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This is exactly what I do. I have a Dell 2300MP and I love it. The new one is the 2400MP and I highly recommend it. I don't recommend the 5100 though, even though it's higher resolution (1400x1024) because it's too bright. How can you have a projector that is too bright? Well it is, it washes out the color pretty bad when using it close up for a daily TV of only 100 inches. We have that one at the office and it looks great at 200+ inches, but at less than 100 inches it's way too bright.
I have a 74 inch wide pull down screen mounted to the wall in place of a TV and I keep my projector on the middle shelf of my coffee table. This setup works great even in the daytime. Of course I have the shades closed and the one light in the room that is close to the screen off. Certainly a small price to pay for a 100 inch diag screen (4:3 format because I HATE squishing 4:3 broadcast stuff). I watch DVDs wide of course, and any show that comes in letterbox now days, and while I haven't measured it, I'm guessing it's at least an 80 inch diag.
The 2300MP (as with most Dell projectors) uses the VGA input for component video and this is how I run. I run my DirecTv Tivo into my Sony reciever via the Svideo output and my reciever does a component upscale to 480i. I just have a single VGA cable running to the coffee table. Along with a power cord of course. I drilled holes in my coffee table to hide the wires.
When I switch to a DVD, my DVD player is connected to the reciever via component so the reciever doesn't need to up scale it, it just passes the 480p signal through.
As for the bulb. This is really a non-issue. I've had my projector for over 2 years. For the first year I only used it for movies, but I've been using it for daily TV for the last year. The bulbs are rated at 2000 to 3000 hours depending on the projector so you can do the math easy enough to see how quick you'll go through one. for me, I'm just now within 300 hours of a rated replacement, however the bulb I have is not dim yet so I doubt I'll have to replace right at 2000 hours. They don't just die one day like the ones in your light fixtures, they slowly fade away so you normally have plenty of warning that you need a new bulb.
Yes the bulbs are $200. But for two years of video, I don't see that as a problem. It's certainly not a pocket cruntch if you really compare it next to a 50 inch flat screen of any kind. Usually in the $3000 - $5000 range right?
My projector was $1200 when I bought it. A replacement bulb is $200 and lasts 1-2 years. So even if you watch TV all day (no job??) you'd MAYBE replace a bulb each year. At that rate, it would take you 8 YEARS to make it to the cost of a BUDGET flat screen. (1200 + 1600 = $2800).
In a month or two I'll buy a replacement bulb so it's on hand when I need it. And I'll be $1400 total out of pocket at that point for my TV. Still not even half what it would take to get a 50 inch flat screen, and I've got a 100 inch screen daily, and a 200 inch screen when I simply move it back 10 ft or so and roll down the BIG screen.
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Shawn Wilson
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