I am interested in entertainment on our boat. Searching for a TV that would flip down for viewing while in a bunk I got to thinking the price of a dual use laptop is not that much more. Anyone using their laptop as a DVD player?? Is there a way to use it to watch TV?? I don't miss TV on a weekend but watching a DVD or TV if/when we become live aboards would a plus on those rainy days. It would also be nice having a flip down over the bunk and those units are about $600 more or less and would be very convient. Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated. This has become more important as the grandkids may spend some time aboard this summer.
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Had same thought this winter
Have an older laptop that I sometimes use to catch up on. Thought that a DVD could be connected to play discs in the evening. Bought a DVD+RW media station for about $275.00 to hook-up to laptop. However it is still winter in Ohio and I haven't tried it on the boat.
Have an older laptop that I sometimes use to catch up on. Thought that a DVD could be connected to play discs in the evening. Bought a DVD+RW media station for about $275.00 to hook-up to laptop. However it is still winter in Ohio and I haven't tried it on the boat.
We do it all the time
I would suggest getting an external speaker setup for it though, as the microspeakers in my laptop are really pretty weak and distort badly when you turn it up loud enough to hear if you aren't sitting directly in front of it. Battery life can become an issue but there are ways around that, too.
I would suggest getting an external speaker setup for it though, as the microspeakers in my laptop are really pretty weak and distort badly when you turn it up loud enough to hear if you aren't sitting directly in front of it. Battery life can become an issue but there are ways around that, too.
How about this....
Flat panel TV...about $300 bucks (can mount anywhere in boat) and DVD player....about $40. Wal-Mart......works great...
Flat panel TV...about $300 bucks (can mount anywhere in boat) and DVD player....about $40. Wal-Mart......works great...
Yep.. Ours is our DVD player and TV
Our Dell laptop is has a USB WIN-TV module so we can use it as a TV and we use it to watch DVD movies as well. We also have a wireless module that fits into the boat stereo system so we don't need additional speakers. Our laptop just plays through the stereo. The system works reasonably well, and we find it a good compromise on a smaller boat. Ward
Our Dell laptop is has a USB WIN-TV module so we can use it as a TV and we use it to watch DVD movies as well. We also have a wireless module that fits into the boat stereo system so we don't need additional speakers. Our laptop just plays through the stereo. The system works reasonably well, and we find it a good compromise on a smaller boat. Ward
Laptop TV/DVD
My laptop came with a DVD player--I use it all of the time. For TV I use and externa USB TV adapter made by ATI. It cost about $100.00. You plug it in your USP port then connect an antenna lead. Ours works great.
My laptop came with a DVD player--I use it all of the time. For TV I use and externa USB TV adapter made by ATI. It cost about $100.00. You plug it in your USP port then connect an antenna lead. Ours works great.
It's great!
Tom, We use ours all the time, too. There are so many benefits to this approach over using a regular tv: 1. It works off of batteries if you like to anchor out; 2. It's a laptop that can be used for navigation, games, etc; 3. It's portable. On a hot summer night we'll sometimes have "movie night" & watch a good movie under the stars in the cockpit or on the foredeck. 4. It's small & easy to stow so it's out of the way when you need it to be. The biggest drawback is that they're more expensive & less reliable than a regular tv. We make it a point not to leave our laptop on board unless we know we're going to want to use it. External speakers aren't a bad idea, nor is getting a laptop with as big a screen as you can afford. Good luck! Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
Tom, We use ours all the time, too. There are so many benefits to this approach over using a regular tv: 1. It works off of batteries if you like to anchor out; 2. It's a laptop that can be used for navigation, games, etc; 3. It's portable. On a hot summer night we'll sometimes have "movie night" & watch a good movie under the stars in the cockpit or on the foredeck. 4. It's small & easy to stow so it's out of the way when you need it to be. The biggest drawback is that they're more expensive & less reliable than a regular tv. We make it a point not to leave our laptop on board unless we know we're going to want to use it. External speakers aren't a bad idea, nor is getting a laptop with as big a screen as you can afford. Good luck! Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
laptop vs flat panel
All the suggestions are good. But one point not mentioned is that a flat panel TV monitor has a wider viewing area than the average laptop - espectially if yours is older. In other words, the grandchildren would have to sit directly in front of a laptop whereas a flatpanel you can sit off to the side.
All the suggestions are good. But one point not mentioned is that a flat panel TV monitor has a wider viewing area than the average laptop - espectially if yours is older. In other words, the grandchildren would have to sit directly in front of a laptop whereas a flatpanel you can sit off to the side.
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