Laptop video out to TV

Question

My new Laptop doesn't have s-video out. However, it has a connector for a 2nd monitor.

A local shop has told me that its very simple, all I need to do is get a connector from the monitor out to the TV in. They priced this at about 15$.

Is this true, or is there more to this then they are telling me?

Edit: This may make a difference - the purpose of this is to view videos from my computer - not to use it as a different monitor.

EDIT: This is the response from my computer local retailer:

"Thankfully there are a ton of options now a days for this. A simple vga to s-video or rca adapter does NOT work - this only works on a few nvidia desktop cards made from 1997 to 2005. You can:

1. buy a converter like http://www.amazon.com/AVERMEDIA-PQUICKPLY-Avermedia-Quickplay/dp/B0000CD08Z/sr=8-5/qid=1172089056/ref=pd%5Fbbs%5F5/103-5125342-5358237?ie=UTF8&s=electronics or http://www.abccables.com/vga-rca-svideo.html - cheap, easy, inexpensive solution, available on ebay and elsewhere for ~ $35-$85.

2. buy an expensive t60 docking unit, which includes a converter and has a vga out.

3. Use a television that has VGA input - most TVs manufactured in the past 5 or 6 years have one."

Answer 1

There is more to this than they are telling you. The cheap cable will only work if the chipset in your laptop supports outputting a composite video signal on one of the output leads. Not all graphics cards support this.

If yours does not, you will need a more expensive converter (~$100?) to convert the signal.

There is more information in the discussion here.

Answer 2

Typically, something similar to this will suffice, as long as your card can handle it (sometimes there seem to be signal issues).

And, if your card doesn't support it, you won't be out much cash.

Answer 3

You might also want to check your TV. Many LCD TVs sold today have VGA, HDMI, and other PC type connectors so that they can be used as a monitor.