How To Choose a New TV
Types of TVs:
Direct View vs: Flat Panel vs: Rear Projection vs: Front Projection
Front Projection TV - FPTVs are a two piece system; a projector and a screen. Front projection set-ups have a couple key advantages over the other choices; the opportunity for a huge screen and the equipment can be easily hidden away when not in use.
There are some points to consider before choosing a front projection system. While they can be very versatile (they can be portable - even take them outside for a neighborhood movie night), they have some limitations too.
First, you don't have to have a screen; you can project onto a wall, often with satisfactory results. However, most people don't want "satisfactory" they want "excellent" results. For this you will need a screen. Screens run anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to ten thousand dollars. The size, reflectivity, rigidness, retractability and motorized features of a screen all factor into its cost. For a motorized, high quality screen, expect to spend $2,000 - $3,000.
Projectors technologies are dominated by CRT, DLP and LCD. Not all models are HD-ready and most don't have a built-in ATSC tuner. CRT models are mostly used in high-end home theaters and can cost upwards of $10,000. DLP and LCD models are much more popular and can be found for as little as $500. However, for a high resolution, high light output model, expect to pay $1,200 to $3,000.
The farther the projector is from the screen, the bigger the image. However, with the increase in size, you get a decrease in brightness. Also, the flaws in the picture are magnified and the pixels become more obvious, resulting in a less impressive image.
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Page 4: Front Projection TVs
