PC to TV Linkup

[ashmichael]

I would like to know how i can, if i can hook up 4 laptops to one tv and run them independenlty withinin a picyure in a picture mode. I have a Sony KDL 60 and 4 Sony Laptops. I want to see all the screens at the same time. Is this possible? If so How?. Running Vista Premium on all laptops 3.0 CPU and 4GB Ram

[bredindo]

Maybe you can read this :
geekwithlaptop.com/how-to-connect-laptop-to-tv

thank you

[neomaine]

ashmichael,

I think that your beyond the simple pc-to-tv question. What you want can probably be done easy enough with PIP with some TVs for two inputs. Some sets will even split the screen vertically/horizontally between two inputs. Not sure about your Sony.

However, I doubt you'll find that with a regular consumer set you'll be able to do four. My guess is you'll need some 4-way video muxer (no idea if that's even the right terminology...) that will take the four inputs, downscale them to 1/4 resolution disply them as one video stream over a single input.

Sounds expensive. (to me anyway...)

EDIT:

Doesn't look like I was too far off, and not so expensive after all. You have a couple of options:

1 - 4-way manual switchers are pretty cheap and can be found almost anywhere. You simply plug all four laptops to the switch and you can display one at a time manually. Can be had for about US$5 if you look around.

2 - I found this at a UK site (I'm sure there are US equivalents) that provides exactly what you were looking for. Its a autoswitching 4-way video muxer that can record or display 4 simultaneous video streams. You'll need to look for you exact needs (vga or hdmi, sound/no sound.....).

http://www.sctltd.co.uk/acatalog/SwitchersQuads.html