Windows 7: HDMI lead for Acer Aspire 5742Z

Thought I might try connecting my JVC mini-cam GR-D340E/EK to the laptop. Am trying to buy a cable to do the job but am rather unsure what the description is of both plugs.
Also is HDMI the same as IEEE ??

I have an ACER Aspire 5742G so almost the same as you have. IEEE is a standardisation institute. HDMI is... don't you know what a hdmi cable is?

HDMI is mainly used to send video and sound to another device. For example a blue ray player can send video and sound to television using a HDMI cable. It transfers digital (not analog). HDMI 1.4 has more capabilities such as send a signal back. For example you switch the television to a new normal channel... blue ray switches off automatically. Buy the cheapest for about 4 dollar! There's no such thing a high quality cable! This is because it's all digital information with error checking. Only if cable is longer as 3 meters it can give to much errors and fails. Or if you bend it to much it can break. Otherwise...... buy a cheap one.

But as far as I know you want to send video to laptop and save it on harddisk(?)
So you want to input to laptop using HDMI. What graphics card is in machine (radeon HD 5400)? On that card specifications:

Integrated HDMI 1.3 output with Deep Color, xvYCC wide gamut support, and high bit-rate audio



Integrated HD audio controller

• Output protected high bit rate 7.1 channel surround sound over HDMI with no additional cables required
• Supports AC-3, AAC, Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio formats

For example you can connect your laptop to television or audio amplifier using HDMI cable. It sends sound and video from laptop to device.

But that's not what you want(?)

Thanks for all that info. Have just got around to investigating HDMI on the Acer. There seem to be so many variations of ends on the leads I really just want to know what to order for the Acer (I know what the JVC mini-cam needs). A metre length cable would be OK for my needs. Will then do some experimenting with the files from the mini-cam on the lap-top (have nothing specific in the way of projects yet.)

Just buy a HDMI 1.4 cable and you can connect to television, audio equipment etc. It's just OUTPUTS audio and video from laptop to that equipment.

What connections are on minicam?

Mini-cam manual says " DV 4 pin, PC 4 or 6 pin." Am not sure how many pins the 5742Z has (it looks more than 4 or 6), which was all I really wanted to know so as to order the correct lead.

My ACER 5742G (you have 5742Z) doesn't have FIREWIRE!!
IEEE 1394 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
that's what you're talking about?

minicam has a tape or harddisk in it?

It has tape, does that make a difference to the lead end ?

Of course it makes difference! A tape plays the video all the time and laptop has to capture it immediately.

If it was a disk.... the laptop could transfer the mpeg-file.

If using tape you are in trouble if laptop is too slow to capture real time. Most of the time laptop is fast enough if you're not doing other things.

Buy a "usb2.0 to firewire" cable for about $10

OK will try that.