Intel recently introduced a new technology called Wireless Display which will, as it’s name suggests, allow you to wirelessly display laptop content on your TV. This sounds pretty cool right? Instead of watching that YouTube video on your laptop screen, with Intel Wireless Display (IWD), you can watch it on your big TV.

Only computer models equipped with certain Intel 2010 Core i processors have the Wireless Display capability. Basically look for this logo  on the laptop or laptop spec sheet. You need 3 things for this to work:

  1. A new laptop with one of these Core i processors. Netgear actually has a pretty good list going for IWD equipped laptops.
    • Intel® Coreâ„¢ i7-620M
    • Intel Core i5-540M
    • Intel Core i5-520M
    • Intel Core i5-430M
    • Intel® Coreâ„¢ i3-350M
    • Intel Core i3-330M
  2. An Intel Wireless Display TV adapter, like the Push2TV from Netgear.
  3. And a TV with either an HDMI or AV Composite input.

A customer recently asked if a laptop equipped with Intel Wireless Display would allow him to easily connect an external monitor for use at his desk. Technically speaking, you could use the Intel Wireless Display to connect to a monitor (equipped with an HDMI input), however because IWD is geared for TVs, it only supports limited resolutions.

According to Intel, here are the supported IWD resolutions:

  • 1280 x 800
  • 1280 x 768
  • 1280 x 720
    • *All at 30 frames per second.

So, I would say pretty much “no” to using IWD to connect your laptop to an external monitor for doing actual work.

Here are some other technical details about IWD which are all in very tiny print at the bottom a one of Intel’s product brochures.

  • Due to a small delay between the laptop and TV, highly interactive applications may be difficult to use. Also, as an unprotected display, content that asserts output protection, such as DVD and Blu-ray discs, will not play.
  • Requires a 2.40 GHz connection to your wireless router. Supports a range of up to 20 feet between a laptop and TV in the same room. When using Intel® Wireless Display while connected to your wireless router, the performance of your wireless network may be reduced.

We haven’t actually used it yet, so this isn’t meant to be a review but I had to look up the specs and general information about it, so I thought I’d share it with you.