{ "attachments": [], "comments_archived": true, "date": "2003-07-30T14:23:29.000Z", "layout": "post", "title": "My Powerbook's on TV", "wordpress_id": 453, "wordpress_slug": "powerbook-on-tv", "wordpress_url": "http://www.decafbad.com/blog/?p=453", "year": "2003", "month": "07", "day": "30", "isDir": false, "slug": "powerbook-on-tv", "type": "entry", "postName": "2003-07-30-powerbook-on-tv", "html": "

I don't gush about it very often, but I love my 12\" Powerbook. Since\nI got it this past March, it has been my primary machine for both work\nand home. And other than wishing that there was a 1GB memory module\nout for it and grumbling that I've lost one of the rubber footies on\nthe bottom, I've been extremely happy with it.

\n

And just last night, I was reminded of yet another feature that's made me\nglad I got it: the included\nComposite/SVHS video adapter.\nI'd had the AV cable\nfor my iBook before it, but the use of the adapter on the Powerbook\nhas a very important difference: dual display mode.

\n

See, when I connected my iBook up to my home entertainment complex,\nI got reduced resolution back on the LCD, and anything I did that went\nfull screen (ie. playing a DVD or a movie file) took over the machine.\nBut with the Powerbook, its connection to my television is just a second\ndesktop, not much different than the second monitor I use at work.

\n

So, while I'm at home on the futon with my girlfriend, I often stream\nvideos off a PC in the next room that's been recording TV shows for\nme, and present them on this second desktop. Most apps I use to view\nmovies, such as Quicktime Pro\nand VideoLAN,\nallow me to pick a monitor for fullscreen mode. Meanwhile, the LCD on the\nPowerbook is still available for other work while we watch.

\n

It's just a little thing, but it's a thing that lets me get much of the\nbenefit of a dedicated\nHome Theater PC without\nhaving to buy or build a box that looks nice alongside all our\nvideo game consoles.\nWhile I'd still like to take on the project someday, my Powerbook does\njust fine for the display and audio end of things, while an aging Windows PC\nin the next room snags a few TV shows\nfor me.

\n

Of course, if all you want is an HTPC, the Powerbook is expensive\noverkill. But, if you're shopping for a laptop and want some fringe\nbenefits, I think this is definitely one that doesn't get much attention.

\n\n\n\n

shortname=powerbook_on_tv

\n

Archived Comments

\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n", "body": "I don't gush about it very often, but I love my 12\" Powerbook. Since\r\nI got it this past March, it has been my primary machine for both work\r\nand home. And other than wishing that there was a 1GB memory module\r\nout for it and grumbling that I've lost one of the rubber footies on\r\nthe bottom, I've been extremely happy with it.\r\n

\r\nAnd just last night, I was reminded of yet another feature that's made me\r\nglad I got it: the included\r\nComposite/SVHS video adapter.\r\nI'd had the AV cable\r\nfor my iBook before it, but the use of the adapter on the Powerbook\r\nhas a very important difference: dual display mode.\r\n

\r\nSee, when I connected my iBook up to my home entertainment complex,\r\nI got reduced resolution back on the LCD, and anything I did that went\r\nfull screen (ie. playing a DVD or a movie file) took over the machine.\r\nBut with the Powerbook, its connection to my television is just a second\r\ndesktop, not much different than the second monitor I use at work.\r\n

\r\nSo, while I'm at home on the futon with my girlfriend, I often stream\r\nvideos off a PC in the next room that's been recording TV shows for\r\nme, and present them on this second desktop. Most apps I use to view\r\nmovies, such as Quicktime Pro\r\nand VideoLAN,\r\nallow me to pick a monitor for fullscreen mode. Meanwhile, the LCD on the\r\nPowerbook is still available for other work while we watch.\r\n

\r\nIt's just a little thing, but it's a thing that lets me get much of the\r\nbenefit of a dedicated\r\nHome Theater PC without\r\nhaving to buy or build a box that looks nice alongside all our\r\nvideo game consoles.\r\nWhile I'd still like to take on the project someday, my Powerbook does\r\njust fine for the display and audio end of things, while an aging Windows PC\r\nin the next room snags a few TV shows\r\nfor me.\r\n

\r\nOf course, if all you want is an HTPC, the Powerbook is expensive\r\noverkill. But, if you're shopping for a laptop and want some fringe\r\nbenefits, I think this is definitely one that doesn't get much attention.\r\n\r\nshortname=powerbook_on_tv\r\n\r\n
\r\n

Archived Comments

\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n ", "parentPath": "./content/posts/archives/2003", "path": "2003/07/30/powerbook-on-tv", "summary": "I don't gush about it very often, but I love my 12\" Powerbook. Since\nI got it this past March, it has been my primary machine for both work\nand home. And other than wishing that there was a 1GB memory module\nout for it and grumbling that I've lost one of the rubber footies on\nthe bottom, I've been extremely happy with it.\nAnd just last night, I was reminded of yet another feature that's made me\nglad I got it: the included\nComposite/SVHS video adapter.\nI'd had the AV cable\nfor my iBook before it, but the use of the adapter on the Powerbook\nhas a very important difference: dual display mode.\nSee, when I connected my iBook up to my home entertainment complex,\nI got reduced resolution back on the LCD, and anything I did that went\nfull screen (ie. playing a DVD or a movie file) took over the machine.\nBut with the Powerbook, its connection to my television is just a second\ndesktop, not much different than the second monitor I use at work.\nSo, while I'm at home on the futon with my girlfriend, I often stream\nvideos off a PC in the next room that's been recording TV shows for\nme, and present them on this second desktop. Most apps I use to view\nmovies, such as Quicktime Pro\nand VideoLAN,\nallow me to pick a monitor for fullscreen mode. Meanwhile, the LCD on the\nPowerbook is still available for other work while we watch.\nIt's just a little thing, but it's a thing that lets me get much of the\nbenefit of a dedicated\nHome Theater PC without\nhaving to buy or build a box that looks nice alongside all our\nvideo game consoles.\nWhile I'd still like to take on the project someday, my Powerbook does\njust fine for the display and audio end of things, while an aging Windows PC\nin the next room snags a few TV shows\nfor me.\nOf course, if all you want is an HTPC, the Powerbook is expensive\noverkill. But, if you're shopping for a laptop and want some fringe\nbenefits, I think this is definitely one that doesn't get much attention.", "needsBuild": true, "prevPostPath": "2003/07/30/mm-central-works", "prevPostTitle": "Macromedia Central and Deja Vu?", "nextPostPath": "2003/07/30/video-on-tape", "nextPostTitle": "Videos on tape (Travan, not VHS)" }