Hello So, the doctor tells me I need to spend a lot more time with my legs propped up over my heart. This is due to all the swelling and now skin issues I'm having. They don't want me to spend long hours with my feet hanging down as I have been doing. This is definitely going to impact the time I spend on my desktop. I have no way to prop up my feet at my desk and especially not higher than my heart.

To make a long story short (shorter) I've been thinking I need a new laptop computer capable of at least playing any game big fish throws at it. I do also play some RPG's when the mood strikes, but I can probably use my current desktop for that if I limit my time and take lots of breaks.

What kind of cost am I looking at? I want a reasonably big screen - 17 inch? As powerful a video card as I can manage while keeping the cost down. Any ideas on some systems out there and/or the minimum I'm going to need to spend for a decent system? All advice will be gratefully appreciated.

You may want to think outside the box and consider a monitor stand for your present setup instead of a new computer. Going from a large monitor to a small laptop screen can sometimes be a letdown. They have all kinds of stands that can raise monitors up and down on a sliding pole or on swing arm so they can hover over you in your recliner. They are way cheaper than a laptop. However if you really want a laptop now is a good time to buy one. Many websites and stores will be offering "Black Friday" deals.

Geo's idea is actually a pretty good one. Combine that with a wireless keyboard and mouse and you could be good to go for way less that the $700+ you'd probably have to spend on a laptop. A 17" one would probably cost even more than that.

Sorry to hear of your troubles ! As for a gaming laptop , plan on spending at least $1,000 for anything decent . By decent , I mean a 17 inch 1080p screen , with dedicated graphics , & Win 10 Pro . Newegg had 17 gaming laptops for about 900 , but these were mostly with integrated graphics (Nvidia m , meaning "mobile" graphics) . Not knowing what your budget is , does put a bit of a damper on things . Perhaps a cheaper route , would be to hook up your desktop to your tv , & use a wireless keyboard & mouse , with some sort of table , (a tv tray or the like), across your chair .

Some Smart TVs even allow you to access your desktop content wirelessly.

Thank you all for the good advice. It had not occurred to me to hookup my computer to my TV. I have a TV in my bedroom that is 40 inches and sits really near the bed. I already have a wireless keyboard and mouse. So it appears it's just a matter of attaching my desktop to the TV. I can use an HDMI plug, but that will mean moving my desktop into the bedroom. Should not be a problem. I am using the Roku sticks on both my TVs and my blurays are both wireless connections. Just need a tv tray table to work from and I'm all set. Am I? Did I miss anything? Will probably buy some kind of wireless setup eventually. Don't want to lower my video standards. Anything else I need to consider?

As long as your WiFi is a good connection, you can use your Roku to connect your computer wirelessly to your TV. You just need a Roku channel called Plex. I'm not sure you can game that way, but I know you can stream content to your TV from your desktop.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/256058/stream_media_from_your_pc_to_your_roku_box.html

So far as I'm aware, Plex doesn't work that way Drac. In order to use your PC as a Media Server you have to install the Plex Media Server software and add their channel to your Roku.

I use it all the time for movies, but so far as I know, it only streams video content.

Thanks Draclvr. I added Plex to my Roku channels, but I don't think I can game that way unless I'm missing something. And gaming is my primary concern right now. I'm going to check out Amazon for a long HDMI cable so I can maybe keep my computer where it is. (Next to my 65 inch Samsung TV.)Then with a couple pillows propping up my legs on my recliner I should be good to go.

That's kind of what I thought. I know I can stream photos and videos and movies etc., but had a feeling it wouldn't allow you to access things like games.

Just went to Amazon and ordered a 10 ft HDMI cable. I'm thinking that should be long enough. If it isn't or just doesn't work out I can return it. They also have a 25 ft cable. Delivery is scheduled for Sunday so we'll see how it goes. I'll let you all know how well or if this works for me.

Now THAT'S the perfect solution! Let us know how it goes.

Had to reorder a 25 ft HDMI cable as the 10 ft one wasn't quite long enough. That came and I've now hooked it up. IT WORKS! But there are a couple issues.

1. The Windows screen fills my 65 inch screen. But the icons and text are too small to read from across the room. How do I fix that?

2. I tried one of my IHOG's, Mystery Trackers: The Black Isle. The picture comes in full screen, but half the page is missing. The right side of the picture is just a black area. You can see where it cuts the detective's badge neatly in half in the title page.

Assuming I can get the other half of the game to appear, I'm wondering how I'm going to be able to read the text on all my programs, and in my games. If I use the TV screen strictly for playing IHOGs. I'm still going to be spending a good bit of time at the computer desk and I won't be able to read any text in the game.

Any advice on how to fix the size issues?

Edit: I spoke too soon. I've tried a couple other games (newer) and they are playing fine with big full screens and large text. And I've gone into the control panel and pulled up appearance. I've enlarged the font and icon size to 150% and that has made some improvement..Some programs I can enlarge the font size to a readable view, others I can't. So I will go back and forth to the appropriate monitor to do what I need. It is good to know that now I can play most of my IHOGs on the big screen with my feet propped up.

My graphics card has 2 hdmi ports, so I can switch displays as needed. I want to thank everyone here again for this great advice. Now, how can I get Black Isle to display fully?

2nd Edit: Correction - I only have one HDMI port on my graphics card. But I'm going to use an HDMI Splitter to change the display on my computer/tv. I think I may have one or I can buy one.

As for Black Isle, I changed the resolution on my TV display from 3180 x 2160 down to 1920 x 1060 and it's made a world of difference. I never dreamed I could have that kind of resolution from my computer. Now Black Isle shows completely and the text is very easy to read. Also my other programs are very readable. I keep learning new things about my computer.

This is the greatest news ever!! I've been wondering how it was going. You now have the best of both worlds and can play with your feet elevated! Many thanks to Creeping Doom for the suggestion. This would also be a good suggestion for anyone who is vision-impaired.

You sure you don't have a Display port you can use with your computer monitor? Most modern video cards have both HDMI and Display ports, and a modern computer monitor may also have both, though a TV may only have HDMI.