Use a Laptop as a Cheap & Silent Media Center or Extender
Posted by: Barry Cleave in Hints & Tips, tags: Freeware, Hints & Tips, Media Center, Programs, Software, Utilities, Vista, Windows, Windows XPWhat’s This All About?
Laptops are getting every cheaper, a good quality refurbished or secondhand laptop can be purchased over the Internet from eBay or other reliable websites for very reasonable prices. Loaded with Windows Media Center or Vista they provide an ideal platform having all the basic essentials for your “media playback over TV” needs.
In writing this post I checked on eBay and found that a Laptop with HDMI output can be bought for $500 US or £400 (why do we always pay more in the UK than the same product in the USA?). The fact is you don’t need HDMI and a suitable laptop with a Video, S-Video output will do. If you have a TV that will accept VGA or DVI input even better. A quick search shows suitable secondhand laptops with Video/VGA output connectors are available on eBay today for less than £200 or $250 US.
In the picture above the Laptop is sitting just below the top shelf on top of the Hard Drive recorder box, this setup in my lounge includes Logitech surround sound with remote control and a wireless keyboard with touchpad. The laptop connects to my home network and provides access to videos, music and pictures as well as Internet access. It is all connected to a 42” Panasonic Plasma screen.
Why Would You Want It?
Dedicated Media Center PC’s are still expensive. OK they come with lots of inputs and output connections, they include twin TV tuners and will have a reasonably sized hard drive. They will come complete with a remote and probably a wireless keyboard but most of these can be added to your cheap laptop system for not very much extra with a bit of careful Internet shopping. This post will explain why a cheap laptop is a real alternative.
What Do You Need?
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October 13th, 2008 at 8:55 pm - Edit
it is getting easier by the day to look for refurbished or second hand laptops…google is also a good source of getting such cheap ones ranging from $239
December 29th, 2008 at 1:50 pm - Edit
I dont know why i have never considered a laptop as a media center before! You are absolutly right that they are so cheap right now that its a no brainer
The only thing to consider is that some cheaper brands can get quite noisy compared to more expensive options
January 19th, 2009 at 11:02 pm - Edit
I really like the idea, my only concern is that many laptops and their ac adaptors can overheat when continuously running processor intensive applications such as playing mp3’s dvd’s. They seem to be mainly designed for internet browsing and office applications, it would be like buying a small car and driving it at maximum revs everywhere. A desktop would be a better bet due to their more efficient fans and heat-sinks and overrated power supplies. Please don’t flame, it’s just my thoughts from experience repairing laptops and pc’s.
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April 11th, 2009 at 3:51 pm - Edit
Nice read. I don’t think its to do with price.
April 12th, 2009 at 5:24 am - Edit
very nice post, very helpfull
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April 27th, 2009 at 4:12 pm - Edit
Aw Shucks !
Why didnt I think of that…its that simple a job and even if you get a used or refurbished one for the situation would still do wonders !
May 7th, 2009 at 5:28 pm - Edit
nice post
in my country, laptops is luxury due to decreasing value of local currency. so, we pause to buy a laptop now
May 10th, 2009 at 11:10 pm - Edit
I like this post. Looking forward for the next post. Thanks for sharing
May 18th, 2009 at 9:20 am - Edit
Excellent info about laptop..thanks for sharing..
May 20th, 2009 at 2:20 pm - Edit
Used laptops can can be used as media center with right addons but it has its own limitation a nd fixing a spoiled laptop can be costly affair
May 26th, 2009 at 7:01 pm - Edit
I’ve used my laptop as a media center for a while. I’ll never go back to anything else!
May 29th, 2009 at 5:53 am - Edit
Laptops or computers refurbished one surely save a lot of money and resources.
June 1st, 2009 at 9:35 am - Edit
The Problem is, various a new brand laps on international market make us more have choose and more confused to choise what is the best one and more cheap than other brand but have a good quality and feature.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:48 am - Edit
Ok. you have to compare the price of the Laptop with the quality, then you could say if it cheap or not
June 27th, 2009 at 10:27 am - Edit
Nice article and it was interesting to read it. Now a most of the people are using laptops and it is mainly used for the internet browsing and office applications.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:33 pm - Edit
I never think before if laptop can be cheap like that. Thanks for sharing..
July 28th, 2009 at 1:09 pm - Edit
I was reading and I can say that it will be cheaper to purchase ATOM based or the new nVida ION platform and build Your media center on it. The refurbished laptops can be a pain in the ass because of the dust that enters the laptop case and start building up on the heat sinks, and the atom platform is fan less.
You can find some interesting articles here
July 30th, 2009 at 5:04 pm - Edit
My Old Laps is being older and need to changes for something superspeed laps. Nice article for it, and its ill come my reffer to get a new laps.
Thanksfull For this Amazing Article
Love Full
August 23rd, 2009 at 2:34 pm - Edit
Wow! thats great i cant believe it. It is done so simply.Thats a great post. Regards
August 23rd, 2009 at 2:39 pm - Edit
I dont know why i have never considered a laptop as a media center before! You are absolutly right that they are so cheap right now that its a no brainer
August 27th, 2009 at 2:16 pm - Edit
Genius idea to make old laptop more priceless
September 10th, 2009 at 5:59 pm - Edit
great post and thanks for info
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September 16th, 2009 at 7:15 pm - Edit
I agree with you, why do we have to pay more.. thx 4 the great post
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm - Edit
nice comment, thanks very much.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:17 am - Edit
wow. great article. thanks for sharing this review
October 15th, 2009 at 4:03 am - Edit
I like it and want one belong to me.
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November 4th, 2009 at 1:13 pm - Edit
It’s great to know that we can have a media center in such an affordable way. Thanks for the information.
November 6th, 2009 at 1:45 am - Edit
I like reading about ways to get more out of my laptop. Thanks for the write up!
November 9th, 2009 at 5:35 am - Edit
Since this article was originally posted the price of laptops has come down significantly and laptops under 300 dollars are readily available that have the features need for this application.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:24 am - Edit
HI
Thanks for the post.
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November 9th, 2009 at 12:16 pm - Edit
It’s great to know that we can have a media center in such an affordable way. i like your idea, nice post bro…
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November 9th, 2009 at 5:56 pm - Edit
Wonderful post..I very like this post
November 11th, 2009 at 4:48 pm - Edit
There are many alternatives for media center these days, and the one explained in this post is a good one.
November 17th, 2009 at 7:56 pm - Edit
A desktop would be a better bet due to their more efficient fans and heat-sinks and overrated power supplies. Please don’t flame, it’s just my thoughts from experience repairing laptops and pc’s.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:37 pm - Edit
I use a simular setup with my dell laptop, connected to a 37″ hdtv.
November 24th, 2009 at 4:51 pm - Edit
It is amazing what deals you can pick up on ebay regarding computers. For older laptops that need parts it can be cheaper to get it off ebay than buy new.
December 21st, 2009 at 1:38 pm - Edit
Yes we can use laptop as an alternative but I still dream to have Dedicated Media Center PC. I hope I can buy it someday.
December 27th, 2009 at 2:46 pm - Edit
nice info..great post
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December 27th, 2009 at 8:35 pm - Edit
Very thanks and great article…
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January 1st, 2010 at 11:59 am - Edit
This is a great write up, I have implemented this with a cheap laptop I bought from ebay and it works great. On top of that I have installed some great tv to pc software from http://watchlivetv-online.com which now means I have over 3000 satellite channels for free!
January 7th, 2010 at 11:08 am - Edit
[...] but this thread has some pointers: Use Laptop as Media Extender? – AVS Forum Streaming Live TV Use a Laptop as a Cheap & Silent Media Center or Extender | Pro Reviewer (My Free Review) some google search results that look promising using my laptop as a media extender – Google Search [...]
January 19th, 2010 at 6:40 pm - Edit
do most laptops have a tv tuner built in?
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:08 pm - Edit
nice post.i will read al information in this article right now
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