Recommend a pocket PJ?

[jjminch]

Looking for a cheap pocket projector, ideally 150 or around there. I'm deployed and I move around a lot. Had a smallish HDTV but that ended up getting stolen as it was to big to throw in my pack.

Anyways I'd rather have something very portable, that I can just point against a white sheet on the wall. Connections need to be just standard component/composite video and vga, mini hdmi would be nice but not important. Screen needs to be about 30 inches and fairly clear.

A couple friends got some sold by local Iraqi vendors, but these were about 350. I've seen them all over ebay but not sure what to look for brand or spec wise.

Here are two examples
http://cgi.ebay.com/Optoma-Pico-PK101-DLP-Laptop-Video-Pocket-Projector-/310230277683?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item483b2a5e33

 

[BMXTRIX]

Well, there is a long list of issues with Pico projectors that make me think of them as toys and not actual displays, but your use might be right up the alley of one of these things if you are willing to live with the significant limitations.

1. You can get 30" but you really need to be using it with all lights out after dark. This is not for daytime viewing at all. During the daytime, in a normal room, you might get 12 to 16" of size.

2. There is a LONG list of PICO or micro projector out there...
http://www.projectorcentral.com/projectors.cfm?g=1&hide=0&st=1&mfg=&p=0-700&w=&r=&br=0&br=500&ll=&t=&db=&dt=&c=&ar=&dvi=&td=&i=d&is=&sort=pop&sz=15

3. Only ONE could be classified as HD...
http://www.projectorcentral.com/SiVal-MP720B1.htm

4. The typical price is WELL over $150. Gotta say that you are in the garbage price range at that point which isn't really where you want to be.

5. Lumens matter most if you intend to use it in a non-dark environment. Plan on about 50 lumens per square foot of screen space. So, a 30" diagonal might be about 5 square feet or so and need about 250 lumens - minimum.

This is the list I would be looking in...
http://www.projectorcentral.com/projectors.cfm?g=1&hide=0&st=1&mfg=&p=0-700&w=&r=&br=150&br=500&ll=&t=&db=&dt=&c=&ar=&dvi=&td=&i=d&is=&sort=pop

The LG is one of my leading favorites and is well above the price you want to pay.

Samsung just released a LED business projector which might be interesting... it's abot 10 times your budget, but it actually delivers some good lumens for that low price.

Good luck on this one.

 

[jjminch]

Well thanks for the reply, might have to re-evaluate the purchase. I do have almost a completely dark room at the moment, but that could change. 30" isn't a mandatory size if it means a lot of $$, I could deal with around 20" just fine if that meant saving a few bucks.

I can afford the pricier models, it's just when I'm done here I will have no use for it. For the most part they are toys. I'd rather put the money towards a new AVR or an amp for when I actually am home.

Thanks for the info, if I get one I'll post it up.