Projectors of the future?

[cthomp]

Has anybody heard rumors that projectors may not need a replacement lamp or won't have any moving parts (color wheel) as soon as next year? LED technology may replace that $300+ lamp that hurts so bad! How much do you suppose those lamps cost the manufacturers anyway? Must be a huge profit margin in those! Even if these advances happen, it probably won't stop me from buying one now! Hopefully my lamp will last until the future arrives.

 

[BMXTRIX]

LED rear projection DLP is supposed to be out this year. But, I have a feeling that practical home use LED front projection is still several years away at the earliest.

Yes, it is the future. As is 1080p. Multiple LEDs in many colors open the doorway to more natural colors as well and may lead to much better black levels depending on the setup.

LED benefits? 20,000 hour+ lamp life (!!!)
Zero warm up time - instant on
Zero cool down time - instant off
Not hot - no more cooling fans
Reduce moving parts in projector
No color wheel... no rainbows

Likely will have a high cost to manufacturer at first, but I believe the final product will be much more automated than current high pressure lamps that are in use now. Heck, for the lamp life I would happily pay $1,000 more for the original projector just to get it!

I wouldn't wait though - get the projector now.

 

[mtrycrafts]

LED rear projection DLP is supposed to be out this year. But, I have a feeling that practical home use LED front projection is still several years away at the earliest.

Yes, it is the future. As is 1080p. Multiple LEDs in many colors open the doorway to more natural colors as well and may lead to much better black levels depending on the setup.

LED benefits? 20,000 hour+ lamp life (!!!)
Zero warm up time - instant on
Zero cool down time - instant off
Not hot - no more cooling fans
Reduce moving parts in projector
No color wheel... no rainbows

Likely will have a high cost to manufacturer at first, but I believe the final product will be much more automated than current high pressure lamps that are in use now. Heck, for the lamp life I would happily pay $1,000 more for the original projector just to get it!

I wouldn't wait though - get the projector now.

1080p projector is here now software to come soon

LED and 20,000hrs? Well, that is nice except for the ones that fail well before. We have some LED signal lights and many have failed LEDs well before 20k hrs. Not sure how noticeable failed LEDs would be on TV.

 

[BMXTRIX]

1080p projector is here now

For YOUR wallet maybe!

LED and 20,000hrs? Well, that is nice except for the ones that fail well before. We have some LED signal lights and many have failed LEDs well before 20k hrs. Not sure how noticeable failed LEDs would be on TV.

Sure, the hours may be more or less than that... But, hopefully you won't put your projector outside in the wind and the elements... and run it 24/7.

But really... if it's a $1K lamp and lasts 10,000 hours instead of 20,000 - I won't be complaining! Even with really heavy usage that'll likely be 4 years or more before a lamp change is needed.

 

[mtrycrafts]

For YOUR wallet maybe!


Sure, the hours may be more or less than that... But, hopefully you won't put your projector outside in the wind and the elements... and run it 24/7.

But really... if it's a $1K lamp and lasts 10,000 hours instead of 20,000 - I won't be complaining! Even with really heavy usage that'll likely be 4 years or more before a lamp change is needed.

Well, it is all relative. 1080p projector can be had for about $7k and the money saved from all those high end cables and $15k amps, it is doable

 

[westcott]

I am of the opinion that front projectors will die off as flat panel technologies get better and cheaper.

A 100" SED display would be my pick for the future but I am a closet CRT man!

 

[BMXTRIX]

I am of the opinion that front projectors will die off as flat panel technologies get better and cheaper.

A 100" SED display would be my pick for the future but I am a closet CRT man!

The problem is that a screen that size simply won't actually get into people's homes. Like, it won't fit around a corner, or down stairs. Unless it uses something other than glass, it will be phenomenally heavy. Which will always be severely cost prohibitive for delivery and setup - plus wear and tear on the walls it lives on.

OLED if it is a maleable technology at some point may be the death of front projection, but I wouldn't expect that for another decade or more at least.

Think about how much cheaper the must get and keep in mind that front projection is way ahead of the curve already.

A 65" plasma - Middle of the road - Panny -
http://www.bestbuyplasma.com/Plasma/Product.asp_X_Sku_Y_TH65PHD8UK
$8,500(ish) shipped!

A 120" front projection system using a very favorable projector:
http://www.visualapex.com/LCDprojectors/LCD_projectors_details.asp?chPartNumber=H78DC3&MFR=Optoma
$3,500(ish) - add a screen for $1,000 and for
$4,500(ish) we are talking almost 4 times the screen area for almost half the price!

The shipping on a 100 inch display is more than some projectors will even cost! Nice dream though - and the future is always in question.

 

[westcott]

Dear BMX,

Believe me, I love my front projection system but when flat panels of the same size are available for realitively the same price, I will switch. Warm up and cooling times, opening and closing blinds, lack of brightness, and lamp life all make me want a flat panel that looks and operates like my CRT!

I am sure my front projection system will please me for years to come and I can not wait to see what technologies catch on and surpass what we currently know about video.