Would it be nuts to use a cheap Projector as main Display?

amd6502

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Apr 21, 2017
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Well, I'm seriously considering getting a $70 (±10) projector and using it as a main display for a new desktop build. The appeal of it the portability and dual use of this for movies. I know I'll probably not be able to use it while the room is brightly lit. Is this a totally stupid idea, or is there anything else I should consider? Does anybody else have a setup like this going on?
 

whm1974

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Jul 24, 2016
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Well, I'm seriously considering getting a $70 (±10) projector and using it as a main display for a new desktop build. The appeal of it the portability and dual use of this for movies. I know I'll probably not be able to use it while the room is brightly lit. Is this a totally stupid idea, or is there anything else I should consider? Does anybody else have a setup like this going on?
Off hand I will say it is nuts to use one of those for the main display. Especially for a desktop.
 

amd6502

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@amd6502 Found this page from Computer Hope on using a projector for a main display. It is doable but you will need to darken the room a bit.
https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001370.htm
I son't know if I would get a cheap one though.

Thanks Whm! I think I'm going to give it a try. Yes the brightness is something to watch for. Seems like 2000 lumens might be minimum and room needs to have curtains.

The native resolution on the $60 models is not too great, but maybe the image is interlaced to 2x. They also come with speakers which is very nice (one less thing I'll need to buy and clutter the room with).
 
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whm1974

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Thanks Whm! I think I'm going to give it a try. Yes the brightness is something to watch for. Seems like 2000 lumens might be minimum and room needs to have curtains.

The native resolution on the $60 models is not too great, but maybe the image is interlaced to 2x. They also come with speakers which is very nice (one less thing I'll need to buy and clutter the room with).
I would spend about ~$100 or so to get a projector with better specs if I was going to buy one. However this is something I would use for a HTPC or Laptop instead as main display for a desktop.
 

amd6502

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I would spend about ~$100 or so to get a projector with better specs if I was going to buy one. However this is something I would use for a HTPC or Laptop instead as main display for a desktop.

Yes, I've been browsing the listings a bit and at $100 one can start getting native 720p projectors. The speakers are slightly better too. That'd be more lasting value there. The $60 are mostly 800x480 native resolution (and I saw a few 320p at that price too, which drew them poor ratings). For me 800x480 would be acceptable for movies, but it would make browsing and text blurrier than would be nice.
 

whm1974

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Jul 24, 2016
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Yes, I've been browsing the listings a bit and at $100 one can start getting native 720p projectors. The speakers are slightly better too. That'd be more lasting value there. The $60 are mostly 800x480 native resolution (and I saw a few 320p at that price too, which drew them poor ratings). For me 800x480 would be acceptable for movies, but it would make browsing and text blurrier than would be nice.
I don't think I'll use a projector w/ less then 1080p resolution. Even for notebooks I wouldn't go any lower aside from 11.6" or budget types.
 

Viper GTS

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This is an absolutely terrible plan. You need more resolution for desktop use, not less. Even if you could find a 1080p projector for your budget it's still going to be utter garbage compared to a monitor of equivalent price. Buy a monitor. Buy a projector later if you really think you need one but a $100 projector is not going to be satisfactory for any serious movie viewing at any serious size. The light sources alone of proper projectors cost more than that.

Viper GTS
 

amd6502

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Apr 21, 2017
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@amd6502 Speaking of monitors, here is one for under $100:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824025903
21.5" but it is 1080p and has HDMI.


Thanks Whm, my needs are really modest for this, and this is going to be a temporary setup just so that I can actually test operating systems and hardware setups, and play movies once in a while. It's not really the daily driver which at the moment remains the laptop. I will eventually hook it up to a monitor (I have spares that will make it over at some point; they're at my old home waiting to get moved).