Laptop as video display?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux.portable,comp.sys.mac.portables (More info?)

On 1/4/05 5:51 AM, in article
0001HW.BDFF60DC000CADECF02845B0@news.individual.net, "DaveC"
<me@privacy.net> wrote:

> I know you can add a video-in card (PCMCIA) to most laptops. But are any
> laptop models available (past or present models) that have video inputs and
> software that will display a video signal from an external source (such as
> VCR, etc.)? Either composite video or S-Video connector would be fine.
>
> Thanks,


No.

Ej

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux.portable,comp.sys.mac.portables (More info?)

> But are any
> laptop models available (past or present models) that have video inputs
> and
> software that will display a video signal from an external source (such as
> VCR, etc.)?

Ok, I'm a complete newbie to Linux, but have been doing this for decades on
Windoze, so this seems pretty easy to me. If you can get video from a
source that uses Firewire ieee 1394 (also called iLink), just use a notebook
that has a Firewire connection. My Sony Vaio PCG-FXA32 notebook does (as do
all Sony Vaios as far back as I can recall). As far as I know, my notebook
should work with Mandrake and from what I've read, the 1394 should function
as well (I found a couple sites that explain how to install Linux on the
Vaios and I'll be able to try this myself in less than a week). I also
picked up a Sony Digital8 video camera for cheap (< $300) that has Firewire
out. I've been using the two without problems under Windoze for over a year
now.

If you have to go with composite or S video, then you'll have to find a
video capture card that is supported by your flavor of Linux. I'm no help
here, I'm afraid. If you find nothing, you can try re-recording your video
to a deck that supports 1394 output... this would be a pain to do more than
once, but is possible.

As for software, I'm afraid I'm no help here either, but it shouldn't be too
hard to find a video capture app for Linux.

I'm not sure I've been much help, good luck!

Paul

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux.portable,comp.sys.mac.portables (More info?)

DaveC <me@privacy.net> writes:

> I know you can add a video-in card (PCMCIA) to most laptops. But are any
> laptop models available (past or present models) that have video inputs and
> software that will display a video signal from an external source (such as
> VCR, etc.)? Either composite video or S-Video connector would be fine.

My Thinkpad A31p has s-video in and out.

http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/ [...] MIGR-41638

It's not a current model. Mine is a year or so old, and that was just
about when it went off the pricelist.

tim

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux.portable,comp.sys.mac.portables (More info?)

DaveC <me@privacy.net> writes:

> So you can view video on-screen from an external video source, such as VCR,
> or such? What software so you use?

Yes, though only with the bundled windows software. I don't know the
name offhand, and I haven't booted windows in months. Maybe MGI
something or other? I transferred a video from an analog camcorder to
an mpeg file. And it was visible on screen while it was captured to
disk. I don't recall if it would display video without capturing it.

tim