Just a thread asking you to tell everybody what funky things you found to do with your laptop.
I have a Compaq Armada M700. Other than serving as an emergency computer when the PSU blew on my main rig, I made it into a media center one day...
The laptop has component video out and a headphones out. I really wanted to watch some video yet I didn't want to go to my main computer to do it, the TV was where I wanted it. I knew I could put video out to the TV (and I found some cables to do the trick) yet the sound off of the laptop is pretty bad. Once again, I went into the lovely cable box I have because I had a hunch... yep, I had a headphone jack to component plugs adaptor (I have no clue where I originally got that thing). So, with those pieces, I had sound and video to TV, and with a network cable as well as my laptop charger, I was all set. (edit : I also had a USB wireless mouse plugged in to give me a bit of control of the experience)
I had the laptop on a chair by the TV, all the cables set up (looked kinda freaky) and I tried to play video off of Winamp. The laptop is set up through the BIOS to mirror output the monitor to the TV when possible. That doesn't apparently apply to Winamp video. Yet, when I closed the laptop lid... bingo, the video went totally to TV. I had an awesome night! Not bad for an older laptop.
I have a Compaq Armada M700. Other than serving as an emergency computer when the PSU blew on my main rig, I made it into a media center one day...
The laptop has component video out and a headphones out. I really wanted to watch some video yet I didn't want to go to my main computer to do it, the TV was where I wanted it. I knew I could put video out to the TV (and I found some cables to do the trick) yet the sound off of the laptop is pretty bad. Once again, I went into the lovely cable box I have because I had a hunch... yep, I had a headphone jack to component plugs adaptor (I have no clue where I originally got that thing). So, with those pieces, I had sound and video to TV, and with a network cable as well as my laptop charger, I was all set. (edit : I also had a USB wireless mouse plugged in to give me a bit of control of the experience)
I had the laptop on a chair by the TV, all the cables set up (looked kinda freaky) and I tried to play video off of Winamp. The laptop is set up through the BIOS to mirror output the monitor to the TV when possible. That doesn't apparently apply to Winamp video. Yet, when I closed the laptop lid... bingo, the video went totally to TV. I had an awesome night! Not bad for an older laptop.