Home Cinema?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Leslie Isaacs
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Leslie Isaacs

Hello All

I am quite new to the world of home cinema etc, and I don't have much time
to investigate/install new hardware/software.

I currently have a PC with a DVD re-writer, and the kids regularly play
their DVDs on that, and on the TV/DVD player. Now they are asking
for/demanding a bigger/better PC monitor (we have a 19" TFT), or
bigger/better TV (we have a 10 year old specimen). It struck me that an
alternative would be to buy a PC projector, which I (in fact, mostly they)
could then use to watch their DVDs on a massive 'roller' screen (which we
have, from our holiday slide-show days). The projectors start at ~£500,
which is a lot less than a really big VDU/TV, and it seems to me that the
result (at least in terms of picture size) would be great - almost like
going to the cinema.

So the question is: am I right? Would I get a great picture by popping the
disc into the PC's DVD player, running windows (2k) media player and
projecting the film onto a 50" screen? Would it be important that the
projector I bought had a certain minimum specification?

I would be very grateful for any comments/advice etc that might help me keep
the kids happy.

Many thanks
Leslie Isaacs
 
"for/demanding a bigger/better PC monitor "
Next I guess they will be demanding better surround sound sys
Sounds like they need to be told the facts of life./ put in their place

http://www.homecinemachoice.com/
http://www.hometheatermag.com/
http://www.whathifi.com/index.asp
http://www.homecinemachoice.com/whatvideo/
http://www.ecoustics.com/Home/Home_Theater/
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/archive/
Or simply visit your local news agent.
Projector bulbs have a limited hours life, replacements are not cheap
 
Leslie Isaacs said:
Hello All

I am quite new to the world of home cinema etc, and I don't have much time
to investigate/install new hardware/software.

I currently have a PC with a DVD re-writer, and the kids regularly play
their DVDs on that, and on the TV/DVD player. Now they are asking
for/demanding a bigger/better PC monitor (we have a 19" TFT), or
bigger/better TV (we have a 10 year old specimen). It struck me that an
alternative would be to buy a PC projector, which I (in fact, mostly they)
could then use to watch their DVDs on a massive 'roller' screen (which we
have, from our holiday slide-show days). The projectors start at ~£500,
which is a lot less than a really big VDU/TV, and it seems to me that the
result (at least in terms of picture size) would be great - almost like
going to the cinema.

So the question is: am I right? Would I get a great picture by popping the
disc into the PC's DVD player, running windows (2k) media player and
projecting the film onto a 50" screen? Would it be important that the
projector I bought had a certain minimum specification?

I would be very grateful for any comments/advice etc that might help me
keep
the kids happy.
Click to expand...

A projector will do the job depending on how fussy you are as you are
sacrificing quality for size.
I have a cheap projector and it's fine for me, but some people complain
because the colours aren't as accurate, and you don't get the same crispness
as a Monitor.
After you get the projector, you will also need some decent speakers, as the
big picture needs big sound otherwise it feels wrong.
 
You may want to consider projector bulb life/costs as part of the
decision. That can get expensive fast if the "kids" treat the system
like a regular TV(on 18 hours a day :-) ) Otherwise there are plenty
projector reviews out there.
 
A good 21" CRT would be my personal choice, it's the best quality/price
wise.
Also, please notice that a surface as big as a projector tends to show
compression artifacts that are usually difficutl to spot on smaller screens,
so that kind of upgrade might be better when you'll get a sizeable
collection of HD movies.

Leslie Isaacs said:
Hello All

I am quite new to the world of home cinema etc, and I don't have much time
to investigate/install new hardware/software.

I currently have a PC with a DVD re-writer, and the kids regularly play
their DVDs on that, and on the TV/DVD player. Now they are asking
for/demanding a bigger/better PC monitor (we have a 19" TFT), or
bigger/better TV (we have a 10 year old specimen). It struck me that an
alternative would be to buy a PC projector, which I (in fact, mostly they)
could then use to watch their DVDs on a massive 'roller' screen (which we
have, from our holiday slide-show days). The projectors start at ~£500,
which is a lot less than a really big VDU/TV, and it seems to me that the
result (at least in terms of picture size) would be great - almost like
going to the cinema.

So the question is: am I right? Would I get a great picture by popping the
disc into the PC's DVD player, running windows (2k) media player and
projecting the film onto a 50" screen? Would it be important that the
projector I bought had a certain minimum specification?

I would be very grateful for any comments/advice etc that might help me
keep
the kids happy.

Many thanks
Leslie Isaacs
Click to expand...




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