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What kind of electronic thing to watch movies on do I want?

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Havent had a TV for years - not since TV went digital. Don't miss it! Just watch movies & tv series via internet and/or dvds from the library.

Dont want a so-called "smart" tv with internet in it - just want something with great picture and sound quality to plug into my computer and a long 10 or 12 foot cable so I can have it in the living room. 32 inch is plenty big - my space is not large.

These days, is any TV going to be able to do this, plug into computer? I have NO idea what's out there, none whatsoever!

Will not have cable. Might be nice to be able to watch occasional TV broadcast via the airwaves... but not necessary.

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Comments (6)

mike_kaiser_gw
7 years ago
Unfortunately your options for a "great" picture and sound is going to be somewhat limited in that size of television because consumers generally want bigger TV's and manufacturers put their efforts into those. Your best bet is to visit your local stores and see what's available. Generally speaking the better quality televisions come with "smart" features but, obviously, you don't need to use them.

As for connecting the TV to your computer, all modern televisions are going to come with some number of HDMI ports and a COAX connection. After that there may or may not be other connections (component, composite, etc.). Does your laptop have an HDMI port? If not, you're going to have to find a TV that has the port you need.

As for watching over-the-air television, all you need is an antenna. The number of stations you can receive is going to be a function of your proximity to the local broadcast towers and the kind of antenna you have.
Elmer J Fudd
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Connecting a PC to a TV or monitor is easy enough. If both the TV and the PC have an HDMI socket, it's done with just a cable, but it can also be done with easily found and inexpensive adapters and cables (as with USB to HDMI, for example) to find connectors on both ends, which may be different, that the PC and the TV each can use.
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Dan Johnson
7 years ago
I learned the hard way that if you buy a cheap off brand TV you
probably will regret it: slow processor, inferior parts, poor design, software
glitches etc.
toxcrusadr
7 years ago
Also you tend to get fewer options for connections on the back of the thing.

You may also see a VGA jack on both TV and laptop, same kind that is used to connect a laptop to a projector for doing slide shows and seminars. That's video only but there is usually a headphone jack on a PC which can be used to transfer the audio. HDMI is the simplest if you have it though.
Debbie Downer
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you all for helping me adjust to the 21st century! Looks like I do have 1 HDMI port - yay!

Do yall have favorite brands/models? I could see going up to 40 inch but probably not much bigger since the room is not large only 10 x12. Some Sonys looked good but I am prejudiced against the brand, from experience with a few unusually short lived clock radios and such. Thnx again - much appreciated.
cacocobird
7 years ago
After a lot of looking, I decided to get a Samsung TV and a Samsung DVD player. Decided not to get a smart TV. May get a Roku later on.

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