• Stream from PC

     Jul 22nd, 2009  howitzer0811

    Paul,

    I currently have a 42″ Sharp Aquos with a basic set up, including Comcast HD box, regular multisystem dvd player and a Sharp Blu-Ray player. It’s o.k. for now but I’m looking to get into the Netflix streaming and I want to be able to connect my computer to the TV… I actually have the Windows Media Center on the computer (came with the original windows XP) … I don’t know if that will help but I’d like to watch home videos too streaming from the computer. I hate wasting DVD discs to be able to watch them.

    Any advice would be appreciated…


    4 responses to “Stream from PC”

    • This should be an easy task as long as your equipment meets the following requirements:
      TV supports PC resolutions (which I’m sure it does)
      TV has an RGB, DVI or HDMI inputs, with additional analog audio inputs (your regular red & white jacks)
      You can use a DVI, DVI to HDMI, or RGB cables to connect the video side of the PC, but to get the audio going you will most likely need a 1/8″ stereo to RCA cable. That is it (if your PC is in the same room as the TV of course) to get the A/V going to the TV set.
      As far as Netflix goes, I have only tested the plugin for VMC (Vista Media Center). It works well, considering that the streaming hasn’t been perfected yet. Here’s the link: http://myweb.cableone.net/eluttmann04/projects/vmcNetFlix/default.htm
      The instructions for installation are well laid out, so you shouldn’t have any problems. As far as stability of the software, you’ll have to figure it out yourself. Note that until Windows7 gets released we will continue our struggle to make our PC’s work like they should.
      By the way, have you heard about Crackle from Sony? They already have over 200 HD quality movies you can stream for free. Check them out http://www.crackle.com.

    • Thanks for the prompt response…. I’ll have to upgrade a few things on my PC to make that happen..

    • Is it a laptop or desktop pc? If laptop I think its just too much hustle. Looks like you already have bluray player and you probably don’t want to spend money on new one, but there is couple of new players that have netflix already build in, on netflix web site you can find all of them. http://www.netflix.com/NetflixReadyDevicesList?lnkce=nrd-l&trkid=425738&lnkctr=nrd-l-m
      Some even have Pandora which is free Internet radio.
      I personally recommend xbox. I know its a Microsoft and you might not be interested in games, but they did a nice update, and you can easely connect to your media pc and play music, videos, pictures on to your lcd, and of course has netflix “play instantly” option with a remote not wireless key boards and mouse.

    • Do you have an XBOX360 yet? If yes, you can do some awesome streaming off of your media center pc and a couple of streaming programs. Let me know if you do and I will post the software names. Thanks


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