Best laptop under $500 for playing youtube videos on a HDTV?
 

Hi,

I'm looking to purchase a laptop to simply be able to play whatever is on my computer on my 32 inch HDTV 720p. Anything under $500 is what were looking for.

This is a mix between youtube videos, other streaming videos, DVD's and a menu.

So obviously a laptop with an HDMI output, but I'm curious on if graphic cards play large role in getting the best possible image on an HDTV. I know my tv must have 1:1 pixel-mapping mode.

Thanks!

have you tried a media streamer...

i have a boxee box and it does what you want it to do...

it even has a built in browser should you want to watch some other stuff...but mind you..no silverlight videos...i guess not yet...

So this is actually for my mobile food truck, so that boxee box might be too much. I liked the simplicity of just routing my laptop to the tv on the outside.

Get apple tv

too much? you just plug in power and hdmi to the tv...the gui is pretty straight forward...keyboard is on the remote...

thats up to you though...gd luck

Problem with it is that I would have to control it by watching the tv. So I would have to step out of the truck everytime I wanted to change something, as I wouldn't be able to see what I was doing. With a laptop I could control everything from inside the truck. Thanks for the suggestion though. That's actually a nice piece of equipment.

You don't need anything fancy to play HD video over HDMI.

Pretty much any $500 (full size, not netbook) laptop with onboard video will do fine.

Get yourself a m11x refirbs for the r1 in the states are like 600.

The $300 Dell Vostro deal that pops up, now and then, can run 720p.

The timelinex 11.6 was at costco for 650$ it can totally handle what u want to do and more.

You can just get an Acer Aspire 712 from Future shop if battery life is not a major concern. $349. Comes in the same form factor as the 11.7 timelinex

Does it have to be a laptop? Since it's main job is to play media on your TV it would be sitting next to it most of the time thus a basic PC would deliver better value/$.

Not built a pc for ages but with $500 I'm sure you can get a decent micro/mini pc setup with a vid card to play even 1080.

Side note: I got a free Dell Netbook from HSBC as a gift and its a complete POS, slow as hell, heavy, thick brick that can't even play 720p. Stick with a proper laptop if you really need a portable media player.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I really do appreciate it. When our Juice Truck is fully up and running, those who have helped along the way will get a revscene discount!

VK79: Size is an issue as we want the laptop to fit next to our cash register.

MiKrofT: I can't seem to find the particular model you are refering to on the Future Shop website?

Maybe spent a bit more and get a touch screen all in one and mount it on a wall?

Also pick up an lenevo htpc keyboard.

http://www.loopygadgets.com/wp-conte...s-keyboard.jpg

Here's the link from futureshop.

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...aa555ce58cen02

They have 2 models. Get the one with 4gb ram since its the same price.

Damn I went to buy that 4gb model, but the price has gone up to $399. Do you think future shop would price match to their old price from yesterday!

Nope tried that before.

Wow that sux. Bad timing. Then again it coulda been a pricing error that they just fixed.

Picked up the laptop today. Hooked it up to my Bravia and was quite happy with youtube HD quality!

The onboard Ati card will also help if you wanna playback h264 720p movies.