcast requirements for full HD. http://www.eoshd.com/content/11534/n...ty-1-file-size

03-03-2014, 09:06	#10
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by grahamlthompson Not being in anyway judgemental, I have a PC with a dual output graphic card connected to two identical monitors. One is connected digitally via a DVI connection, the other is by a analogue VGA connection. The PC can output an image to both monitors. Using Photoshop to display the same image at the same zoom resolution I defy anyone to tell which monitor has the digital connection and which has the analogue one. Just as I've always said, VGA is just as good as HDMI (I use VGA on my home computer even though both computer and monitor also have HDMI - no reason to change it). Likewise, for SD signals RGB SCART is just as good as HDMI as well - both greatly exceed the signals requirements.

03-03-2014, 11:03	#11
scruffpot Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,342	http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/vga-to-hdmi-converter-adapter are these any good?

03-03-2014, 11:20	#12
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by scruffpot http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/vga-to-hdmi-converter-adapter are these any good? They don't appear to mention HDCP compatibility?. And again, try mentioning your TV's make and model number.

03-03-2014, 11:55	#13
scruffpot Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,342	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin HDCP compatibility?. . whats that then nigel?

03-03-2014, 11:59	#14
kate36 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 7,577	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin Just as I've always said, VGA is just as good as HDMI (I use VGA on my home computer even though both computer and monitor also have HDMI - no reason to change it). Likewise, for SD signals RGB SCART is just as good as HDMI as well - both greatly exceed the signals requirements. neither tv has VGA connection i think both tvs have RGB connections, but can i use these in connection wtih vga on netbook? totally confused now, i may just as well buy a low priced tablet with hdmi slot!

03-03-2014, 12:10	#15
emptybox Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 11,995	Quote: Originally Posted by kate36 neither tv has VGA connection i think both tvs have RGB connections, but can i use these in connection wtih vga on netbook? totally confused now, i may just as well buy a low priced tablet with hdmi slot! If you give us the make and model of your TV, we might be able to see online what connections it has.

03-03-2014, 12:15	#16
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by kate36 neither tv has VGA connection i think both tvs have RGB connections, but can i use these in connection wtih vga on netbook? totally confused now, i may just as well buy a low priced tablet with hdmi slot! Anything other than a proper VGA input on the telly is likely to involve faffing about with converter boxes of one sort or another to get satisfactory results. If by RGB you mean three phono sockets coloured Red Green and Blue labelled Y, Pr and Pb then these are Component video. Which is not the same as RGB which is usually available on SCART connections. VGA to SCART leads exist but it is a bit of a lottery whether they actually work in my experience.

03-03-2014, 12:22	#17
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by scruffpot whats that then nigel? HDCP is a content protection system. It's purpose is to prevent copying of copyright protected material. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-ba...ent_Protection

03-03-2014, 16:30	#18
scruffpot Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,342	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr HDCP is a content protection system. It's purpose is to prevent copying of copyright protected material. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-ba...ent_Protection thanks nigel

03-03-2014, 17:22	#19
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr VGA to SCART leads exist but it is a bit of a lottery whether they actually work in my experience. Not a 'lottery' as all, they don't work - end of story SCART and VGA are completely incompatible - the (mostly useless) leads are for connecting RGB SCART output from a games console to the SCART socket on a TV - where the games console uses the VGA style socket for outputting SCART signals. It's no use whatsoever for anything to do with VGA.

03-03-2014, 17:27	#20
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	I used to use a VGA to Composite converter box. Awful sub-VCR results though.

04-03-2014, 04:58	#21
kate36 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 7,577	thanks all, i will post exact details of make and model asap

DS Forums

netbook with vga slot to hdtv connection?

04-03-2014, 11:12	#22
oilman Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,854	Here is a USB to HDMI adaptor - £24. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1080P-USB-...-/251048108087

04-03-2014, 12:48	#23
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by oilman Here is a USB to HDMI adaptor - £24. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1080P-USB-...-/251048108087 It's not an 'adaptor', it's just a USB video card - unlikely to be of any use unless you can source and install suitable drivers on the netbook.

04-03-2014, 15:03	#24
oilman Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,854	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin It's not an 'adaptor', it's just a USB video card - unlikely to be of any use unless you can source and install suitable drivers on the netbook. Text from website below says it has the drivers except for Windows 8.1? So as far as I can see, this would work, unless they are lying? Opinion? ------------------------------------------------ - Compatible with Window XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Window 8.0(only), Apple Mac OS* X operating systems, Snow Leopard 10.6.8, Lion 10.7.2, and 10.8.0. CAN NOT Support Windows 8.1 , because factory has no 8.1 driver at the moment ! Applications: - Multi-task more effectively without overlapping windows. - Compare two documents simultaneously across two screens. - View/display financial charts/data on multi screens at the same time for financial analysis. - Edit/type on one screens while surfing the Internet information or viewing referene material on the other. - Multi-screen presentations/exhibitions in bussiness conference or trade show. - Working on one monitor while displaying movies for your family on the other. - View videos on one screen and review on the other. - Get additional perspectives for game playing. How to USE? 1. Install the correct driver for your computer's system,the driver is in the Mini CD. 2. Plug the item into computer's USB and 3.5mm audio port directly, use a HDMI cable to connect it to the TV. 3. Restart the computer,then set the output in screen resolution. All done.

04-03-2014, 15:51	#25
grahamlthompson Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redditch Worcs Posts: 17,293	Quote: Originally Posted by oilman Text from website below says it has the drivers except for Windows 8.1? So as far as I can see, this would work, unless they are lying? Opinion? ------------------------------------------------ - Compatible with Window XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Window 8.0(only), Apple Mac OS* X operating systems, Snow Leopard 10.6.8, Lion 10.7.2, and 10.8.0. CAN NOT Support Windows 8.1 , because factory has no 8.1 driver at the moment ! Applications: - Multi-task more effectively without overlapping windows. - Compare two documents simultaneously across two screens. - View/display financial charts/data on multi screens at the same time for financial analysis. - Edit/type on one screens while surfing the Internet information or viewing referene material on the other. - Multi-screen presentations/exhibitions in bussiness conference or trade show. - Working on one monitor while displaying movies for your family on the other. - View videos on one screen and review on the other. - Get additional perspectives for game playing. How to USE? 1. Install the correct driver for your computer's system,the driver is in the Mini CD. 2. Plug the item into computer's USB and 3.5mm audio port directly, use a HDMI cable to connect it to the TV. 3. Restart the computer,then set the output in screen resolution. All done. Can't see any reason other than the computer not having enough processing power to handle HD content why it would not. Doubt it would work very well on my Atom processor Win 7 starter netbook for example.