Anyone know anything about those VGA projector thingys?

[Himself]

I read something a few years ago about people connecting some sort of overhead type projector in place of their monitor. Apparently they could be had somewhat affordably as well. I was thinking it would be ideal for DVD playback. I am not sure but I think the one mentioned had a limit of 640x480 resolution, there are probably better ones out now.

Anyone know what I'm talking about?

[ALBPM]

I'm about to purchase one for our conferance room at work. Most of the ones I've looked at are SVGA(800x600) or VGA(1024x768) and one Toshiba is UXGA(1600x1200).
The price ranges I've seen are from $3400 up to $22500.00. The lower priced ones use the LCD technology while the higher end models use the DLP technology which consists of 580,000 hinged micro mirrors on a chip.

There are some models in the $2000 price range but they are lower res 640x460

Here's a link to a very informative website
www.presentingsolutions.com/

At work I'm considering the Proxima LX1 which is an LCD, XGA (1024x768) for $4842.00 or the Toshiba 650 which is an LCD, XGA/UXGA(1600x1200) for $4966.00.

We just threw together a system with a P3-500 and a G400 of course and this will give us the option of presenting with either a 50" TV/the Projector or using a VCR with the Projector/50" TV. I have a SB Live in the system so I'm going to get some kind of kick ass surround speaker system that I can connect to the computer and VCR.

I'm going to have to sneak in a few games to see what it's like playing on a 10 ft screen at 1024x768. Unfortunately the projectors are limited to 16bit color

Paul



[This message has been edited by ALBPM (edited 02 December 1999).]

[Jorden]

You can also consider look at Long Communications Group

Thank Greebe for the link

"I had one at home once but couldn't power it it took 18.5 amps at 230 VAC!!! That was a GE LV8001 MP lightvalve projector ($105K!!!) it would do a 30' (like seen in video's)
It takes about 5 min (mininim) to warmup. Light source cost $1500 every 1000 hours of use!!!"

Jord.

[ALBPM]

Hi xortam,

I wouldn't recommend the DLP projectors to anyone. We have two of them at work and they are constantly out for repair. The Proxima LX1(LCD) looks promising because the lamp is rated at 4000 hours. Replacement lamp is $350.00.

Let me know how your friends refreash rate tweeking goes. So far I've heard that 60Hz works the best but who knows...

I get to play with 3 demos tomorrow afternoon

Paul

[Greebe]

Eeeeee Yuk, Barco (barfco)! Don't like'm, never have, doubt I ever will. Like comparing a Sony to a Daewoo. They utilize rejected Sony crt's (air bubbles in glass, etc). The chroma accuracy also isn't even close. They are briter (ie higher contrast) than Sony's but at the expense of crt longentivity. The crt's are also much more expensive to replace as Barco modifies them.

[xortam]

Well, I can't address those claims (have to get my friend to defend his Barco), but I think you'd be hard pressed to get a better value for what he paid. It also came with brand new tubes. If you know of something better in that price range, I'd be interested.

[Himself]

Yesh, whenever I looked for info on the web for them I got these $$$$$$ versions but the gizmo I was thinking of was mentioned as being under $500 or so, not a thing targeted for the same market as the $$$$$$ versions.

[TAW]

Greebe:
Tell ya what, Im a man willing to put my money where my mouth is. Why dont you get ten people together and Ill send a BARCO 1208 to you, Ill set the thing up and compare it to ANY SONY 7" or 8" CRT projector - ANY - if your projector wins best picture, Ill give you the BARCO. If I win, you buy the thing from me for $7500.00 + my expenses. Sounds fair to me!!

P.S. anybody that says a Sony is a better looking projector either doesnt know or has a hidden agenda. Yes I am a BARCO dealer, I have no "hidden" agenda. And after selling my 50th unit I have to say units made after 1995 are VERY reliable. If they werent I wouldnt personally warranty each and every one for a full year!

Phil
www.tawow.com

Added: I will select 5 people and you will select 5 - just keepin it fair.


[This message has been edited by TAW (edited 03 December 1999).]

[xortam]

Uh oh, looks like you made my friend's dealer mad. The gauntlet has been flung ...

[This message has been edited by xortam (edited 03 December 1999).]

[ALBPM]

This has become an interesting thread

Well, good news at work. We've decided to get the Toshiba 650 -- 1100 Lumens, UXGA 1600x1200, 0.9" Polysilicon LCD x 3. Looks really great at 1280x1024.

I'm going to have to sneak in some games that will run on NT4.0

Paul

[This message has been edited by ALBPM (edited 03 December 1999).]

[xortam]

Of course you will have to yank it home just to make sure it operates properly in different environments.

Be sure and let us know how it looks driving it with a G400 (gotta try to keep this thread in this forum, ya know).

[This message has been edited by xortam (edited 03 December 1999).]

[ALBPM]

Heheheh...Who me

It's just too bad that the good projectors cost so damn much. With a good screen this would be the ultimate monitor/TV for home entertainment.

Paul

[ALBPM]

Well, I have to admit that even though you are limited to 16bit color it looks Friggn Beautiful driven by the G400

At 1100 Lumens it looks pretty good with all the lights on in the room but if I dim them just a bit it works great. The color, sharpness and contrast are great with the Toshiba 650. I even played around with photoshop and edited a few images. I could easily get used to this setup. Today I installed a remote Logitech mouse and an infared keyboard that work anywhere in the room

Here's the specs
www.toshiba.com/presentations/lcd/TLP650_1.html

Let's see, we've got a coffee maker, fridge, microwave and VCR in there now, all I need is a better sound system

Gee, why is Paul spending so much time in the conferance room...LOL

Paul



[This message has been edited by ALBPM (edited 04 December 1999).]

[KvHagedorn]

Geez.. If people only had a clue what they were missing. Sound is half the picture! Paul, if you could smack the people who did your budgeting I would be obliged

For the money they spent on that projector, I could put a sound system in that room that would be so good, you'd see with your eyes closed! (BTW, if you haven't heard B&W speakers, please do. It will open new worlds to you. I'm very serious. There's a huge difference. This is one area where i do know my stuff )

------------------
Kind Regards,

KvH

[Greebe]

Well lets see, your very first post is a personal attack. Why is this? You can take it like you want. I've worked on / with NEC's, GE's, Hugh's, Sony and Barco's as we weren't limited to a single brand. Also why is it that broadcast EE's, graphics professional's and consultant's prefer Sony to... you got it. Sorry to get your panty's up in a bind, but if I'm not telling the truth then you can come over and shoot me.

Remember it's only a projector (like it's "only a graphic's card") Geesh

Peace dude, it's Christmas time and I doubt that's anything I post here will effect your bottom line...