[Overpaid Slacker]

I'd 2nd id10t's suggestion for a projector. I couldn't tell you which you'd want for $2500, but before you buy a big (or thin) box, check 'em out. They're portable and scalable, too.

For my $, tho, go with a good DLP. The projector I'd want is closer to $4k, and then you have to give serious thought to a $creen.

Plasmas are susceptible to "crawl" in the image, shadowing, have a halflife (tho' it's respectable) and black levels that don't impress me. OK, so you can hang it on a wall. OOOooooooohhhh. Unless you live in a tiny apt. in NY/Boston/SF, who cares?

For long-term investment (5-7 years, which is about my TV replacement timeframe), your image will have degraded by as much as half with a plasma; and they can't be "recharged". With DLP you change a $250 bulb every 8000 hours and you're good to go.* Brand new image.

* One thing to note (as I'm pricing 72" DLPs right now) recently, Toshiba has had bulb life issues. Whether arising from bulb quality issues or power supply/cooling issues, I don't know. It's really too bad, as I think the big Toshibas have incredible pictures. If they'd sort that out, then you could easily get a 62" for your $2500.

As far as "large". My 36" Sony Trinitron XBR Wega weighs 235 lb. And I've moved it with me. Twice. Up and down stairs.

The 72" DLP weighs in at around 135#. Hell, I'll carry that into the bathroom if I know it's going to be a long visit.

JP