HTPC...in reverse?

[blackangst1]

So here's the setup I'd like to accomplish. My main PC is near the livingroom. I'd like to be able to pull up the internet, or access my pc for videos or movies, from the couch. I dont have a problem getting the PC connected to the TV; however, my question is how can I seamlessly integrate the two and change back and forth between TV and PC?

Here's the relevant hardware I will be using for now:
Nvidia GTX260 vid card
Microsoft Remote Keyboard for Windows XP Media Center Edition (http://www.microsoft.com/products/i...3d5dae9e-3bcc-4516-8cdd-25d1745a9734&type=ovr)
Vizio 55" 1080p LCD (model VF550M http://www.vizio.com/vf550m.html)
25 foot DVI/HDMI cable for video to TV
25 foot S/PDIF optical out for audio to amp
Windows 7 Ultimate
Direct TV

Now, the reason I like that keyboard, even though its infrared, is it has remote learning capabilities so I can integrate into the TV. I still need to find an IR receiver for the PC though. My question though, is if Im watching TV how am I going to switch to PC display on the fly? In other words, Im watching Discovery channel and I want to look something up on Google. I want to be able to switch to PC mode automatically, look it up, then go back to TV. Or even PIP it. Or, Im watching TV and now I want to queue up a movie on my hard drive to watch. Its not a true HTPC per se, as Im not using my PC as the main TV, entertainment, etc. But I want to seamlessly integrate it.

Ideas?

 

[JSt0rm]

You need a monitor switcher

 

[blackangst1]

Thx man that's what I was thinking. I think I have all my hookups correct...I'll keep a lookout for a switcher. If anyone else has suggestions let me know.

 

[Paperdoc]

MAYBE you can use the TV's input switching capability, depending on how you set things up / which units you buy. If you can a TV that has BOTH its own tuner AND a second for HDMI, for example, the TV itself will have the ability to switch which signal it displays - its own, or one of the external inputs. I expect that switching function will be included in the TV's remote. If you feed the video AND audio signals from the computer via HDMI cable to the TV, with an HDMI cable output carrying the audio signal on to your sound system, I expect the TV's source switching function also will switch which audio signal it send out to the sound system. It gets a little trickier if you run the computer's audio signal output (maybe a more complex one such as you indicate through SPDIF) directly to your sound system, because then switching the audio source is separate from the video source at the TV. However, maybe you want it this way. And of course, IF you use separate audio signal cabling, the feed to your TV could be either HDMI or DVI (which cannot carry audio with it), depending on input sources your TV can handle.

Once you decide those items, you can concentrate on ensuring your computer has the right video card, audio signals and cabling to supply the requisite signals to the TV and sound systems.