Connecting Your Computer To A High Definition Television

This question comes from one of my Twitter friends. Connecting your computer to your high definition television is very easy.

Donna writes,

"I wanted to connect my laptop to my television. Since I have an HDMI adapter for my laptop, I thought this would be relatively easy. The salesman at the electronics store sold me this very expensive HDMI cable. When I got home I connected the two and after a 3 second flash of the desktop on the television, the screen went blue. Did I buy the wrong (expensive cable) or is there something else that I need to do?"

Believe it or not, this is a common problem. I have seen it many times with connections to different video and projection media.

First, let's address the expensive cable from the electronics store. You can find the same cable at a discount store for much less. The cable itself does not need to be the most expensive on the shelf. Tests have shown that there is very little difference if any in the quality of the picture between an expensive well known brand name cable and the inexpensive, not so well known, manufacturer's cable. So don't let an electronics store salesman talk you into the most expensive cable, unless only the best will do for you.

Connecting your laptop, or desktop, computer to your television using HDMI is a very simple process. Plug your HDMI video adapter to your computer. Plug the other end into the HDMI cable. If your computer has an HDMI output, then you can plug the HDMI cable into that. Plug the other end of the HDMI cable to your high definition television.

Here's the easy, but often missed part. Make sure to take note of the number on the television's connection. Use your television's remote to tune to the proper HDMI connection. On your laptop or desktop computer's keyboard, press the F8 key slowly, allowing a few seconds between each key stroke. This will prompt your computer to change monitor arrangements. There are three possible monitor arrangements, laptop or desktop monitor, mirrored between both monitors, and peripheral monitor (TV).

If you have chosen the correct HDMI connection on the television menu, you should easily see your computer's screen on your high definition television.

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Touchscreen Tables

Desktop computers are about to change dramatically. Both, Apple and Microsoft have been working on dual-touch technologies, which would allow the visual part of the computer, most commonly referred to as the monitor, to exist within the desk or table top. Everything would be touch screen. No mouse, no keyboard. The user will touch and drag items around on the screen and have them interact with each other. Objects with bluetooth would be able to directly interact with the screen to download pictures, play movies or music, or even pay the bill.

This video shows only a small portion of what would be attainable by the use of the combined technologies of large flat panel displays and touch screens. Apple is rumored to be releasing a touchpad technology in 2010. Microsoft has had this technology (shown) for a few years, but have yet to make a major product release.

I cannot wait. I don't care if they use it in bars and restaurants, I need one in my home.

5 Ways to Avoid Computing Pain From Your Desk

Avoiding neck, back, arm and wrist pain is important when spending time at your computer. Keeping a clean work environment is one of those things that can help your mood as well as your aches and pains. Many of us are guilty of building up a mess on our desk. Not having to work around objects, paper, books and other stuff makes it easier to prevent repetitive stress injuries.

I am probably as criminal as anyone for not following these simple rules for maintaining a positive work environment.

1. Your desktop should be organized so that frequently used objects are closer to you to avoid excessive extended reaching.
2. Use a headset or speaker phone to avoid neck and shoulder discomfort if you use a phone frequently throughout the day.
3. Place the phone on the side of your non-dominant hand (i.e., left side if right-handed, right side if left-handed)
4. Position your desk lamp (if you use one) so that it illuminates source documents without causing either glare on the computer screen or direct illumination to your eyes.
5. Use a document holder if you refer to documents while computing. The document holder should:

• Be stable and adjustable (height, position, distance, and angle of view).
• Support your document on either side of the monitor.
• Be at the same distance from your eyes as the display screen to avoid frequent changes of focus and you should be able you to look from one to the other without moving your neck or back.

Exploding Laptop Batteries?

Yes, they exist, laptop batteries that explode! The videos that you find online are mostly fakes, but it is documented, that a battery can catch fire. It is not unreasonable that this can happen, as a laptop that is sitting on your lap or furniture does get very hot. This why you can find at least five different kinds of cooling pads at Walmart.


Here is a help request from a former student of mine. Emily, living in Brooklyn, NY, writes;

"hey there andy, i truly appreciate your offer to take a look at my laptop, but i (unfortunately) am no longer in Blacksburg. i moved to new york city after graduation! arranging a pickup would be quite a task. hah! ive been trying to schedule a time to go visit the 'genius bar' with my troubled mac but, being NYC and all, the stores here are very busy. what do you know about the exploding mac book pro batteries, and how do they affect the computer? mine exploded one night (not horribly, but enough to bow the casing) and now the computer will not turn on pass the grey screen/apple. where it would typically make the apple noise/boot leopard, it the screen just goes black! oy. the worst part is i didnt have enough sense to purchase apple care when i got the computer 18 months ago."

I would contact Apple support, either online or by phone. There was recall, and that should still stand, whether you have apple care or not. I have found that going to apple support online or by phone to be easier, and more satisfying (meaning, they don't hassle you with un-needed questions or try to get out of fixing the problem)although there may be some wait time when you call, or for an email response. I do know that Apple and Sony have settled suits pertaining to battery fires.

Check the following Links for recall information;

https://support.apple.com/macbookpro15/batteryexchange/
http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html

Here is the link to Online Support for Macbook batteries;

http://www.apple.com/support/macbook_macbookpro/batteryupdate/

Phone support may cost, but here is the 800 number to get support;

U.S. iPod and Mac technical support: 1-800-APL-CARE (1-800-275-2273)

3 Ways To Revive A Laptop Screen

This question comes from Daniel at New River CC, he writes;

Hey Andy, I have a apple Powerbook 17 inch laptop and the screen has stopped working. If I connect my old 15-inch Dell monitor to it, I get a picture and can operate the laptop. Is this a lost cause or is there a way to fix it?

Well, if the video problem is physical , then it is very difficult to perform the repair. Usually the problem is either the LCD Inverter or the back-light. Both require the disassembly of the LCD in order to repair. But there is a chance, albiet small, that the problem is software related. Perform the following three sets of instructions to attempt to fix the problem. If these don't work, having the lcd panel replaced/repaired is around $400, and the current price for buying this laptop, used, is also around $400. You make the call.

Please note that these directions are for the 17 inch Apple Powerbook. Exact directions for other computers may be different. You should go the support pages of your computer's manufacturer, to get the correct directions for your computer.

1. Restore from disc.
A. Start the computer from the restore disc. This disc came with your computer and is labeled Software Install and Restore Disc.
B. Find the Install or Restore disc that came with the computer. Insert the Software Install and Restore disc into your CD/DVD drive.
C. Once it's off, hold down the C key on the keyboard and start up your computer. This will start up the computer from the Software Install and Restore disc instead of your hard drive.
D. If you see video when started up from disc, you may have corrupted software. You can use the Archive and Install feature of the Mac OS X installer to reinstall. This kind of installation gives you a fresh version of Mac OS X, but you don't lose any data from the computer as your old information is all archived.

2. Reset the PRAM, which stands for parameter ram. PRAM stores system information and device settings so that they are easily accessible to the computer's operating system. Your computer's PRAM will be reset to the default values. You will probably have to reset your time and date after this operation.

A. Shut down the computer.
B. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step D.
C. Turn on the computer.
D. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
E. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
F. Release the keys.

3. If resetting PRAM does not resolve an issue, resetting the PMU is the next (third) step. PMU stands for Power Management Unit, which is a computer chip, and controls backlighting, hard disk spin down, sleep and wake, some charging aspects, trackpad control, and some input/output as it relates to the computer sleeping. Apple warns to only perform a PMU reset on the computer if all else fails. To reset the PMU;

A. If the computer is on, turn it off.
B. Reset the power manager by simultaneously pressing and then releasing Shift-Control Option-Power on the keyboard. Do not press the fn (Function) key while using this combination of keystrokes.
C. Wait 5 seconds.
D. Press the Power button to restart the computer.

- Andy