Devhux

A few months ago, you may remember I was looking at getting a new TV. That didn't end up happening right away due to financial reasons, but now that I'm getting a decent tax return, I'm re-thinking my options.

Originally I was thinking of getting a 42" plasma (Panasonic), but now I'm having second thoughts..... after seeing a nice little projector. I'm not looking for anything fancy, and am looking in the $800-$1200 range for a projector (something like the Optoma Movietime DV10 w/built-in DVD player is the type I've been eyeing). Basically any short-throw projector would work (something that could sit on a coffee table and project a 50" image or so, yet be portable enough that if I did want to transport it, I could easily do so).

HD isn't a big seller for me (some may think I'm nuts for saying this, but to each his/her own). I just want something bigger than my 32" CRT, and this is yet another option that is cheaper than a plasma, yet might still work for me.

Any thoughts?

ArkiStan

Projectors can easily project much larger than regular flat panels, but it has a drawback that some might consider inconvenient. Compared to plasmas you need a much darker ambient light setting to fully enjoy a projection. This may not be too convenient for casual TV watching. You can't always live in complete darkness. Personally, I don't watch much TV and when I watch movies, I'm serious about getting a complete experience, so I wouldn't mind turning out all the lights if I had to.

johnnymk

I have a BenQ SGA projector and a 92" screen in my living room. The screen is a manual up/down type which is positioned in front of my 6-1/2 foot window. When I want to watch movies, I pull the screen down and it darkens the room.

The projector is mounted near the ceiling by an adapter I built. It is approximately 16 feet away from the screen.

I have no problem during the day watching movies. The resolution is acceptable and it has a real "WOW' factor to friends.

The change I would have made would have been to spend the extra money to purchase an XGA projector. On a very few movies, I notice a slight grainy effect. If I had the projector closer, I am sure that there would be no graininess.

Today you can buy decent SGA projectors for $600 to $700 and a 90" screen for less than $100. I highly recommend the combination.

mcs328

Well I had a projector that the previous owner left inside my condo as part of the sale and it was great. Then the bulb needed to be replaced and that was 400-500 bucks. So you might want to see how long do the bulbs last and how much do they cost.

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johnnymk

Mine is supposed to last 3000 hours in economy mode and 2000 hours in the other modes They seem to average $400, which is outrageous and I doubt that there will ever be generic bulbs. This is the one downfall of projectors.

AlpineJay

You can check AVSForum for this, but I believe the Optoma you were mentioning is considered to be one of the worst projectors - the built-in DVD player isn't that great, and the PQ is subpar.

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Devhux

To be fair, I will be running an HTPC to it -- so as long as I can get a short-throw projector, I'd be all set.

Any recommendations on such a unit? (As mentioned, ceiling mounting is not really viable, since I do want this to be portable (somewhat).

Edit: I also registered and made a post over at avsforum -- looks like a great site for stuff like this.

redcolours

heh, its THE site for stuff like this. thats how i got to know a bit about HDs and HTPCs back in the day...
it has so muich information on it. you just have to wade thru all the repeated newbie questions and stupid/lazy posts by lazy readers who dont bother to search enough.

about your question, how big is your entertainment room where youd like your projector?
also, as was previously said, unless the room is truly dark, the PQ isnt going to be as sharp on a projector, ive seen poorly lighted (or non-lighted) rooms with projectors, and the PQ looks washed out, imho. plus the bulb is expensive. i dont know about you, but i love watching my DVDs/ripped movies/downloaded pr0n (haha!) on my HTPC. i spend more time watching them than watching TV.
(its cut back though - my HDTV died, and im now looking for a replacement myself).

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there are pictures, but no,nothing happens on my site.

Bires

The noise of the cooling fan doesn't bother you? Usually, the projector is very near the audience, which can make for an irritating viewing environment, but to each their own.

For my $0.02: Once you watch the NFL or Nascar in HD, you'll wonder how you went so long without it. It's NICE!!!!1111!!1

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Five years...

Devhux

Well I'm starting to consider a few options (based on recommendations, and room size -- 10-12 feet). Also, it's in a basement, and the only window is covered, so even in daylight I get very little light in the room if needed.

For an HD projector, the InFocus ScreenPlay 5000 looks decent (720p). Otherwise, Epson's Home10+ seems to be the next-best choice, despite it being 480p only. The InFocus might not work well for me, since it does require more space between the projector and screen.

Once I dig up a tape measure, I'm going to measure things exactly, then I can go from there.

redcolours

my requirement for an HDTV: has to be 720p capable.
that why as much as i only need a 32" HDTV for now (very tiny apartment), ive skipped the recent RCA refurbs on the deals page. it can do 480p/1080i only.
i dunno, HD PQ (regardless if theyre broadcast in 720p or 1080i) looks better in progressive scan than interlaced. people say they dont notice it, but i see the flicker of the alternating even and odd lines in an interlaced scan.

if you have to get it, id strongly recommend the InFocus, if your only other choice is the epson.