What should I be looking for when purchasing an HDTV?

Using laptop with BLU RAY player and HDTV lcd tv together? what about the sound?

• hello. i am looking into purchasing a new laptop that features a blu ray drive and HDMI output. i currently own a 46" lcd HDTV and also a HARMON KARDON 5.1 reciever as my home setup. i understand that i can hook up the video outputs through the HDMI, but how do i get full 5.1 digital surround from the laptop/ blu ray? am i missing something? most of the laptops aonly have the standard headphone-out style jack. would i need a optical out? or a digital coax out? do they even make these? help

• Answer:

  Your headphone/speaker output should double as a digital - probably s/pdif - output, you will need to change the configuration in the audio control panel. You will need to get a cable to go from the output (1/8" jack) to coaxial for input to the receiver. Alternatively check your laptop spec for Toslink/optical audio out, if your receiver supports it. With the laptop and receiver models it would be possible to give a more exact answer.