How to play movies from...

ratimux · 07-24-2007, 09:41 AM

I went to a friend of mine that has a LG plasma (I dont know the model, but it is not a high end one), and I hooked up my laptop (Dell Latitude 620, with 14.1 screen). Everything looked nice, except for the time when we played a movie. I used windows medio player to play the DVD, and as soo as I made it a full screen, all the images got wider than they are.

Now, if he changes the aspect ratio from 16:9 to 4 it becomes normal, but the screen size is noticeably smaller...

I am on the market for a LCD/Plasma and I watch most of my movies through my PC.

My question is - Is there any way to use up the whole screen and not get the images wider than they are? Maybe a diferent movie player? Or maybe there is a setting on most LCds/Plasmas??

The one that I am currently looking at is: LN-T5265F

Please provide some feedback if you have that paricular set!

Thanks!!!

mswoods1 · 07-24-2007, 09:58 AM

What movie did you try to watch and was it a full-screen or widescreen version of the film?

ratimux · 07-24-2007, 10:21 AM

I am not 100% sure, but I think it was wide screen....or maybe it wasn't. You bring up a good point here.

So, you think that if I try a wide screen version it should come out nice?

borromini · 07-24-2007, 11:15 AM

Maybe...

The other problem might be how your laptop's video card is handling the second display settings. Under the card's properties there are options for either cloning the laptop's display settings to the plasma or creating a 2nd set of display settings. If your laptop's screen is 4:3 and the plasma is being treated as a clone display then you'll have problems. Also, were you able to set the laptop's video card to the exact same resolution and refresh rate as the plasma? This is also key.

ratimux · 07-24-2007, 11:18 AM

Yeah, that is also a good point. I was in a hurry and did not check the video card settings.

paulc · 07-24-2007, 11:36 AM

You can get real HD trailers on Apple's QuickTime page. Last I looked, they had 1280 and 1920 versions, both having more than enough pixels to be called HD. You can get a couple of clips in each format and have some good source material for testing.

BTW, being trailers, they do tend to be of top grade quality all around.

borromini · 07-24-2007, 11:59 AM

Sorry...did I miss something...what do trailers have to do with the OP's question?

ratimux · 07-24-2007, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borromini

Sorry...did I miss something...what do trailers have to do with the OP's question?

I guess he was trying to say that I should try the highest available resolution on a trailer that was meant for HD -- I guess

borromini · 07-24-2007, 08:13 PM

I guess...

billinprinceto · 07-25-2007, 08:41 AM

Why Oh Why Oh Why would any sane person plan to watch most of their movies via a PC????? Sounds beyond absurd!

JC.Cob · 07-25-2007, 03:34 PM

You need some thing like Blaze DVD Pro or Power DVD player.Windows Media player has no options.
DVD`s played on PC to Plasma or LCD look way better then any 480i/p DVD player.Laptops are tricky to use.You need 1g ram/PC and 256mb for the graphics card.Any thing less then that Lags.

Get a good LCD HDTV if your going to use a TV with a computer.If you go with a plasma you will have to wait a long time after the break in before you can even think of useing it with a PC.That would be to scary.

borromini · 07-25-2007, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billinprinceto

Why Oh Why Oh Why would any sane person plan to watch most of their movies via a PC????? Sounds beyond absurd!

There's nothing absurd about using a PC as part of your home theater setup. Plenty of folks do it without any issues.

fmw · 07-26-2007, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borromini

There's nothing absurd about using a PC as part of your home theater setup. Plenty of folks do it without any issues.

I use one. I don't watch much video on it (mostly for music.) I watch perhaps one of the Netflix "free" on-line movies per week. I watched JSA this week. It's poor video compared to a DVD but it certainly works. A computer makes a powerful and flexible media server to be sure. I have my entire CD collection available instantly with a few mouse clicks. I listen to internet radio from time to time on it. It's a nice addition to the home entertainment system.

borromini · 07-26-2007, 10:41 AM

With an HDTV tuner...the PC becomes a pretty effective DVR as well. It's only a matter of time before D* teams up with someone to make PCI cards.

07-24-2007, 09:41 AM	#1
ratimux A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 12	How to play movies from... I went to a friend of mine that has a LG plasma (I dont know the model, but it is not a high end one), and I hooked up my laptop (Dell Latitude 620, with 14.1 screen). Everything looked nice, except for the time when we played a movie. I used windows medio player to play the DVD, and as soo as I made it a full screen, all the images got wider than they are. Now, if he changes the aspect ratio from 16:9 to 4 it becomes normal, but the screen size is noticeably smaller... I am on the market for a LCD/Plasma and I watch most of my movies through my PC. My question is - Is there any way to use up the whole screen and not get the images wider than they are? Maybe a diferent movie player? Or maybe there is a setting on most LCds/Plasmas?? The one that I am currently looking at is: LN-T5265F Please provide some feedback if you have that paricular set! Thanks!!!

07-24-2007, 09:58 AM	#2
mswoods1 Say whaaaaaat? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 1,370	What movie did you try to watch and was it a full-screen or widescreen version of the film? __________________ Panasonic PT-AX200U Projector 118" 1.78:1 Carada Projector Screen Toshiba A35 HD DVD Player Pioneer BDP-51FD Blu-ray Player Sony PS3 Xbox 360 TiVoHD (w/750 GB hard drive) Denon AVR-2309CI Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 Center Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 Mains Polk FXi A6's (surrounds) BIC Acoustech H-100 subwoofer Tri-Traps and Acoustic Panels by GIK Acoustics HD DVD: 104 Blu-ray: 126 DVD: ∞

07-24-2007, 11:15 AM	#4
borromini HT Frontiersman Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 9,811	Maybe... The other problem might be how your laptop's video card is handling the second display settings. Under the card's properties there are options for either cloning the laptop's display settings to the plasma or creating a 2nd set of display settings. If your laptop's screen is 4:3 and the plasma is being treated as a clone display then you'll have problems. Also, were you able to set the laptop's video card to the exact same resolution and refresh rate as the plasma? This is also key. __________________ "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

07-24-2007, 11:59 AM	#7
borromini HT Frontiersman Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 9,811	Sorry...did I miss something...what do trailers have to do with the OP's question? __________________ "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

07-24-2007, 08:13 PM	#9
borromini HT Frontiersman Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 9,811	I guess... __________________ "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

07-24-2007, 10:21 AM	#3
ratimux A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 12	I am not 100% sure, but I think it was wide screen....or maybe it wasn't. You bring up a good point here. So, you think that if I try a wide screen version it should come out nice?

07-24-2007, 11:18 AM	#5
ratimux A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 12	Yeah, that is also a good point. I was in a hurry and did not check the video card settings.

07-24-2007, 11:36 AM	#6
paulc Very Grizzled Vet of 1 yr Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 1,764	You can get real HD trailers on Apple's QuickTime page. Last I looked, they had 1280 and 1920 versions, both having more than enough pixels to be called HD. You can get a couple of clips in each format and have some good source material for testing. BTW, being trailers, they do tend to be of top grade quality all around.

07-25-2007, 08:41 AM	#10
billinprinceto High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,121	Why Oh Why Oh Why would any sane person plan to watch most of their movies via a PC????? Sounds beyond absurd!

07-25-2007, 03:34 PM	#11
JC.Cob Nascar 101 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 92	You need some thing like Blaze DVD Pro or Power DVD player.Windows Media player has no options. DVD`s played on PC to Plasma or LCD look way better then any 480i/p DVD player.Laptops are tricky to use.You need 1g ram/PC and 256mb for the graphics card.Any thing less then that Lags. Get a good LCD HDTV if your going to use a TV with a computer.If you go with a plasma you will have to wait a long time after the break in before you can even think of useing it with a PC.That would be to scary.

07-26-2007, 10:41 AM	#14
borromini HT Frontiersman Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 9,811	With an HDTV tuner...the PC becomes a pretty effective DVR as well. It's only a matter of time before D* teams up with someone to make PCI cards. __________________ "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"