Laptop problem at 640x480 with scan converter

[jdatec]

My laptop screen res is 800x600. When I drop down to 640x480 for output to tv, the image simply becomes smaller with black borders. My scan converter ( Tvator Remote ) sees the entire laptop screen, i.e. a 640x480 image with black borders. Is there any software to remedy this?

Thanks.

[BeTa]

Hmm, I don't think this is something with software solution. I have to "downsize" the screen of my laptop for using it with media projector. However, the projector shows the desktop properly. Play around with the video card settings, you may find the option to set this.

What is a scan converter, and what does it do? And why do you need to use it?

BeTa

[kinneera]

Laptop screens are LCDs, which have fixed pixel size. As you have discovered, your is fixed to the 800x600 resolution. When you change your resolution on an LCD through software, it simply places the image in that resolution and lays it onto the 800x600 resolution to which your monitor is fixed, thus black space in the area where pixels are no longer being described. CRTs just change the actual size of the pixels (more or less). This is a known limitation of LCDs, unfortunately. (The other alternative is the scale the 640x480 onto the 800x600, but most LCDs will not do this as the resultant image is highly pixelated and VERY ugly).

[jdatec]

I have contacted Toshiba on this and their support board cam back quickly ( unlike compaq ) with the explanation just made by keenera. Toshiba techs also explaind some settings could be changed to strtch the pixels but that things could get ugly, as keenera mentioned. Guess I'm out of luck.
Actually just wanted to zoom in on a window on the screen rather than the whole screen. Will work out something. Anyone know where I can downlioad the magnifying glass to enlarge areas of the screen? Does it work with media players?
A scan converter converts the screen image to ntsc or pal for output to a tv or vcr. It's used to play PC games on TV's , show professional power point demonstrations on big screens, and in schools that don't have or need a $2500 - $5000 video projector. Really useful. People also use them to play DVD's on their PC and out to a TV.

Yhanks guys.

[BeTa]

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On 2001-08-28 15:51:52, jdatec wrote:
A scan converter converts the screen image to ntsc or pal for output to a tv or vcr. It's used to play PC games on TV's , show professional power point demonstrations on big screens, and in schools that don't have or need a $2500 - $5000 video projector. Really useful. People also use them to play DVD's on their PC and out to a TV.

Yhanks guys.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks for the explanation.
How is it different from what I have among my laptop's video card options? I have composite video output, set the TV for NTSC or PAL and play the movie on the laptop and view on TV - it works very well for me without a scan converter. Am I missing something?
Basically, I am using a laptop to watch digital video on a TV - instead of a standalone DVD player. ADVANTAGE: plays divX!!!

BeTa

[jdatec]

Hi -
Under "PLAY" in the side menu board on this homepage it is said newsgroups seem to agree that "the scan converter gets a better quality to your tv than a TV-out video card does".

Also: "To play DIVX and MOV you need a very fast computer and special player."

So a scan converter is another way and can be better than some of the tv-out cards on the market. If you are happy with your set-up great. I don't expect a lot from TV - out in any case. I DO want the scan converter to do its job right. I have tried four models to date and on 3 the zoom function distorts the image significantly. The fourth doesn't have a zoom function - just flat ntsc out. It's ancient.

One thing about most scan converters - no audio. You have to work that out through your sound card.

I use a Dazzle to play mpegs out to my camcorder from my laptop and it works fine.

I don't think you are missing anything with your setup.

Enjoy!

[VideoBoy]

I don't have scan converter, but I am shopping for one these days.

Scan converter does exactly the same thing what the Video Card with TV output does e.g. convert VGA signal to composite ones. The only difference is scan converter is portable whereas the video card is not. And I also hear from many sources that the output quality of a scan converter is better than a video card's TV output. I have PowerColor sniper with TV out and it's TV output is absolutely shitty !!! Just not watchable. So decided to go for scan converter.

By the way, how is the TVator ? Is it good ? (this question is of course for the originator of the thread)

[jdatec]

I do not see much difference between AITECH, TVATOR, and AVERKEY in output quality. I would part with the extra cash and get one with remote control - much handier - if you want to use zoom or need to adust screen position on the tv. If you just want to play movies on your computer and watch them on TV you do not need the more expensive models with zoom or remote control. Right now I am trying to get zoom to work with just one area of the screen - the area I want - and it looks like all these units and brands just have one kind of zoom. It's called "2x" but it seems to really zoom in on 320x240 pixels period. Fancier models can highlight areas or black out areas, but the zoom function is pretty well fixed in size and scale though you can move it around the screen.