Connecting to tv?

I have an inspiron 6000 laptop using Vista. I have a Panasonic HDTV which has hdmi, component, composite, usb, optical audio slots. I would like to link my Inspiron to the hdtv. I can do it with my old macbook using cables. But I'm not sure about the Inspiron. The inspiron has one of those video out connections which I don't have a cable for, and also an S-video port. Will the S-video support video and sound? Trouble is there is no s-video input on the tv. Can someone help me. I do have a component -> s-video adapter. If I purchase a component cable, will that work?

 

s-video does not carry sound. I presume the video out your talking about is the yellow composite type port?

You could buy a composite video cable and connect that to the component and get a 3.5mm stereo jack to twin RCA Audio cable. That would give you your yellow red and white component leads.

OR do as i do

Use a VGA cable from an LCD monitor, connect that to the VGA out on the laptop and the VGA in on the TV (the TV should have it as most will) and buy a 3.5mm stereo patch lead to plug in the headphones on the laptop and the PC in on the TV?

 

Oh yeah, I didn't see the vga input on the tv ... and it's big enough to see. I don't have one of those vga cables. The ones I have are a different type (maybe meant for a desktop as they don't fit this one). Ok so that would solve the video end of things. Then I just need the sound composites with a 3.5mm connection for my headphones (Which I have!!!). Thank you so much Void, I'm off shopping for a vga cable. I hope they sell them still. I'll take a quick look on eBay. :wave

 

No problem and yeah you will easily find one :major

 

Oops... I just remembered ... my 3.5mm headphone input does not work. I think I posted something earlier in the year about it. The sound board is not compatible for some reason and that's why. I think it was a fault with the Inspirons. So there is no other way then to get sound if that's the case. Groan. The sound come through the computer but not through the 3.5 input. Oh well as long as I don't want to play dvd I guess I can live with it ... double groan!

 

ok well in that case buy a USB sound card... i got one for £10...

We went to a weekend festival in a caravan and i took my laptop with sorround sound system to belt out the tunes and needed the 6.1 output... worked a treat lol

[EDIT] Amazon have loads of mini sound card/dongle type things that would be ideal for you for a few bucks

 

Double check that it is vga on the back of your TV. There is only one type of VGA as far as I know. DVI cables/connectors can be different in that some are DVI-D and some DVI-I.

 

I've decided not to use the vga route. Instead I've ordered a s-video/3.5 mm audio --> composite. That way I'll use the same cables for both my Mac and my Inspiron. I've also (Void's recommendation) one of those usb dongles for the sound input. Hopefully that will solve it. Thanks Void and Sach2 for your suggestions.

 

Cool, glad you got it sorted and a way that suits you best.

No problem at all and thanks for reporting back too