vga to tv converter?

[richarddd]

I'd like to use my Thinkpad X31 notebook to play xvid movies on a TV. The x31 does not have a video out, but does have a vga port. Any recommendations on a converter to connect the vga to an input on the TV? Will the quality be acceptable (comparable to quality on a stand-alone mpeg-4 player)? Alternatively, are the any pc-cards that will connect to a TV?

[Soulhunter]

Build it ya self for less than 10 Euros !!!

Have a look here (http://www.hut.fi/Misc/Electronics/circuits/vga2tv/cindex.html) and here... (http://www.idiots.org.uk/vga_rgb_scart/) ;)


Bye

[neo75903]

Or you can buy a Trust Televiewer.
www.trust.com

[richarddd]

The build it yourself option seems to be too much work.

Another buy it option is http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=15-118-104&depa=0

$47 US delivered. The Trust product is PAL and doesn't list US dealers.

Will the quality be comparable to the quality on a DVD player or stand-alone mpeg-4 player?

[neo75903]

Unless the resolution is low enough. My experiences with tv outs are not so optimistic.

[richarddd]

Would 720x480 be low enough?

[neo75903]

My experience is as high as 1024*768 is 'acceptable'.
640*480 is the best but then it renders your workspace useless.

[richarddd]

720x480 is DVD resolution. Most xvids are 640x480 or less. The only thing the computer would be doing is playing the movie, so it shouldn't matter that the workspace is useless.

Am I missing something?

[neo75903]

idd, but a pc can scale up the resolution with minimum loss of quality.
I can perfectly watch a dvd on a resolution of 1600*1200. But conversion from that resolution back to a tv signal is horrible. But a conversion from 1024*768 to a tv signal has best results for me.
Any lower resolution is fine or even better if you solely use it to watch dvds.