OK, tech-types...

D

Don Bright

This may not be the right place for this, and feel free to move it Baron, if you like.

I am upgrading my home network and want to do some new things. Since I spend about 12 hours a day in the office, I haven't bothered with anything more than cable tv and a dsl at home.

What I want to do is have my (new) cable modem hooked to my big screen, so I can split the screen in two (it does that anyway), and have TV on one side, and the web on the other. That way I can trade after hours on redi, or simply answer emails and/or enjoy my (seemingly endless hours) time on "elite trader" from my comfortable chair. :-)

I know a bit about webtv, and I know MSN has a new unit with a cordelss keyboard and mouse (but I really don't need to buy into MSN I hope), and I can add another 1.5 gig server and a wireless or Cat5 LAN if need be.

I would like to add a webcam, so I can log into video conferencing and all that stuff. My brother is building a new house, and I am trying to be the "beta tester" for the home networking.

Does anyone have any good ideas? Does anyone have such a setup? Should I "get a life?"
I would appreciate some help. If you prefer to send email direct, send it to
don@stocktrading.com

(see, I can admit it when I don't know everything!!) :-)
 
the problem with web tv and the like is screen resolution.
A TV screen has poor resolution (even if it is big). If you split it, it gets even worse. But that's my opinion.

I have a suggestion :
why not take a small (and/or cheap, price being not proportional to size here :) ) laptop.
You want a keyboard anyway.
The laptop will have great resolution, you can surf the web, answer email and do videoconferencing with it.

Yes, the laptop should use wireless LAN. I use Linksys solution at home. it works great. You may have multiple wireless cards (one per device) so one laptop in your living room. You may move it around or have another laptop when you want to go outside or the bedroom (although my wife never likes that!).

just an idea. if you like it, I can give more details. if not.. it's cool too.

tntneo

PS : this thread should move to 'hardware' imo
 
Does that wireless network card work well? Is it external (usb) or internal? You're right...I will start this again on the hardwary board.
 
>Does that wireless network card work well?

I use the Linksys and find it an excellent choice. Affordable, simple to install and reliable.
Got mine at Frys Electronic. Don't know if they have those where you are Don, but Linksys is a pretty big name so it shouldn't be hard to find.

JB

PS: Diddo on the move to Hardware.
 
Tntneo is correct about TV screen resolution being poor compared to what you get on your computer monitor. However, I believe that only applies to analog sets. I don't own one, but I understand that the new digital (ie HDTV) sets have a much higher resolution. If your big screen is a digital set, it may work.

You would need a video card in your PC that has a TV-out port (or composite out or RGB out). Your TV would need a corresponding in-port (which I'd be shocked if it didn't have at least a composite in). I also remember seeing a TV in a store once that had a VGA port to plug the TV into a computer. I don't remember the brand, though.

Hope this helps.
 
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