<p>Even though I'm asian, I'm really, really bad with computers. So, I had a couple of questions:
1) What is ethernet? There is some talk of needing a cable or something for that ****? Is it expensive? Isn't there wireless in the dorms (Fletcher)?
2) If I want to watch tv from my computer, what do I need? </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>To put it simply, Ethernet means fast internet. When you use dial-up, you plug a phone cable into your computer. When you have faster internet like cable or what the dorms have, you use a bigger ethernet cable (usually they'll be called network cable, or RJ-45, or Cat5/Cat6 in stores). They can kinda cost a lot at stores, but only because they highly mark it up. If you go to ebay or look online, you should be able to find one for a few bucks as opposed to the $20-30ish stores charge.</p>
<p>TV Tuner card.</p>
<p>If you have a laptop you will need to go with a usb or firwire tv tuner. My usb one was $150, but I don't see too many of the firewire ones so I don't even know if they exist. Also there may be such a thing as a PCMCIA tv tuner, but I'm not sure.</p>
<p>If you have a desktop, you can even find cards for about $80 on clearance at certain stores like Walmart.</p>
<p>Personally, I think I would look into the Slingbox. <a href="http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sling-Media-Slingbox-SLINGBOX-/sem/rpsm/oid/134118/catOid/-13782/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do?WT.mc_n=199873&WT.mc_t=U&cm_ven=PAID%20SEARCH&cm_cat=ADVERTISING.COM&cm_pla=CATEGORY%20-%20P*S*T-%3ECLASS%20-%20NETWORKING&cm_ite=68420%20PURCHASED%20KEYWORD-SLINGBOX&cm_keycode=199873%5B/url%5D">http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sling-Media-Slingbox-SLINGBOX-/sem/rpsm/oid/134118/catOid/-13782/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do?WT.mc_n=199873&WT.mc_t=U&cm_ven=PAID%20SEARCH&cm_cat=ADVERTISING.COM&cm_pla=CATEGORY%20-%20P*S*T-%3ECLASS%20-%20NETWORKING&cm_ite=68420%20PURCHASED%20KEYWORD-SLINGBOX&cm_keycode=199873</a>
<a href="http://www.slingmedia.com/us/%5B/url%5D">http://www.slingmedia.com/us/</a>
Plug it into you cable line and it will stream you tv over the internet. And its down to $200 on CircuitCity.com</p>
<p>As far as I know, none of the dorms have wireless. At orientation they said the walls are too thick and when I asked when it would be installed they guessed in maybe ten years...:( And they said if you hook up a wireless router, they will hunt you down...although I've heard many people hook up wireless routers.</p>
<p>So we need to bring our own ethernet cables?</p>
<p>They only supple the cable to connect the hub to the outlet. My guess is ethernet cable is one of the items the halls will sell. During orientation I say they sell items such as power strips. Probably overpriced.</p>
<p>Alright, I'll throw a few cables in my suitcases, I'll make a few bucks..</p>
<p>I think I have three regular and one crossover packed up.</p>
<p>damn, that's pretty expensive. there's no cheaper way to watch tv on your computer?</p>
<p>Do you not own a tv, or are you wanting to save space? I guess I don't know why you want to watch tv on your computer. Tivo like functionality? Thats what I always used my desktop at home for. And beware, some capture cards create a delay from what you would see with a normal tv. So no playing games since the screen would be slightly behind the game system. It also creates a notable disruption while switching channels.</p>
<p>If you want to have a desktop monitor to double as a tv to save space you could look into a vga tv tuner. No tivo then and you wouldn't be able to use the desktop while it is going. The monitor would have to be hooked up to one or the other and then you would probably want to buy a switch. I've seen them for about $50 online.</p>
<p>I've looked into this a lot since I wanted to save space and get a high quality image on my computer. Its just cost prohibitive.</p>
<p>If you simply want to watch tv, go for this: <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815276003%5B/url%5D">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815276003</a></p>
<p>External TV tuner for $30 + $5 shipping. Cheap as hell man, not expensive at all.</p>
<p>For good quality on your gaming systems, they have good connectors like the xbox 360, for example. It has a special VGA cable.</p>
<p>i wanted to get tv on my laptop cuz i'm only gonna have 1 tv for 3 people and i don't want to be fighting over it.</p>
<p>I think at orientation they said that you can buy ethernet cables at the computer store in the Union pretty cheap.</p>
<p>Ok, is an ethernet cable the same as a cable that I would use to hook a computer into my router thingy that hooks into the cable box? And the thing that hooks up xbox live into same??? Or does he need a different kind of cable?</p>
<p>Yep, same cables</p>
<p>Last year, I think I bought my ethernet cable at the Union for about $15.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.monoprice.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.monoprice.com</a>
Cheap, if you don't need them right away.</p>