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TV Help!!

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  1. TheAlbatross TheAlbatross is offline

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 10:34pm)

    Couple of questions:


    Do any of you guys know the best way to watch movies from an external hard drive on your TV?


    ALso I'm in the market for a ~40" tv, but I'd like to spend <$400. Good reviews for the more "economical brands are kinda hard to come by on intewebs so I appeal to the collective knowledge of OT.

    Any thoughts on this Haier TV or this Toshiba one?

    And also do either of these have the capacity to play movies from my external hard drive?

    So many questions, but much thanks
  2. Glo4m Glo4m is offline Confess to me

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 10:37pm) in reply to TheAlbatross

    Google Playon if you want to be able to stream movies from your devices to your TV.
  3. Hodge05 Hodge05 is offline

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 10:39pm) in reply to Glo4m

    Boxee
  4. wantagolf wantagolf is online now Moderator

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 10:40pm) in reply to Hodge05

    If you watch sports, you will want a 120HZ TV, instead of a 60 HZ. you also want to look for a 5 MS response time or less.

    To watch movies from a hard drive, you need to run it on a laptop and use an HDMI cable to your TV.

    I would go up a few bucks and get a better TV.
     
  5. TheAlbatross TheAlbatross is offline

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 10:49pm) in reply to Glo4m

     
    Originally Posted by Glo4m View Post

    Google Playon if you want to be able to stream movies from your devices to your TV.


    Thanks! Only thing is I'd rather not stream bc I don't think picture quality is all that great or at least that has been my experience with Netflix streaming. Obv the questionable quality of my internet connection plays a role in that.
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  6. ccm ccm is offline

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 10:51pm) in reply to TheAlbatross

    Get a desktop computer (or xbox), and connect to TV via HDMI cable. One cable, everything connected. Then just connect your external HD to the computer, and you're good to go!
  7. TheAlbatross TheAlbatross is offline

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 10:54pm) in reply to wantagolf

     
    Originally Posted by wantagolf View Post

    If you watch sports, you will want a 120HZ TV, instead of a 60 HZ. you also want to look for a 5 MS response time or less.

    To watch movies from a hard drive, you need to run it on a laptop and use an HDMI cable to your TV.

    I would go up a few bucks and get a better TV.

    Yeah, I can't reasonably expect something amazing given the price range I want to stay in. I'd be primarily using the tv to watch sports and movies so I'll definitely take that into account

    My laptop doesn't have an HDMI port. I assume that's a problem for the method you're describing? It has s-video, video connector, and usb lol
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  8. Glo4m Glo4m is offline Confess to me

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 10:56pm) in reply to TheAlbatross

    fuck hard wired connections man just stream them over your network. Lifetime Playon subscription will run you ~ $50 and includes a license to install it on as many devices as you want.
  9. wantagolf wantagolf is online now Moderator

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 10:57pm) in reply to Glo4m

    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JK01GO?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

    This TV would be much better and not that much more.
     
  10. MonkeyCowboy MonkeyCowboy is offline

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 10:59pm) in reply to wantagolf

    Do you have an xbox?

    Stream from any network attached computer running WMP 11.0 to the xbox.

    Or buy a smart TV and stream directly to the TV from any networked PC.

    Ask away I have been doing this to all 5 of my TVs and have a library of 1000's of movies.
  11. TheAlbatross TheAlbatross is offline

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 11:02pm) in reply to MonkeyCowboy

     
    Originally Posted by Glo4m View Post

    fuck hard wired connections man just stream them over your network. Lifetime Playon subscription will run you ~ $50 and includes a license to install it on as many devices as you want.



    Yeah? I was predisposed against that route bc the internet options in my building aren't that great bc, despite modernized and what not, the building is still really old. I'm paying more than I ever have for internet and it's just not that great.

    I'll definitely read up on it more though, thx!


    Apologies to everyone for my severe incompetence

     
    Originally Posted by MonkeyCowboy View Post

    Do you have an xbox?

    Stream from any network attached computer running WMP 11.0 to the xbox.

    Or buy a smart TV and stream directly to the TV from any networked PC.

    Ask away I have been doing this to all 5 of my TVs and have a library of 1000's of movies.

    No xbox, ps3, wii, etc unfortunately
    Edited By: TheAlbatross Feb 27th, 2012 at 11:00 PM
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  12. MonkeyCowboy MonkeyCowboy is offline

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 11:04pm) in reply to TheAlbatross

    You don't need internet just an Intranet and a wireless router

    No gane counsel, make sure you gat a smart TV
  13. TheAlbatross TheAlbatross is offline

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 11:09pm) in reply to wantagolf

     
    Originally Posted by wantagolf View Post

    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JK01GO?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

    This TV would be much better and not that much more.


    Cool, thank you!
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  14. wantagolf wantagolf is online now Moderator

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 11:09pm) in reply to TheAlbatross

    Looks like his price range is under 500, so doubt he can get a 40 inch smart tv and dongle to stream wireless from a intranet.
     
  15. TheAlbatross TheAlbatross is offline

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 11:13pm) in reply to wantagolf

    Yeah, definitely $500, preferably under $400 :(
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  16. gillabong gillabong is offline

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 11:23pm) in reply to TheAlbatross

    Do you have HD or SD movies? Pretty sure even the newest TVs dont have codecs for .mkv, .mp4, or other HD rip formats. Just get a Patriot or WD Live Box.

     
    Originally Posted by ccm View Post

    Get a desktop computer (or xbox), and connect to TV via HDMI cable. One cable, everything connected. Then just connect your external HD to the computer, and you're good to go!

    This is optimal.

     
    Originally Posted by wantagolf View Post

    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JK01GO?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

    This TV would be much better and not that much more.

    Would stay away, 3.5/5 with 500+ reviews is about as pitts as it gets.
    Edited By: gillabong Feb 27th, 2012 at 11:28 PM
  17. deadeyehank deadeyehank is offline

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    Feb 27th, 2012 (2/27/2012 11:43pm) in reply to gillabong

    just get one with a USB port.

    I got a samsung LED that is awesome. I payed more than $400 for it definatelly, but that was a year r two ago so you never know...

    But any with a usb port will work with HDD
  18. Sangwich Sangwich is offline

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    Feb 28th, 2012 (2/28/2012 2:08am) in reply to deadeyehank

    If you want a 40" tv for <$400, buy a used one on CL. Anything brand new for that price is probably going to be garbage. Make sure it has a VGA port before you purchase and use that to hook up your laptop/desktop to it to play movies.
  19. Glo4m Glo4m is offline Confess to me

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    Feb 28th, 2012 (2/28/2012 7:32pm) in reply to wantagolf

     
    Originally Posted by wantagolf View Post

    Looks like his price range is under 500, so doubt he can get a 40 inch smart tv and dongle to stream wireless from a intranet.

    I'll give him the dongle for free tho iykwim
  20. coolhandkev coolhandkev is offline

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    Feb 28th, 2012 (2/28/2012 7:40pm) in reply to Glo4m

    This is what I use to play stuff from my external hard drive. As far as convenience (it comes with a remote) and organization abilities (organize your stuff how you want on the hard drive for easy access) and not having to rely on any connection (not that this is a huge issue but when your wireless is sketchy it's irrelevant) it's amazing. Definitely something I recommend to people as it's not that expensive:

  21. MonkeyCowboy MonkeyCowboy is offline

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    Feb 28th, 2012 (2/28/2012 8:05pm) in reply to coolhandkev

    It's a little small but it fits the bill:

    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._LCD_HDTV.html

    AllShare DLNA Networking
    Edited By: MonkeyCowboy Feb 28th, 2012 at 08:06 PM
  22. Glo4m Glo4m is offline Confess to me

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    Feb 28th, 2012 (2/28/2012 8:06pm) in reply to MonkeyCowboy

     
    Originally Posted by MonkeyCowboy View Post

    It's a little small but it fits the bill:

    twss
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