Can I just make my web browser just show up on the TV screen?
March 19, 2015 9:50 PM Subscribe
I dropped cable a few months ago and there are shows that I miss. Some of these shows are available for watching free online, on sites like (for instance) comedy central or yidio. What I want to do is watch them with my husband on the large screen of my TV, though, not on the wee computer screen. How?
I have a Roku on one TV and an Apple TV on another. Neither of them is what I want. They just let me see specific, limited sources, like Netflix.
What I want is something that will just make the screen and audio of my laptop - whose browser will have navigated to whatever random-ass corner of the Internet I hanker for that night - show up on my TV. I don't mind using the laptop as the interface for the navigation (in fact, I would prefer this mightily over the bumbling remote control interfaces of most of the TV-apps I've seen.) It seems like this should be as easy as some sort of cable. Is it?
I have a Roku on one TV and an Apple TV on another. Neither of them is what I want. They just let me see specific, limited sources, like Netflix.
What I want is something that will just make the screen and audio of my laptop - whose browser will have navigated to whatever random-ass corner of the Internet I hanker for that night - show up on my TV. I don't mind using the laptop as the interface for the navigation (in fact, I would prefer this mightily over the bumbling remote control interfaces of most of the TV-apps I've seen.) It seems like this should be as easy as some sort of cable. Is it?
Best answer: This depends on your TV and on your laptop, but if you have a laptop with HDMI/Displayport/DVI output, and a TV with HDMI input, it's as easy as a cable.
posted by Jairus at 9:55 PM on March 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Jairus at 9:55 PM on March 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: ok I swear I did just try to look it up, but then I panicked and came back here: I have a Macbook Air. Does that have the HDMI/Displayport/DVI thing you said?
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:59 PM on March 19, 2015
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:59 PM on March 19, 2015
Best answer: You can use airplay to stream from your Macbook (or iPhone or iPad if you have one) to the Apple TV - it's very easy.
posted by insectosaurus at 10:02 PM on March 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by insectosaurus at 10:02 PM on March 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Yes, don't use the apps on the AppleTV, just use it as an airplay destination and you should be able to put up anything on your laptop screen.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:04 PM on March 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:04 PM on March 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
Macbook Air will have a Thunderbolt / Mini Displayport port. What you want is a DisplayPort->HDMI adapter or cable.
ChromeCast or AppleTV are probably more "friendly" solutions, however. Somewhat more complex to set up initially, but easier over time since there are no cables to wrangle.
posted by Alterscape at 10:04 PM on March 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
ChromeCast or AppleTV are probably more "friendly" solutions, however. Somewhat more complex to set up initially, but easier over time since there are no cables to wrangle.
posted by Alterscape at 10:04 PM on March 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: You guys. I seriously. I'm almost crying. (And YES I've had some wine and YES I had a long and stupid day and YES I realize this is ridiculous.) You guys rule.
Now the $64K question: where is this magical Airplay? Where do I find it?
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:07 PM on March 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Now the $64K question: where is this magical Airplay? Where do I find it?
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:07 PM on March 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: oh man I think I found it. The mods are going to kill me but it is directly relevant to the prior follow up question so maybe this update is ok. ❤
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:19 PM on March 19, 2015
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:19 PM on March 19, 2015
Response by poster: it's working like a freaking DREAM you guys. ❤❤❤
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:30 PM on March 19, 2015 [19 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:30 PM on March 19, 2015 [19 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rtha at 9:54 PM on March 19, 2015 [5 favorites]