HMM, I am thinking of buying a projector.

[montypythizzle]

I would like a suggestion for a projector, new preferably, and ~1000 dollars.
I wish that projectors would come with tuners 🙁 My computer will have to do for tuning abilities, or an HD cable box for 7 or 12 dollars a month, I forgot.

It will be used for some computer duties and movies/TV.
Small throw really, only ~6 feet, on a white wall for now.

If I cannot get a projector for cheap or there aren't any good ones really I will just get the 61" DLP LED from Samsung.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If you're only throwing 6 feet, you'll want one with a really good zoom.

How far away are you sitting?

Based on what you've said so far, I think the Panasonic AX-200 at about $1299 including extended warrant (from some sellers) would be a good starting point.

Actually putting a 6' throw into that on the calculator only gives a ~62" image with the 2x zoom that the unit has.

How did you come up with your 6' throw requirement?

http://www.projectorcentral.co...nic_Home-PT-AX200U.htm

 

[montypythizzle]

I guess I could go from the back of the room. I am going to be using it in my room, which is pretty small, lets go for around 8-10 feet. (sorry I am getting confused about using the calculator)
Eh, 3 LCD, don't those get out of convergence easily or am I just being unreasonable?

Thanks for the help Jello.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
I guess I could go from the back of the room. I am going to be using it in my room, which is pretty small, lets go for around 8-10 feet. (sorry I am getting confused about using the calculator)
Eh, 3 LCD, don't those get out of convergence easily or am I just being unreasonable?

Thanks for the help Jello.

At 8 feet, you could get ~81" and 10 feet up to ~101"

The calculator on the projector central site is assuming that you're going to be throwing from farther away than the 6' distance, so the default ranges of the throw range and image size bars don't allow you to easily select short throw distances.

If you use the +/- buttons to select smaller figures, you can get bars that are resized to what you're proposing.

I haven't really experienced convergence issues with mine and haven't heard about that as a significant complaint.

Have you seen any in person to see what they look like and if any convergence issues are apparent to you?

 

[montypythizzle]

Well, if you say so 😛

I think I will get it along with either a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player (whoever is winning at the moment 😱) or the combo drive for 275$.
HMM, I think I might go the combo drive and a QAM computer tuner.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
Well, if you say so 😛

I think I will get it along with either a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player (whoever is winning at the moment 😱) or the combo drive for 275$.
HMM, I think I might go the combo drive and a QAM computer tuner.

Cheap way - get the HD-DVD Xbox 360 drive off Buy.com for $165 shipped (King Kong, 5 free movies plus Heroes Season 1 on HD-DVD) and connect that to your HTPC. Mine's showing up next week 😀

 

[Kaido]

Also I have a 720p Mitsubishi HD1000u projectror, which is a DLP. I really, really love it. It won't fit your needs since the throw distance on the online calculator doesn't seem to go down past 9', but count me in for a DLP FP vote! If you don't plan on having a better throw distance anytime soon, that LED Samsung may be a better bet for you...

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
Well, if you say so 😛

I think I will get it along with either a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player (whoever is winning at the moment 😱) or the combo drive for 275$.
HMM, I think I might go the combo drive and a QAM computer tuner.

Cheap way - get the HD-DVD Xbox 360 drive off Buy.com for $165 shipped (King Kong, 5 free movies plus Heroes Season 1 on HD-DVD) and connect that to your HTPC. Mine's showing up next week 😀

I could just get the Hd-DVD player for 100 dollars and get the free movies....
IDK when those are going to go on sale again though, but I am pretty stuck on getting the combo drive.

 

[montypythizzle]

I see the AX200U has 5 out of 5 stars in every PJC category. Is there any more projectors around this price, or lower, that have the same quality and features?
Ugh, 400 for the bulb. 😱

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
I see the AX200U has 5 out of 5 stars in every PJC category. Is there any more projectors around this price, or lower, that have the same quality and features?
Ugh, 400 for the bulb. 😱

The previous model, the AX100U also scored very highly and now that it's being replaced, it's a few hundred cheaper.

Projector Central has some of their highly rated ones here
http://www.projectorcentral.co...theater-projectors.htm

(divided by resolution and then in alphabetical order)

They also have just popular models here
http://www.projectorcentral.co...timedia-projectors.htm


In your pricerange I think that the 720p projectors are clearly what you should be looking at.

There are some good DLP units out there in the $1k and under range, but your screen size options might be more limited based on your throw distance. If you're seated fairly close to the wall though, that's not really much of an issue if you don't need that large of a screen.

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
I see the AX200U has 5 out of 5 stars in every PJC category. Is there any more projectors around this price, or lower, that have the same quality and features?
Ugh, 400 for the bulb. 😱

The previous model, the AX100U also scored very highly and now that it's being replaced, it's a few hundred cheaper.

Projector Central has some of their highly rated ones here
http://www.projectorcentral.co...theater-projectors.htm

(divided by resolution and then in alphabetical order)

They also have just popular models here
http://www.projectorcentral.co...timedia-projectors.htm


In your pricerange I think that the 720p projectors are clearly what you should be looking at.

There are some good DLP units out there in the $1k and under range, but your screen size options might be more limited based on your throw distance. If you're seated fairly close to the wall though, that's not really much of an issue if you don't need that large of a screen.

Yeah, I think I will get it, still unsure of whether I should just save up for the 61" Samsung DLP LED.

Eh....
Hard decision.
HTPC route or the separate components.....

Nothing will really beat a ~100" picture for the super bowl....
Should I just save for the 61" Samsung?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You should probably go out and experience some properly set up displays and decide what you think would work best.

Having to move around a lot was a bit plus for me going with a projector. I'm glad I went with front projection, but I know it's not for everyone.

Is your super bowl party still going to be cool if the lights have to be very dim?

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You should probably go out and experience some properly set up displays and decide what you think would work best.

Having to move around a lot was a bit plus for me going with a projector. I'm glad I went with front projection, but I know it's not for everyone.

Is your super bowl party still going to be cool if the lights have to be very dim?

Yeah, I thought about that as well.
But GD that Samsung is sooo expensive.