# Possible to get video IN on laptops? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 14, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-get-video-in-on-laptops/181904 "2003-06-14T21:48:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-get-video-in-on-laptops/181904/1 "2003-06-14T21:48:13Z")
I know most laptops have video output in standard RCA format, but is it possible to get laptops that feature a video-in option? If not built into the laptop, could one get perhaps a firewire device that provides video-in support? ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-get-video-in-on-laptops/181904/2 "2003-06-14T22:01:16Z")
Firewire is a standard for [Macintosh](http://www.apple.com/ibook/specs.html) laptops. Digitial video cameras typically have firewire ports…(some even have pass thru mode…so you could pass an analog signal directly through the firewire port into the laptop to work with) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-get-video-in-on-laptops/181904/3 "2003-06-14T22:22:14Z")
The also make PCMCIA video capture cards for laptops, as well. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-get-video-in-on-laptops/181904/4 "2003-06-15T00:00:11Z")
The tricky thing I found was finding software that would let me watch the video full-screen full-quality. In fact, I didn’t find any. The best I could get was making the capture preview screen on some digitising/capture software full screen, but the resolution was very crappy. I basically had my Sony PD150 firewired in to my Vaio, I was previewing the camera’s output with some software (like capturing, but not actually recording to my harddrive if you see what I mean) and I had that preview window full screen. At the time, I was trying to find a way to play Xbox via my laptop, as my TV hadn’t arrived. It was playable (I had the red/white/yellow of the Xbox plugged into the red/white/yellow of the PD150) but GHASTLY bad vision quality. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-get-video-in-on-laptops/181904/5 "2003-06-15T01:43:42Z")
Hmm, this is very unsettling then. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-get-video-in-on-laptops/181904/6 "2003-06-15T02:12:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trigonal Planar \* > \*\*I know most laptops have video output in standard RCA format, but is it possible to get laptops that feature a video-in option? If not built into the laptop, could one get perhaps a firewire device that provides video-in support? \*\* I work with laptops and data projectors constantly, and I’ve never seen a laptop with a “standard” video OUT. First of all, RCA is not a format, it is a type of connector. The “standard” video format, i.e., a normal TV signal, is called NTSC. An NTSC out (using an RCA connector) is fairly common, though by no means universal, on desktop computers. Laptop standard video output is through a VGA connector. The signal itself is typically VGA or SVGA. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-get-video-in-on-laptops/181904/7 "2003-06-15T02:36:12Z")
Hmm, this is very unsettling then. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-get-video-in-on-laptops/181904/8 "2003-06-15T05:46:37Z")
As **Q.E.D.** says, there are PCMCIA cards that provide an analog video-in function. One such is the [Imperx VCE-B5A01](http://www.imperx.com/products.asp?catName=framegrabbers), which costs US$299. Also available [here](http://www.jknelectronics.com/vidcap1.htm). I’ve seen this one in action, and it was running 640x480 at 30 frames/sec with no problem. I believe it can go full-screen if you so require. Another PCMCIA Frame Grabber is the [Hasotec FG-30-II](http://www.hasotec.com/Fg30dcrd.htm), but the page linked to does not show a price (and is in German, if that’s a problem). Specifications seem similar to the Imperx. If you _really_ need an external video input unit with firewire connection to the PC, there’s the [Imaging Source DFG-1394-1](http://www.theimagingsource.com/prod/grab/dfg13941/dfg13941.htm), available from [here](http://www.jknelectronics.com/dfg1394.htm) for US$495. So settle yourself, **Trigonal Planar** , unless these prices are more than you are prepared to pay. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-get-video-in-on-laptops/181904/9 "2003-06-15T15:24:37Z")
Why no just use a Dazzle USB box? they have video in. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-get-video-in-on-laptops/181904/10 "2003-06-15T15:54:28Z")
**Boyo Jim** > [@](#): > > I work with laptops and data projectors constantly, and I’ve never seen a laptop with a “standard” video OUT Mine does. “WallStreet” PowerBook. S-Video out. As far as I know, all PowerBooks newer than mine have it as well. To answer the OP, no video in except via video-digitizing cards AFAIK. Also no VGA-in, which I always found annoying (you should be able to use a laptop screen as a monitor for another computer in a pinch). ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-get-video-in-on-laptops/181904/11 "2003-06-15T23:19:32Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Boyo Jim_ > \*\*I work with laptops and data projectors constantly, and I’ve never seen a laptop with a “standard” video OUT. > \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AHunter3 \* > \*\*Mine does. “WallStreet” PowerBook. S-Video out. As far as I know, all PowerBooks newer than mine have it as well. > \*\* So does mine (1997-era Micron Transport Trek, 266MHz Pentium-based). And many, many more recent ones that I’ve seen. S-video seems more popular than composite (via RCA connector). I would say that, compared to desktops, a _much_ higher percentage of laptops have “standard” (S-video or composite) video out.