VGA

[chasiyana]

What is the difference between the functionality and performance of S-video and VGA? My new laptop doesn't have S-video out whereas my old one did (not that I ever used it). Is this something I should be bothered about? What is the difference between it and the standard VGA monitor cable in terms of functionality and performance? I'm thinking about playing DVDs through my laptop on my new LCD tv. What is ideally the best way to do this?
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[Blín D'ñero]

Separate Video, more commonly known as S-Video, also called Y/C, and sometimes incorrectly referred to as Super Video, is an analog video signal that carries video data as two separate signals: luma (luminance) and chroma (color). This differs from composite video, which carries picture information as a single lower-quality signal, and component video, which carries picture information as three separate higher-quality signals.
S-Video carries standard definition video (typically at 480i or 576i resolution), but does not carry audio on the same cable.

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Video Graphics Array (VGA) refers specifically to the display hardware first introduced with the IBM PS/2 line of computers in 1987,[1] but through its widespread adoption has also come to mean either an analog computer display standard, the 15-pin D-subminiature VGA connector or the 640×480 resolution itself. While this resolution was superseded in the personal computer market in the 1990's, it is becoming a popular resolution on mobile devices.

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In comparison, VGA allows for a much richer colour palette, quality at higher resolutions, frequencies, etc.
But: Look at the resolution on your laptop's screen, then compare to the size of your TV. I think the videocard in your laptop was never designed to bring about quality video on a big TV screen. Unless you have a very powerful laptop i suppose the performance will be dissatisfying: stuttering until you lower the settings, so low quality in the end.
It can't hurt to try: connect your TV to the VGA and see.