How do I stream videos from computer to TV?

[Deleted]

Up to now, I've been dimly aware that our TV (which, of course, is pretty much only a giant monitor) can get input from a computer- it' some of the options on the menu when you turn it on.  I know that that's how people get Netflix, etc. but DH and I don't do Netflix.   

Now, however, I just found that The Great Courses is offering unlimited streaming for $30/month if you pay for a year at a time.  That sounds steep but I just checked- we spent $800 so far this year on courses!  Yeah, we're addicted to them.  We don't go out to eat, we get movies from Redbox (and always return them on time) but we LOVE The great Courses.

So- do we need something besides the computer, the TV and a cable to connect them?  I remember seeing boxes that I thought were made to communicate between the computer and the TV.  How complicated is it to set up?

Thanks.

[saveinla]

You can use a HDMI cable to connect your computer to your TV.

If there is an app for the course, then you can use Roku, connect it to the internet and then connect to the app.

[msventoux]

I've never used Netflix, Roku, etc.  I bought a HDMI cable converter so I could hook the HDMI cable from the TV to my Mac laptop since it doesn't have an HDMI port already on it.  That's all it took.  I did have to go in and adjust my display and audio settings to get the sound and video working correctly, but that was simple enough. 

[souldoubt]

I've got a Roku 2 which you can get brand new for $69.  I think they just came out with the Roku 4 which I'm sure is fine but as far as streaming goes I've had no issues with the 2 which will save you some money.  All you need is an HDMI cable to connect it to your TV then you can add the channels you want or need - amazon prime, netflix, etc.  You can also download an app called plex which you install on your computer as well that way if you have any movies or home videos on your computer you can use plex to stream them to your TV.  As mentioned you can connect your computer to your TV but considering how cheap and easy something like Roku is that's a much better option in my book.   

[thyme4change]

Rokus are the bomb.  

[Deleted]

It sounds pretty easy. Thanks!

[justme]

Roku now has a native way of streaming from your computer to tv. It's pretty easy.

The only negative is it buffered more than just using a Netflix app. Though I've since moved my Wi-Fi to a better location in the house so maybe it won't buffer as much?

[bobosensei]

We have an apple tv so now we can stream from the ipad to the tv, but before that and sometimes even now we just hook the laptop to the tv via an HDMI cable.  But if your tv and/or laptop doesn't have an HDMI port there is another way to do it.  I wasn't aware that they sold HDMI converters, but you can also hook up with an RCA cable.  A DVI cable gives better video but can't do sound, so you can use both an RCA and DVI cable.  I believe there are some other methods too, you can google it.