Laptop as a "Remote"?

marricci · 03-11-2005, 04:58 PM

I've read the following in another thread:

"Another suggestion for controlling the PC in your easy chair to allow you to sit across the room would be to use a laptop computer and PCAnywhere. Set your HTPC to be a host and then you can remote control it from your laptop. You need a fast wireless or hardwired network connection, but it works pretty well. Sometimes I use this for surfing where a group of people need to see the screen."

I have a direct-view HDTV so I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that overscan is not something i'll never be able to overcome. However, I would like to be able to download music from the "comfort of my easy chair" yet have it downloading to my HTPC's hard drive. I think I might have two options:

1) Obviously, the Laptop option mentioned in the text I posted from the previous thread is something I've very intrigued by. I havea work laptop and personal laptop.

2) Buying a cheapy LCD monitor and trying to integrate it into the home theater while somehow making it look "legit" (aesthetically speaking) so as to not further raise the ire of my wife.

As one would expect, I'm leaning towards option one but have no idea where to begin.

Suggestions?

retorq · 03-11-2005, 05:29 PM

I'ld suggest ditching PCAnywhere, look into VNC, its much smaller and is alot better for this type situation, not to mention it's free and has been around longer so the types of systems it will run on are far greater (although to the normal home user with only Intel based systems this point falls on deaf ears). We use it here at work to admin over 1000 computers and 3 dozen servers.

Dling from one computer and having it goto another isn't hard either, simple file sharing and drive mappings will do that.

Why remote control the HTPC with a laptop?? Why not get a wireless keyboard and mouse combo or even a remote control for it and use it directly??

marricci · 03-16-2005, 12:03 AM

The overscan issue is the reason, I'd rather not use the HD monitor as the main display and to actually "work" with the HTPC (meaning, it's much more realistic to use the laptop to: manage files, download music and have saved to the HTPC hard drive - is this possible?

My laptop runs win2K and my HTPC has XP 2005 Media Center Edition.
I'm mainly using the HTPC as a digital music hub to play/store my extensive cd/mp3 library. Also, it's replacing my DVD player in my HT and will use it to store digital pictures, slide shows, etc...

However, now I'm wondering:
1) if a high-end video card would solve my overscan issues?
2) is it possible to take remote control of the HTPC via the laptop?
- Note: I have the XP 2005 MCE software on disk

mileborn · 03-16-2005, 12:40 AM

such as Dvico Twix allow you to store data (DVDs, JPEGs,MP3s) on hard drive via USB2 and alternately play them (dvd navigation included) on any tv,projector or plasma via video link, Y/C link, Firewire, or component -once unhooked from the computer, so kids can't ruin the data! you've got a remote control, and can chage the hard disk for an ever bigger one at will. Thanks Father Xmas.

**rbinck** · 03-16-2005, 10:17 AM

I use a laptop with my HTPC with PC Anywhere. As was stated the reason I use it is to be able to see the entire HTPC desktop on the laptop. The only use of PCAnywhere is to act as a remote monitor, keyboard and mouse for the HTPC. File sharing and other network issues are not required to control the HTPC.

Now as far as internet surfing and downloads to the HTPC is concerned, the laptop can command these operations of the HTPC just the same as if you are using a monitor, keyboard and mouse on the HTPC. The laptop just becomes the HTPC's keyboard, monitor and mouse... no more than that.

How you get started is:

Get the PCAnywhere software and install it on both the laptop and the HTPC.
Set the HTPC up as a Host device.
Set the Laptop up as Remote Control.
Learn to use the software.

Everyone tends to assume the overscan problem is in the PC video card. It is not as the video card only outputs the resolution it is set for. The overscan is a problem in the TV. Some of the high end video cards will come with software that will allow the creation of a resolution within a resolution to compensate for TV overscan. The way this works is the video card will still output the HDTV resolution (1920x1080i or 1280x720 for example) but will create a smaller desktop within the HDTV resolution like 1700x980 perhaps. Windows only sees this reduced resolution. so everything is scaled to fit within this resolution. That is another way to go in combination with a wireless mouse and keyboard for sure. I find two things objectionable going this route:

The keyboard and mouse I find difficult to use in my lap. I ended up having to use a table which was in the way anytime I needed to get up. Using my laptop allows me to set it on my end table when I need to go pee.
There is a distance problem on the wireless Logitech Keyboard and mouse that I have and it would not reach to my seating area. This could be fixed by getting a blue tooth unit, but that is more $.

So I ended up with the laptop route. I did have to hookup my network hardwired at my seating area as the wireless network was not fast enough, but since I had cat5 wiring to a telephone jack near there, that was easily done.

marricci · 03-16-2005, 11:59 AM

Sage advice, as always... I'll try what you suggest and, no doubt, come back with another round of questions. Thanks!

RSawdey · 03-18-2005, 04:13 PM

I've got the Intel wireless KB & mouse & gamecontroller... works great, but the mouse is battery hungry...

03-11-2005, 04:58 PM	#1
marricci A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 10	Laptop as a "Remote"? I've read the following in another thread: "Another suggestion for controlling the PC in your easy chair to allow you to sit across the room would be to use a laptop computer and PCAnywhere. Set your HTPC to be a host and then you can remote control it from your laptop. You need a fast wireless or hardwired network connection, but it works pretty well. Sometimes I use this for surfing where a group of people need to see the screen." I have a direct-view HDTV so I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that overscan is not something i'll never be able to overcome. However, I would like to be able to download music from the "comfort of my easy chair" yet have it downloading to my HTPC's hard drive. I think I might have two options: 1) Obviously, the Laptop option mentioned in the text I posted from the previous thread is something I've very intrigued by. I havea work laptop and personal laptop. 2) Buying a cheapy LCD monitor and trying to integrate it into the home theater while somehow making it look "legit" (aesthetically speaking) so as to not further raise the ire of my wife. As one would expect, I'm leaning towards option one but have no idea where to begin. Suggestions? Last edited by marricci; 03-11-2005 at 05:05 PM.

03-16-2005, 12:40 AM	#4
mileborn High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 64	built-in boxes such as Dvico Twix allow you to store data (DVDs, JPEGs,MP3s) on hard drive via USB2 and alternately play them (dvd navigation included) on any tv,projector or plasma via video link, Y/C link, Firewire, or component -once unhooked from the computer, so kids can't ruin the data! you've got a remote control, and can chage the hard disk for an ever bigger one at will. Thanks Father Xmas.

03-16-2005, 10:17 AM	#5
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,335	I use a laptop with my HTPC with PC Anywhere. As was stated the reason I use it is to be able to see the entire HTPC desktop on the laptop. The only use of PCAnywhere is to act as a remote monitor, keyboard and mouse for the HTPC. File sharing and other network issues are not required to control the HTPC. Now as far as internet surfing and downloads to the HTPC is concerned, the laptop can command these operations of the HTPC just the same as if you are using a monitor, keyboard and mouse on the HTPC. The laptop just becomes the HTPC's keyboard, monitor and mouse... no more than that. How you get started is: Get the PCAnywhere software and install it on both the laptop and the HTPC. Set the HTPC up as a Host device. Set the Laptop up as Remote Control. Learn to use the software. Everyone tends to assume the overscan problem is in the PC video card. It is not as the video card only outputs the resolution it is set for. The overscan is a problem in the TV. Some of the high end video cards will come with software that will allow the creation of a resolution within a resolution to compensate for TV overscan. The way this works is the video card will still output the HDTV resolution (1920x1080i or 1280x720 for example) but will create a smaller desktop within the HDTV resolution like 1700x980 perhaps. Windows only sees this reduced resolution. so everything is scaled to fit within this resolution. That is another way to go in combination with a wireless mouse and keyboard for sure. I find two things objectionable going this route: The keyboard and mouse I find difficult to use in my lap. I ended up having to use a table which was in the way anytime I needed to get up. Using my laptop allows me to set it on my end table when I need to go pee. There is a distance problem on the wireless Logitech Keyboard and mouse that I have and it would not reach to my seating area. This could be fixed by getting a blue tooth unit, but that is more $. So I ended up with the laptop route. I did have to hookup my network hardwired at my seating area as the wireless network was not fast enough, but since I had cat5 wiring to a telephone jack near there, that was easily done. Last edited by rbinck; 03-16-2005 at 10:41 AM.

03-11-2005, 05:29 PM	#2
retorq 'The Architect' Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mohave County Age: 33 Posts: 567	I'ld suggest ditching PCAnywhere, look into VNC, its much smaller and is alot better for this type situation, not to mention it's free and has been around longer so the types of systems it will run on are far greater (although to the normal home user with only Intel based systems this point falls on deaf ears). We use it here at work to admin over 1000 computers and 3 dozen servers. Dling from one computer and having it goto another isn't hard either, simple file sharing and drive mappings will do that. Why remote control the HTPC with a laptop?? Why not get a wireless keyboard and mouse combo or even a remote control for it and use it directly??

03-16-2005, 12:03 AM	#3
marricci A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 10	The overscan issue is the reason, I'd rather not use the HD monitor as the main display and to actually "work" with the HTPC (meaning, it's much more realistic to use the laptop to: manage files, download music and have saved to the HTPC hard drive - is this possible? My laptop runs win2K and my HTPC has XP 2005 Media Center Edition. I'm mainly using the HTPC as a digital music hub to play/store my extensive cd/mp3 library. Also, it's replacing my DVD player in my HT and will use it to store digital pictures, slide shows, etc... However, now I'm wondering: 1) if a high-end video card would solve my overscan issues? 2) is it possible to take remote control of the HTPC via the laptop? - Note: I have the XP 2005 MCE software on disk

03-16-2005, 11:59 AM	#6
marricci A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 10	Sage advice, as always... I'll try what you suggest and, no doubt, come back with another round of questions. Thanks!

03-18-2005, 04:13 PM	#7
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 61 Posts: 5,981	I've got the Intel wireless KB & mouse & gamecontroller... works great, but the mouse is battery hungry...