play vids from laptop to tv

When I'm travelling I would like to play movies from a new mini laptop (acer one), to a TV in a hotel.
Laptop has VGA and audio out, TVs could vary, but recent one had S video.
Is there a cable out there to do this?
Or does it require a converter box etc.?

Also, during recent trip in US, I tried to source such, and was amazed at the difficulty of finding a PC/computer store! Is there no such multi-national store similar to PC World in UK? If not, I'm amazed. I did track down places like Staples & Office Depot who sell PCs and some common accessories, but they were all seriously lacking!!

 

PC to TV adapters can be purchased from a host of online dealers. If you have s-video cable you only will transmit the video to the TV. You would need external speakers for the laptop, or use headphones.

 

Thanks, that looks good, and great value - compared to what Radioshack were going to sell me for $99!!
Shame I can't tell whether it is 5 or 7 pin S video, apparently there is both.

 

Thanks Royalgeek1, I realise that I need to use VGA and audio jack from PC, into converter/adaptor box as suggested by plodr, and then s-video to TV, would this cater for the sound or not?

 

No the sound is handled separately. I have used in the past the same cable I use for playing from my iPod to a stereo. It has one headphone jack that leads to two rca jacks for the input. If the TV has such inputs this cable could transmit the sound for you to the TV from the headphone output on the laptop.

 

As far as computer stores: join the club! Best Buy is the premier outlet in my area, but it has to share resources and space with the television, console, music, and appliance markets, so the dedicated computer sections are pretty limited...I've heard that Fry's is top-shelf, but I think they're west coast oriented...more than likely, there are region-specific chains - you'll just have to do a little more research as to where these stores are when you're visiting the US-of-A...

I'd guess that most 'geeks' do their serious computer shopping online: Newegg, Multiwave, etc...and, of course, the OEM manufacturers...

 

Thanks Caliban
I have checked zip code on their site and there are two stores within 5 miles of where I was.
I had done many on-line searches for pc / computer store / shop, using all words necessary and Best Buy never appeared, not very good on their part!!