Laptop with HDMI and playing videos on a big screen HDTV?
 

Not sure where this question should be posted so I'll try here. I just got a new (to me) laptop with an HDMI output, could this be used to play a movie or itunes video to my sony 1080i big screen tv through a home theater system?

Yes, it can work. I've plugged in my laptop via HDMI to a big screen, then use VLC to watch videos.

A dedicated Blu-ray player or a media player...

... like a Samsung player - http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=U...R7ODNWLSN5CRV5
... or WDTV media center - http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=U...PYZPWOL2RTFX5Y

.. is of course better, but the laptop to TV works great in a pinch -- like visiting relatives who have neither, but do have an HDTV to HDMI, and you want to show the some videos. Been there, done that!

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