>>> Does anyone know of a self-powered external video card (USB, Firewire, >>> ExpressCard) that has composite/RCA output and works in Gentoo? I'd >>> like to use it to connect my laptop (VGA output only) to TVs while I'm >>> travelling. >> >> Something like this? >> >> http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223833 >> >> OS compatibility isn't an issue because it only deals with >> video signals. There is a USB connection to the computer, but >> only to supply power. > > I've used various widgets similar to that, and they work fine. > but remember than you're not going to get much more than > 640x480 resolution on a TV via composite video. Setting your > desktop to 800x600 usually works OK, but things are going to be > a bit on the fuzzy side. > > -- > Grant
That looks pretty slick and it has good reviews: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815260011 Ideally, I'd like to get something with the option to use DVI or HDMI as well as composite. Then it would need to be a sound card too unless I was using separate audio cables. Does anyone know of anything? It might be even better to have a real external video and sound card connected via a real USB interface. That way, you could use only an HDMI cable, or you could run audio and video cables from the device to the TV, instead of audio cables going from the laptop to the TV. However, I'm not sure something like that exists. Here is something that looks close: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PSVBFY - Grant
