stream from PC to TV?

[sadsack]

I'm wondering if it's necessary to get a separate player to stream from internet to TV? If you connect a TV to your PC (as a monitor?), would this be significantly inferior to using, for example, a stream-enabled Blu-ray dvd player?

[MrBoylan]

I'm wondering if it's necessary to get a separate player to stream from internet to TV? If you connect a TV to your PC (as a monitor?), would this be significantly inferior to using, for example, a stream-enabled Blu-ray dvd player?

You can use your PC as a streaming source to your TV but results will vary in terms of audio and video quality, as well as convenience. If your TV has a VGA-style PC input, then you can use the VGA monitor output of your PC, but this is frequently capped out at 1024x768 or at best 1366x768 resolution. Audio would then be handled by plugging the PC's headphone out or line out into the TV's audio input associated with its PC input - the best you'll get out of this is stereo sound.

If your PC has a DVI-D (DVI digital) or HDMI output, then you may be able to use this connection to your TV to get better quality than analog VGA, but typically this will still require a separate audio connection either to the TV or directly into the stereo (again, most likely going to be analog stereo, not surround).

And then the issue of control comes up. How are you going to control playback of the streamed content from your couch? Does your PC have a Windows Media-style IR or RF remote? If not then you'll either need long cables so you can keep your PC near you or you'll need to get up and go to the PC to pause, stop, rewind or fast forward.

By embedding streaming technology into a traditional CE source component (Blu-ray player, DVR or dedicated streaming set-top box) or into the TV itself, you can usually improve the quality of playback by allowing the component to do any upconversion or video processing and to pass through any surround sound options (in Amazon or VUDU) through to your home theater system for surround sound. It also greatly improve the user experience and ergonomics by allowing you to control the action from a standard component remote or a universal remote.

-CB

[sadsack]

Thank you for your thoughtful, insightful post. It seems like technology is changing so quickly that I don't know if I should "invest" (I know, $120-200 is more like 100 cups of coffee than an investment) in a dvd player to do double-duty. And I don't know if I'll actually take advantage of streaming (I don't now) - maybe I would if I had a player to make it more convenient.

[MrBoylan]

Thank you for your thoughtful, insightful post. It seems like technology is changing so quickly that I don't know if I should "invest" (I know, $120-200 is more like 100 cups of coffee than an investment) in a dvd player to do double-duty. And I don't know if I'll actually take advantage of streaming (I don't now) - maybe I would if I had a player to make it more convenient.

I guess you don't go to Starbucks. Because if you do, $200 is more like 40 cups of coffee.

The good thing about today's Blu-ray players is that they are upgradeable without replacing the hardware. On the LG player, VUDU was added via a firmware download. On Samsung, Netflix was added via firmware and on the Panasonic players, Amazon Video-on-demand was added via firmware. Companies can now add functionality and features (and fixes) without the owner having to upgrade hardware or send it off for service.

There are limits however. The upcoming 3D functionality to be offered in 2010 will almost certainly require new players (and definitely new TVs), but the jury is out (way out) as to whether 3D will really be the "next big thing" particularly as it still requires glasses.

Prices are so low on Blu-ray players now that I'd buy one that has the features/services you like and enjoy that 1080p picture and next gen sound quality now. And any features or services that get added over time will be a bonus.

-CB