Dear All:

I am something of a neophyte when it comes to anything more complex than standalone TVs-DVDs, PCs etc.

However I am looking for your (expert, from what I have seen browsing the boards here!) opinions and guidence on what my options are for the following:

I would like to find a way of connecting my PC (a laptop) & a large capacity external hard disk with either my TV and/or DVD player.

Basically, I would like to be able to play various .avi & .divx files on the TV (with surround sound) rather than on the smal laptop screen. If I could also browse the internet on the TV, this would be an added bonus (I'm assuming I could get a wireless keyboard and mouse on the coffee table to do this?).

So, basically, I have no idea how to achieve the above, nor, what I need to buy in order to do so... I am hoping you do, though!

Thanks in advance for your help!

DPG31

First off - what TV do you have and what connections are available?

And what Laptop do you have - this is so we can see what connections are available (DVI/S-Video/VGA) and what audio connections you have(Optical/Coax or analogue only).

Simplest option is to have:

1. Plasma/LCD TV with HDMI or DVI input.
2. Laptop or PC/Mac with either HDMI or DVI output and
blutooth connectivity.
3. Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.

The DVI and HDMI signals are essentially the same and one can be converted to the other with readily available cables.

VGA (the external monitor connection) output from the computer can also be used but the quality will not be as good as HDMI/DVI especially for video/DVD. If you use VGA you will also need to run an audio cable from the computer to the TV.

You can also use an "S" video connection if both the laptop and TV have them. Again the quality is not as good and an audio cable is also required.

The external HDD can then be conected to your computer and the files played by whatever program you have to view them.

If you use the laptop for video playing then it would be best to keep the power connected as the battery won't last long.

you need a NAS external hard drive so you can access files without the computer being on

Actually, that wouldn't be sufficient on it's own. There are various ways to get programmes recorded on an hard drive to play directly to a TV, but I suppose the easiest one that comes to mind is a digital multimedia player.

These can connect to your TV (and HiFi if required) independantly using a number of different interconnects, and Network and/or USB/eSATA connections to a computer to load new material at a later date. Some even sport Internet Radios and other goodies.

http://www.netgear.co.uk/digital_med...er_eva8000.php

something like that

I should point out that these mediacentres are not as flexible as PCs or Laptops, as none of them support the full range of codecs required for playback. A computer is still the most flexible option, and is what the OP is hoping to achieve, as I understand it.

I would have thought you need N range of routers for HD ?

Networking isn't part of the OPs scenario.

"N" only refers to wireless, if it was required. But a bog standard wired Ethernet router/switch would do fine. Or, in the case of a single computer, an ADSL or Cable modem to connect to an ISP for Internet access.