FierceDaddy 2.0

First, let me apologize since I know all these questions have probably been asked ad nauseum. I've been reading about projectors for 4 hours and my head is swimming. I don't think I'm any closer to a selection. It looks to me like everyone considers projectors as something to use occasionally, and I was looking to use one as the everyday TV display.

I've been wandering in elctronics stores for years, but projector quality never blew my skirt up. I finally saw a projector that looked good. It was an epson 200+ for $3299, includes 80" pull screen. I have been halfheartedly shopping for a new tv for a couple month. I've never come accross a projector I would have considered until then. Most of what I see in TV tech is at Costco. Small town.

Anyway, there is alot of light in the room. It is about 20 by 16 with ten foot ceilings, 10 x 10 window on West wall. We could do drapes. Need em anyway. There is room for 100 inch wide screen on the North wall. I see on the projector webiste that for 100 inch screen, you need a focal lenght of 23 feet. The epson i saw was probably only 10 or 12, and filled 100 inches right up. So I know I'm missing something there.

This would be our main TV. I would need bright enough to handle some ambient light, I could probably find a light meter if necessary. We watch probably 2 hours of TV per day (usually at night, but I want it to work in daylight too), occasional movies, and PS2. I don't mind low hour lamps. Not too worried about interlacing. Dont' care how big or heavy it is. I would upgrade our current Directivo to HD tivo. But most tv we watch is 4:3. I just learned about rainbows and screen door today, so I don't know if I am susceptible.

The epson's 3200 would be the top of my price range. There are 1300 projectors on ebay tonight. Most fall below that.

I think my priorities would be: (and feel free to correct a noob)
1. brightness
2. lens shift to move around image
3. 780i at least
4. Picture in pikcture
5. quiet fan/color wheel
6. filling 100 inches at a shorter throw (9 feet would be perfect), 80 inches would work too

I don't care about weight or size, or lamp life (within reason). I'm more worried about daily TV than DVD's looking perfect. Won't get any HD programming locally, only what DirecTV has. Kind of excited to see some HD.

If this isn't feasible for a projector, pleaselet me know that, I could always get an actual TV. But I would really like the 80 (hopefully 100) inch and the zero presence when it's off.

Thanks to everyone, from a lurker. Been reading deals daily for at least five years.

FD

Agent Plissken

This may contain some info to help you in your search:
http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82042 (projector)

of course, Im telling everyone to build their own!
http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81408 (Build your own XGA projector for <$300)

For projector help, go to the top of the mountain and seek out the one they call Apex.

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FierceDaddy 2.0

I read both those yesterday, props for building your own setup. On the bar thread, I went running for the hills when I saw the $10000 comment.

I hope I didn't make the post too long. I dont' think my attention span would last through reading that whole....look! a cloud!

TheV

I saw the bar projector thread too...seems this one is the one I should have seen first. I've heard good things about InFocus projectors...but currently I've got my eye on a Panasonic AE700U. The cost & resolution seem the best I can find so far. Anyone else making the leap to big screen yet?

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