Beginning projector...

Why not watch a real fotball teAm,,,,GO BUCKEYES! :)?

Jamesw20

I would only consider front projection to achieve a 16:9 screen size of near 100" diagonal, and every such projection system I've seen suffers when ambient light is above very dim. Think about the last time you were in a movie theater.

Bulb life is a matter of money and inconvenience. If you're willing to buy and change a couple hundred dollar bulb a few times a year, then bulb life may not be an issue.

db

There is a huge buzz about the new Panasonic PT AX100U front projector on avsforum right now. It is extremely bright and designed to make some ambient light acceptable.

It has a feature that will automatically adjust the brightness of the pic as the light changes in the room.

Go read the reviews at projectorcentral and audioholics and prepare to salivate.

I'm ever so tempted to plop one of these on my coffee table and throw an 80" pic on the wall from 10 feet.

Check it out.

Used projectors - do you seem them much? Is the only real downside the bulb life question? What else can go wrong? What used projectors do you recommend?

-j.

Jawats,

Try videogon for used projectors, although you'll mostly find new projectors offered at discounts. Technology is changing rapidly and prices are dropping quickly, so older projectors are not like older amps. The AX100U is under $2K, but you'll need to add $1-2K for a screen. If you find you need to add a flat screen TV for casual viewing, not much is lost. You'll probably soon want to upgrade from the AX100U for better resolution, but there will be a trade-off in price and brightness, or you can wait a year or two.

db