Benefits I Find of Using Your PC on Your TV

By A Fan

My computer is huge- a behemoth really, and so was the price tag when I purchased it. It was assumed that I would use it enough to make it worth the money we didn’t have. But with the new gadgets and hook-ups for the television, what’s the point? I can kick back on my sofa and- with a click on one of several remotes- I can watch DVDs, listen to music, and watch iPod media. What’s more, I don’t have to get up and lose my spot until I’m good and ready. (It’s the best one in the house.)

Recently Netflix even released software that lets you stream high-quality picture straight through your PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii. The PS3’s streaming disc was released first, so I bought the game console “for the family”. Even though we all know that’s not true. It’s for him- but the internet is a must-have for me. Now I can access the internet from my Wii console, too. Granted it’s not as speedy or easily-navigable, but- when my computer contracted a virus and crashed- I did not fail my courses due to interrupted communication with the professor. Some cell phones may do the same thing, but the shelf life on those things is too short to even mention… In the time that it took you to read that, my newest cell phone probably quit working.

With my husband in the military, connectivity is not just an issue of convenience for me. When I couldn’t make it to my sister’s wedding last year, I didn’t feel like I was a part of the family, felt the distance grow wider. I pored over and over the pictures she sent me- trying to see every detail. Between my bad eyesight and the tiny size of the pictures, it was frustrating until the duh moment cleared. There was a USB drive on the iPod dock connected to the TV. Our TV may be old, but it was good enough for me to see my sister get married in almost life-sized detail.

I am not what you would call a technology buff, but the advances in TV apps mean that I have one less distraction. Point, click, boom. It’s simple. I don’t have to dig around for software; I don’t have to upgrade over and over again; I don’t have to worry. My grandparents in their seventies know about some new technologies, so there is really no excuse for me. If they can transition from radio to today’s complicated multimedia, then surely I can give the potential of the TV a new look. Why do I need this computer again?

Oh yeah, I still love my computer, too, because the strengths of the TV and the computer together are seemingly endless. Do you like creating your own video games and playing them on a huge, high-def screen that makes you feel like a character in that game? Do you like making your day or two of rest more restful? Do you have children and have trouble balancing several things at once? Plug it in and see what you can do with twice the technology. You might surprise yourself, and it will surprise you how much easier it is than you thought it would be.

A basic rundown of 6 PC to TV solutions with available features and price. Click items within the chart to find more information on that product.

Sewell Direct PC to TV Comparison Chart
	STANDARD DEFINITION		HIGH DEFINITION
Part #:	SW-23000	SW-28760	SW-4280	SW-29831	SW-9393	SW-31000
Product:	TVdeck USB to RCA	PC to TV Wireless	PC to HDTV USB to RCA	Hammerhead VGA to HDMI	VGA to HDMI	HDdeck USB to HDMI
Resolution:	480i	480i	480i/720p /1080i	720p/1080p	720p	720p/1080p
Sample Img:
Sample Img:
Recommended Connection:	Composite	Composite	Component	HDMI	HDMI	HDMI
Alternate Connection:	S-Video	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Audio Support?	YES	YES	Requires Cable (Included)	Requires Cable (Included)	YES	YES
Can Still Use Current Monitor?	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES
Special Features	All in one cable for clean & easy setup	Also allows for local RCA or S-Video connection		Small in-line converter	Also connect a component video source (eg:DVD player)	USB Connection does not tie up existing video connection
Price:	$29.95	$69.95	$79.95	$65.95	$54.95	$79.95