If you already own a netbook or you are a prospective buyer, do not assume that you will only receive a portable device with limited computing power. Yes, a netbook can be limited in terms of computing power, it is not suitable for purposes like heavy image editing, 3D modeling or CAD/CAM but there are a lot of things that you can do with it.
You have the option to invest in a home theater PC (HTPC), and build a nice one to play your Full HD movies and play your favorite games. What if your requirements are down to playing standard definition movies? Of course, in this case a HTPC investment will prove to be too big and you can just achieve very good results with your netbook.
Here is my adaptation at home. An Asus Eee PC 1000 HE is connected to my TV set via the D-Sub (VGA) connection and to the receiver with 3.5 - 3.5 mm cable with a 1/4” adapter. The connection will be from the headphone jack on the netbook to the microphone jack on the receiver. Total investment will be about USD 20: USD 14 for the D-Sub cable, USD 4.54 for the retractable 3.5 mm cable and USD 1.10 for the 1/4" adapter.
Unfortunately almost none of the netbooks offer line-out connections. This brings you only one option, which is the headphone-microphone connection, making a multichannel environment impossible.
You can see a pre-recorded Discovery Channel show at DVD quality playing on the screen.
The same way, if you connect your netbook to your home theater system, then you can enjoy your music from your speakers and the visualizations of your music player. The connection will again be the same: D-Sub to the TV set and headphone to microphone on the receiver.
Read on for more information on making your netbook a portable media player, a nettop and an e-book reader.