There are lots of great Websites that let you download your favorite television shows and movies for free. If you don't want to sentinel your favorite show or a picture show on your computer'due south small screen, there are several methods for connecting your PC to your TV or getting Internet content on your TV, ranging from simple cables to more complex (and characteristic-rich) wireless kits.

Watch Practiced Housekeeping Research Constitute test engineer Rachel Rothman walk you through the process.

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Basic Cables

The easiest and often nigh inexpensive method for linking your computer with your Television is a matching cable connexion (i.east., Television set has VGA input and figurer has VGA output). If you have the capability (both pieces of equipment accept the proper ports), HDMI cables allow for better video quality. Just plug the cables into both devices and install any necessary software from the CD included with the cables, and yous'll be able to watch downloaded programs on your TV in no time. The limitation of this setup: Your computer has to be near your Goggle box (limited by the length of the cables).

HDMI port

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Media Platforms Design Team

VGA port

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Media Platforms Pattern Squad

If there isn't a match between video inputs to outputs, it may still be possible to connect the two. Almost computers are equipped with the following: fifteen-pin VGA output, DVI connection, or South-video output. While analog TVs traditionally have only an S-video input, digital TVs have one of the 3 just mentioned. VGA or DVI will offer improve epitome quality, and then if y'all accept those options utilise them commencement. Prior to connecting, download the latest drivers for your computer'southward video menu (look in the manual, in your computer's aid menus, and on the CD included with the cables for more than information).

S-video port

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Media Platforms Design Team

Composite port

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Media Platforms Design Team

Go Wireless

Though wireless kits can seem complex, this method of linking your Idiot box and PC eliminates cable clutter, allowing you to stream content between the two devices, even from room to room or across the house.

Effort a media player, like D-Link's PC-on-TV (Model DPG-1200, $230, dlink.com), which lets you stream Internet and reckoner content like movies, photos, and music without any cables. I do good of such a device is that it allows you to connect to one or many network-enabled computers located in a dissimilar parts of your house: The PC-on-Boob tube Media Player's remote command allows you to control your PC remotely, so y'all can play movies and launch applications on your TV as if y'all're using a mouse at the computer.

IOGEAR's wireless sound/video kit ($350, iogear.com) is another wireless choice for linking your TV and one PC. IOGEAR's system offers wireless audio and HD video, operates very fast, and is piece of cake and secure to fix. Another advantage is that the kit includes a certified wireless USB, which will work with other certified products.

The Xbox 360 Console ($300, xbox.com) isn't only for video games: With a gratuitous Xbox Live subscription you can rent movies and become Idiot box downloads. Kids can enjoy its complimentary trials of hundreds of games and add-ons (including new songs, levels, and characters). With an Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter ($100, xbox.com), you tin can stream recorded TV shows, movies, and videos from a PC with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center to your console. Plus, when you subscribe to any Netflix plan over $viii.99 that offers unlimited streaming, you gain access to more than 12,000 movies and Telly shows if you lot accept an Xbox Live Gilt account ($50, xbox.com). Xbox Golden too offers photograph sharing, plus gaming extras like online gaming and Xbox Alive parties. Presently, Xbox LIVE Gold will besides connect you to Twitter, Facebook, and more. To run into the other devices that offering live streaming of Netflix videos, check out Rachel'due south blog.

Internet-Gear up Televisions

In the market place for a new telly? Another option that requires no additional cables or hardware is to invest in an Net-continued Boob tube. Most of the major TV manufacturers offer Cyberspace-fix devices, which, while they don't allow you to surf all over the Web, take partnered with various sites like YouTube, Flickr, Amazon Video on Demand, and more. To meet a more complete list of Internet-gear up TVs, see Rachel's weblog post.