Help needed picking Home Theater projector..

me

[BrooklynGOP]

I am getting rid off my old tv, and planning to purchase a projector ( hopefully today/tomorrow). I'll mainly use it to watch movies and PC gaming. Dell 3200MP seems like the best deal out there.
Native Resolution: 1024 by 768
1300 Lumens
1800 : 1 contrast

Can get it for ~$1450. Any input appreciated. Thanks!

[Ispy4u]

I would check out the price of replacement bulbs for that.

The Website you pointed to sells the bulbs for more than $350 each.

Trust me you won't get but maybe a year of use out of the bulb watching TV and playing games on it. They don't last forever.

What you save on the front end for the size of screen may bite you hard two years down the road after 2-4 bulb replacements.

[Restorer]

I travel the country teaching classes and use a wide variety of projectors.

I strongly suggest you view a number of projectors side by side before making a decision.

The specs don't begin to tell the whole story. I've seen $1000 projectors that outperform $5000 projectors, which presumably have much better specs.

Projecting video is also very different from projecting PowerPoint presentations or other computer graphics. A single projector is unlikely to optimum for both uses.

I'm sure somewhere online collects user reviews.

[Ispy4u]

not $350, $320.

[boris]

Is there anyhthing worth watching on this brand-new technological wonder of yours?

I have a 27-inch Phillips CRT. I'll keep it until:
(a) I die;
(b) It dies;
(c) Something worth watching is offered

It's fine for fox news and the occasional dumbed-down science documentary. What else is there to watch?...

Oh, yeah; Kenneth Brannaugh's Hamlet. When that comes out on DVD [see (a) above], I'll probably spring for a big-screen teevee, and it'll cost $500.

--Boris

[Always Right]

I think projectorcentral.com is probably your best resource. I bought a projector a couple years ago and haven't been following that closely lately, but those are great specs for the price. Its biggest weakness will most likely be its signal processing capability. If you have good source material like at least DVD quality, it should look pretty good. If you want to watch standard TV, that's where you may not be satishfied. At that price point though, its a solid deal.

[Always Right]

AVS forum also has an excellent user base who can give you input, although material is not always easy to find. Here is a link to one users experience with that projector:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=312515&highlight=dell

[BrooklynGOP]

Yep. I am aware of the replacement bulb costs.. It's still worth it for me. Thanks, though!

[BrooklynGOP]

I'll probably spring for a big-screen teevee, and it'll cost $500.

Well, a 42" HDTV that I would get would end up costing at least as much as this projector.... I don't think you can get an HDTV for $500.

[BrooklynGOP]

Thanks. I actually spent an hour there, today (don't tell my boss). Wanted to get more input from here, before I (probably) order it tonight. Thanks again.

[BrooklynGOP]

Is there anyhthing worth watching on this brand-new technological wonder of yours?

Watching movies on a ~85" screen with 5.1 sound should be cool. Also, I am going to hook up my pc and use it for gaming. The space saving factor is a big plus, too.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I can get you real home theatre for only $50.
For that sum I'll come over to your house, sit behind you, talk on my cell phone, kick the back of your chair, and leave soda and popcorn on your floor.

[BrooklynGOP]

Hah! That sounds more like the real theater - not home theater.

[sticker]

One thing to note, that is not a 16:9 unit, so HDTV will not be in its true format. Also, I would not buy a replacement bulb when you purchase the unit. The bulb has a life of 2000 hours, 40 hours a week for 50 weeks, and that type of bulb has a self life. If there is a good AV dealer where you live, talk to them before you buy anything from Dell. It may cost a little more on the front end, but less in the long run.

[mcg1969]

You should be asking this question on
http://www.avsforum.com
Easily the best home theater site on the planet.

[BrooklynGOP]

Yep. Actually, I checked it out before FR. Figured it wouldn't hurt to try here, too. Anyway, I ordered it last night.. Can't wait till it gets here.

[Molesworth]

>>I am getting rid off my old tv, and planning to purchase a projector ( hopefully today/tomorrow).<<

I got terrible headaches from my projector. Turned out the yellow floral pattern of the wallpaper didn't make the wall into the best screen. Here in prison all the TVs are attached to the walls with brackets. Oh, and there isn't wallpaper either.

[BrooklynGOP]

LOL!
Well, I am buying a screen, too.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

ALWAYS check out consumer reports first. It's usually not the most expensive that's tops, but anything they recommend really works well. They have some of their material online.
Check it out. I never buy anything without consulting them first...I've learned the hard way.