look at the Asus transformer line, they have a dock with keyboard and USB as well as hdmi ports. I have the Tf300t but there's other models. They have a tegra quad core processor which can handle quite a bit. I would think you can put the contents of that DVD onto a thumb flash drive to access your data instead of using an external DVD drive, plus you can put a lot on those USB flash drives. Also tablets have memory card slots mine has a mini on the tablet and a full size SD card slot on the dock, another option for accessing your data.

you might want to check out this type of projector, there's several models for Android now.

Here is a link that might be useful: projector

Raven, would your "rip to thumbdrive" suggestion be feasible to use with commercial DVDs (like movies) that have copy protection?

I have no idea actually never had to try it.
I was more suggesting in terms of a presentation for a group, which was my guess as to reason for the question, if it is for commercial DVD then they will have to check that out.

thanks raven, I did look at the Asus and its a definite maybe. Does not score highly for durability but sounds interesting otherwise especially with the docking.
This query came about because last week i took my laptop and projector to someone's house and helped give a presentation of a movie that someone else had on a dvd; so it was kind of an instant presentation. But now the laptop sound seems to have packed up - was it because I plugged in speakers meant for an apple? Doubt it...
Normally I use the computer/projector setup to play dvds from Netflix (or it could be Redbox or whatever). So I have the same question about ripping w. the copy protection. Plus its kind of work when you just want to take a movie out of its sleeve and throw it on!

DVDs from the rental services have copy protection and can't be ripped without crossing a legal line. You can buy ripping software in the $25-$50 price range that defeats protection, but the use of which is questionable and theoretically limited to making "backup" copies of disks you own and not those you rent. Some prior copy protection beating software providers have been shut down in prior years by legal action. Personally, I'd stay away from it.

It's cheaper to buy an external DVD drive. As to your now not working sound, try playing with the Control Panel and keyboard volume controls, it sounds like sometime could have been unknowingly been turned off. Unless the plugin socket broke, the PC mostly doesn't know or care what's plugged in to it.

thanks snidely. I think we've had problems with onboard sound on a Dell packing up before. I did try everything around sound control, checking system profiles, drivers & codecs etc.
External drives OK. I saw my challenge as finding a unit that is small enough to function like a notebook/tablet but having full range of I/O connectors.
And preferably not Windows 8! But are android systems robust enough? Looks doubtful...

Personally, I'd stick with a PC because that's familiar to you. Tablets are not a full substitute for a PC. Have you looked at netbooks? They're very small and quite useful

Don't give up on the one you have. If you're stumped with getting the sound to work, try doing a Restore. If that doesn't work, I'd backup any important files and then do a Recovery (to wipe the hard drive clean and re-install Windows). If neither of the two fixes restore sound function, I'd call it a hardware problem and get a new unit.

have you tried installing something like VLC player to see if you have the same sound problems? Strange but sometimes another player works when the other one does not. I personally use VLC on all of my systems.