What Do Digital Projectors Have That TV's Don't?
And do they come with free popcorn machines?
Digital projectors are self-contained data projection units featuring a light source, a lens and at least one RGB computer input. Their most popular use has been for computer-based presentations however more and more, they are transforming average living rooms into exciting home theatres. Add a popcorn maker and a beer fridge and any family would be happy to stay home!
If you've ever shopped for audio-visual entertainment products, you'll know how complicated it can be trying to determine what you need in terms of sound and picture quality, user-friendliness and how much to pay. The advertising brochures can boggle the mind and cause more confusion so a better place to start is at a store where there is a range of models on display.
You might also ask yourself "Why buy a digital projector instead of a TV?"
The almighty dollar
It should put a smile on your face to know that you won't see a big difference between what you'd pay for large screen TV's, compared with digital projectors and screens. Around $3,500 should buy you either, in a good quality range.
Better use of space
Digital projectors are extremely space-effective. They can be suspended from the ceiling or mounted on a wall, allowing better use of valuable floor space for lounging around. Cables and connections are usually tucked away out of sight, unlike freestanding TV's that look like black spaghetti has fallen behind them! Projectors can also be relocated to other rooms in the house as required and, without the bulk and weight of television sets, are so much more portable.
Screen size
With cool features such as zoom lens and focus, digital projectors permit viewing in different sizes for different locations. If your room's compact, the viewing area can be reduced; if your home theater has dimensions more like the local cinema, you can spread the area across a larger wall!
Picture clarity
The great news is that even though the screen size may be bigger than a TV's, there is no reduction in resolution. Obviously, the more you spend, the more you're able to improve the viewing quality.
What else?
Take some measurements before you leave home because it's important to match digital projectors to the size of the room in which they'll be used. The bigger the room, the greater the light output that will be required. Brightness is measured in units called ANSI lumens. More lumens equals more brightness, thereby providing better picture quality, even when the room lights are on.
No more complicated to use
Just because it's newer technology, doesn't mean it's harder to use. Digital projectors are compatible with all your audio-visual electronics. All appliances that use RCA, VGA or S-video cables can be connected and used in the same way as they can with the TV. This means that your video game systems, cable TV, DVD, VCR, camcorders and even personal computer can all be used with the projector. Plug it in and it's ready to go.
The pièce de résistance!
Three letters … D.L.P. What is it? DLP, or Digital Light Processing technology uses an optical semiconductor to manipulate light digitally. Its highly reliable, all-digital display chip delivers the best picture possible, whether using a projector weighing less than 2lbs or showing movies on a 75-foot screen. A DLP chip contains up to 2 million hinge-mounted microscopic mirrors that tilt either toward or away from the light source to create light or dark. A DLP projector is highly recommended if you want the best quality!
Digital projectors look to be increasing in popularity for all the above reasons. Fast forward a decade, or perhaps less, and the television set could be a redundant piece of retro decoration in the corner of the living room.