Connect Nettop to TV | Home Theater PC

One solution, and the solution that I personally use for connecting my laptop to my TV, is to get rid of my laptop all together. Instead of constantly messing with cables, changing resolutions and screen settings, and booting up my laptop all the time, I decided it was worth the investment to buy a Nettop for about $350.

A nettop (half netbook, half desktop) is a very small computer that runs silently, puts off very little heat, and uses hardly any power. They're about the size of the Nintendo Wii, so they'll fit easily in your entertainment center, and can run any media file you can run on your laptop.

At my house I have an Acer AspireRevo 1600, but they're currently discontinued. The new Acer model is the AspireRevo AR3700-U3002.

Acer AspireRevo AR3700-U3002

With a 250GB hard drive, 2GB RAM, an HDMI-out port, 6 USB ports, and an Intel ION graphics card, this device will be the last thing you ever need to connect to your TV. The AR3700 comes with Windows 7 pre-installed, so all you need to do is plug in the power cord, included mouse and keyboard, and connect it to your TV with a garden variety HDMI cable. Then just power the nettop on, use the built-in WiFi to connect to your home network, and you instantly have yourself an excellent Home Theater Personal Computer (HTPC).

Of course, there are a few things that you could consider purchasing to make your HTPC setup that much more enjoyable...

4GB SODIMM DDR3 PC3-10600

While the AR3700 comes with 2GB RAM pre-installed, you can get a lot more power out of it by simply adding more RAM. It is not recommended to mix RAM modules, as it can cause blue screens and other technical problems. If you buy this 2GB x 2 set from Crucial you can't go wrong. Installing it is simple and it is the single biggest DIY hardware improvement that will make your nettop faster.

HDMI Cable

Without an HDMI Cable it will be difficult to connect your nettop to your TV. Simply plug one end into your AspireRevo's HDMI output and the other end into your TV's HDMI input, switch your TV's input to HDMI, and your nettop is successfully connected to your TV. Of course, if your nettop or TV doesn't have an HDMI connection you can check out your other options with my easy to use form that shows what cables you need to connect your laptop to your TV.

Logitech diNovo Mini

Lastly, and probably my favorite gadget in my entire house, is the Logitech diNovo Mini. This small device featured in several episodes of 24 makes controlling your TV-connected nettop (or laptop) as easy as possible from the comfort of your couch. The diNovo mini connects to your nettop or laptop via a USB Bluetooth connection, allowing you to wirelessly control your HTPC from up to 30 feet away. It allows for control of both keyboard, mouse, and media buttons through possibly the most intuitive compact controls I've ever used.

In my experience it holds a charge for 3-4 days of regular use before needing to be plugged in. It fits perfectly in the palms of your hands and takes up a lot less space than a full-sized keyboard and mouse would in your living room.