Good Low Cost Projectors

[GeForce6200]

Christmas is right around the corner and my mom keeps asking me what I would like. I originally wanted cash or a new moniter. So today I was bored and looking around newegg and saw a deal on this projector.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824116081
It's name brand(viewsonic) and not very expensive. I really like $100MIR. The lamp life in 3000hours(eco mode) and I looked up replacement bulbs and they are only around $150. It also comes with a free stand and 80" screen. I was planning on using my wall. Which has no marks on it and is perfect white. Or is it better to use a screen? As for image sharpness, I can always just keep my moniter hooked up. I was on the Viewsonic website and they said that it can support 720 and 1080i signals. So I can set the resolution to 1920*1080 in nvidia control panel? If anyone found any other ones, I will be glad to look. Also is this even worth it. It will be mostly used for gaming, but i'm not picky about quality. Also found it here for $300. http://www.mystore.com/viewsonic-pj503d ... ml?ID=4065 Thanks

[MBIlover]

The term "You get what you pay for" applies big time in the projection world.

The current champ in the "affordable" category is the Panasonic AX200U. This model is touted for it's great performance with video games. It seems particularly suited for your needs.

It costs about $1300 which I think is out of your budget range, but it's definitely something to strive for.

A decent cheap alternative would be the now discontinued Optoma H31 which you could probably find used for under $400. Its native EDTV resolution scales 1080p images well. I use one for various consoles and I personally don't find it to lag at all (a concern with projectors).

A white wall will be fine to begin with, but a good screen makes a HUGE difference. Once you invest in a good screen you won't replace it (as opposed to projectors where you'll upgrade every once in a while). People have homebrewed screens with great results.

projectorcentral.com is very comprehensive about their reviews and comparisons. You should check them out. Forums are a little slow but usually a question that isn't in a FAQ will net you a knowledgeable answer.

[UberGerbil]

Its native resolution is 800x600

Yes, of course you can send HD signals to it. They'll get scaled. If it had sophisticated scaling electronics it might do an ok job. But at that price it won't have fancy scaling electronics. And even an ok job isn't going to be great.

I wish I could have a nickle for every time somebody ran through the thought sequence "I want a big screen TV... I can't afford a big screen TV... hey, projectors can produce a big image...I bet I can get the effect of a big screen TV by buying a cheap projector!" I went through the same process, pre-HD, back when I was looking for an alternative to spending $1K on a 1600x1200 CRT (1994 or so).

[GeForce6200]

Thanks for the replies, I know that I'm not getting top of the line or anything like that. I thought that it would scale to 1080i, tricky buggers. If it is even decent for movies, then I will consider it. I have read some ok reviews. I just don't want to waste money.

I want a big screen TV

Yes I do, my friend has a 65" 1080P Sony. It's quite nice.

[Vrock]

Yes I do, my friend has a 65" 1080P Sony. It's quite nice.

You sure it's 65"? The largest 1080p set that Sony makes is a 60".

[GeForce6200]

Must be a 60", but it sure is nice.