Different application of similar technologies. Projectors will give you a much bigger & much better picture than plasmas, lcd screens etc. Flat panel technology has come a long way, but front projection still resolves better, has less motion artifacting, crawlies etc.

And you can put a 120" image in your house.

Ian

this an actual screen shot of a <$3000 projector, projecting on a 106" (diagonal) screen... that's a whole lotta gladiator isn't it!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1135366076.jpg

LCD and Plasma are only better (certainly not a better $$$deal) if you require daytime use or bright indoor light use.

I bought a projector 4+ years ago and drive it off a PC. I have a 6 foot screen. We use it regularly for DVD movies.

I built the projector into the wall such that it is very discreet and quite, shining through a small glass window. With the screen up you would be hard pressed to tell there was a projection system in the room. This was critical for us, we didn't want the projection system to be a focal point.

Not so great for regular TV viewing. Hard to explain, but it's just too much screen. And NTSC resolution shows it's limitations when viewed on a 6 foot screen. So we have a conventional set in the same room.

Projectors today have better resolution and higher lumens for less than half of what I paid. I'm very happy with my setup and the current crop is even better. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Highly recomended if you watch a lot of movies.

Bulbs are not cheap. But at $400 or so, they last a couple years. Not that much when you consider the cost of a total system.

Couple of Pics of my Sony W400Q on a Draper M2500 102" screen. It was one of the first projectors to use a true 16x9 format lcd and had the rows offset to avoid screen door. It is pretty fun, although I haven't set it up in my new house, yet.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1135494321.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1135494668.jpg

If you can control the light in the room, front projection is the way to go. I have a dedicated home theater room and we havent been out to a movie in years. It's driven by a computer and high def is just great on a 96" wide screen. I have a CRT projector that puts out a great picture, but its big, heavy, and more difficult to set up.

You also need to budget for a decent sound system to get the full effect.

This is the system my buddy has, it is HDTV, great for football games, surfing the web (he has a 9' screen) and Google Earth. It has a great picture and is a reasonably priced.
Dell 5100MP Projector
Ultimate Performance and Versatility

Bright 3,300 ANSI Lumens (Max) 2
Superior high contrast ratio of 2500:1 (Full on/Full off)
At less than 8.3 pounds, the 5100MP is ideal for professional presentation in the conference or boardroom
Integrated zoom lens and Automatic Vertical Keystone correction
DLPTM DDR technology from Texas Instruments
Native SXGA+ (1400 x 1050), with autosync up to UXGA (1600 x 1200)
Eco-mode option for quieter operation and to extend lamp life up to 2200 hours
One Audio In and Out connector
Supports full range of television and video standards, including NTSC, NTSC 4.43, PAL (B/D/G/H/I/M/N), SECAM (B/D/G/K/K1/L) and HDTV (480i/P; 576i/P, 720P; 1080i)
Separate HDMI and Component video input
Internal 2 X 2W speaker
Standard dedicated support queue and up to 3-Year Advanced Exchange Service3. Optional CompleteCare Service4 also available



What is DLPTM DDR Technology?

DLP DDR technology is based on a unique semiconductor known as the Digital Micromirror Device, or DMD. It was invented by Texas Instruments in 1987. The DMD is a fast, reflective digital light switch. It can be combined with image processing, memory, a light source and optics to form a DLP system capable of projecting large, bright, seamless, high-contrast color images with unmatched color fidelity and consistency. The Dell 5100MP incorporates the latest generation of DLP DDR technology which now features a 12 degree mirror tilt for higher brightness, a new manufacturing process to deliver superior contrast and DDR memory for even better video reproduction.

What is Advanced Exchange Service3?

If your Dell 5100MP Projector or part requires replacement due to a problem covered by the Dell limited warranty5, the Advanced Exchange3 program helps you get up and running as soon as possible! If after telephone troubleshooting with Dell Technical Support, it is determined that your projector has a problem requiring replacement and your call was placed before 5PM local time, you will be shipped a replacement system or part in most cases by the next business day. You can ship the defective unit back to Dell in the packaging provided, so you can be up and running for your next presentation in no time. This service is included as a standard offering for the duration of the warranty5 period.

Happy owner of a Barco Graphics 800 CRT projector projecting to a 96" x 54" screen. Everything scaled to 720p, I love my HD football! :D

I loved my w400q until the second bulb blew .. will ebay it. Replaced it with a Panasonic unit (not cheap) and the improvement is massive. I have a dedicated room with a 100" Vutec screen and plenty of high powered amps running esoteric speakers. Quite awesome IMHO