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Plasma TV (and the death of projectors)

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  • C Offline
    C Offline
    Christopher Duncan
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    When I built this house, I set up a media room with a 70" projector screen with a short throw (10 ft), so the picture was big and the quality acceptable. I've replaced two bulbs thus far (not cheap: ~$300), and I can live with that. However, what they don't tell you is that these bulbs die with an explosive bang loud enough to make you think you're taking mortar fire. Quite exciting. Best of all, when the second one went, it spewed powdered glass across the room. Yep. Actual glass, fine as grains of sand on the beach, all over the couch, carpet, and had I been sitting there at that precise moment, me. Having replaced the bulp, the color wheel now makes a grinding, whining noise, no doubt from an internal coating of glass as well. To say that I'm through with projectors would be an exercise in understatement. So, looking at a large screen to hang on the wall. Looks like 65" is tops for plasma, and they've come down in price quite a bit since I bought the projector system (at the time the biggest screens were $8-10k). What's the thinking on large, wall mountable TV technology these days? I'm not sure what features to look for, or what pitfalls to avoid. I just want something that doesn't explode.

    Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

    M L M D H 11 Replies Last reply
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    • C Christopher Duncan

      When I built this house, I set up a media room with a 70" projector screen with a short throw (10 ft), so the picture was big and the quality acceptable. I've replaced two bulbs thus far (not cheap: ~$300), and I can live with that. However, what they don't tell you is that these bulbs die with an explosive bang loud enough to make you think you're taking mortar fire. Quite exciting. Best of all, when the second one went, it spewed powdered glass across the room. Yep. Actual glass, fine as grains of sand on the beach, all over the couch, carpet, and had I been sitting there at that precise moment, me. Having replaced the bulp, the color wheel now makes a grinding, whining noise, no doubt from an internal coating of glass as well. To say that I'm through with projectors would be an exercise in understatement. So, looking at a large screen to hang on the wall. Looks like 65" is tops for plasma, and they've come down in price quite a bit since I bought the projector system (at the time the biggest screens were $8-10k). What's the thinking on large, wall mountable TV technology these days? I'm not sure what features to look for, or what pitfalls to avoid. I just want something that doesn't explode.

      Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

      M Offline
      M Offline
      Mark_Wallace
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      Christopher Duncan wrote:

      what they don't tell you is that these bulbs die with an explosive bang loud enough to make you think you're taking mortar fire.

      That's it, I'm sold! I was going to buy a beamer, but you've convinced me otherwise!

      I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

      C 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • C Christopher Duncan

        When I built this house, I set up a media room with a 70" projector screen with a short throw (10 ft), so the picture was big and the quality acceptable. I've replaced two bulbs thus far (not cheap: ~$300), and I can live with that. However, what they don't tell you is that these bulbs die with an explosive bang loud enough to make you think you're taking mortar fire. Quite exciting. Best of all, when the second one went, it spewed powdered glass across the room. Yep. Actual glass, fine as grains of sand on the beach, all over the couch, carpet, and had I been sitting there at that precise moment, me. Having replaced the bulp, the color wheel now makes a grinding, whining noise, no doubt from an internal coating of glass as well. To say that I'm through with projectors would be an exercise in understatement. So, looking at a large screen to hang on the wall. Looks like 65" is tops for plasma, and they've come down in price quite a bit since I bought the projector system (at the time the biggest screens were $8-10k). What's the thinking on large, wall mountable TV technology these days? I'm not sure what features to look for, or what pitfalls to avoid. I just want something that doesn't explode.

        Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

        L Offline
        L Offline
        leppie
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        Christopher Duncan wrote:

        What's the thinking on large, wall mountable TV technology these days?

        Samsung LED TV's, very slim and sexy :) http://www.samsung.com/us/productsubtype/led/[^]

        xacc.ide
        IronScheme - 1.0 beta 4 - out now!
        ((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition

        C 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • C Christopher Duncan

          When I built this house, I set up a media room with a 70" projector screen with a short throw (10 ft), so the picture was big and the quality acceptable. I've replaced two bulbs thus far (not cheap: ~$300), and I can live with that. However, what they don't tell you is that these bulbs die with an explosive bang loud enough to make you think you're taking mortar fire. Quite exciting. Best of all, when the second one went, it spewed powdered glass across the room. Yep. Actual glass, fine as grains of sand on the beach, all over the couch, carpet, and had I been sitting there at that precise moment, me. Having replaced the bulp, the color wheel now makes a grinding, whining noise, no doubt from an internal coating of glass as well. To say that I'm through with projectors would be an exercise in understatement. So, looking at a large screen to hang on the wall. Looks like 65" is tops for plasma, and they've come down in price quite a bit since I bought the projector system (at the time the biggest screens were $8-10k). What's the thinking on large, wall mountable TV technology these days? I'm not sure what features to look for, or what pitfalls to avoid. I just want something that doesn't explode.

          Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

          M Offline
          M Offline
          merridus
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          Christopher Duncan wrote:

          what they don't tell you is that these bulbs die with an explosive bang loud enough to make you think you're taking mortar fire.

          Is this common or does it happen only in certain conditions? Depending on bulb quality or environment in the room, things like that. Best warn my brother just in case though, his has been in place for a year or so now.

          - Rob

          C D T 3 Replies Last reply
          0
          • L leppie

            Christopher Duncan wrote:

            What's the thinking on large, wall mountable TV technology these days?

            Samsung LED TV's, very slim and sexy :) http://www.samsung.com/us/productsubtype/led/[^]

            xacc.ide
            IronScheme - 1.0 beta 4 - out now!
            ((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition

            C Offline
            C Offline
            Christopher Duncan
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            What's the difference between Plasma and LED technology?

            Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

            L S L B J 5 Replies Last reply
            0
            • M Mark_Wallace

              Christopher Duncan wrote:

              what they don't tell you is that these bulbs die with an explosive bang loud enough to make you think you're taking mortar fire.

              That's it, I'm sold! I was going to buy a beamer, but you've convinced me otherwise!

              I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

              C Offline
              C Offline
              Christopher Duncan
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              Actually, I'd be happy to save you the money. Just give me your GPS coordinates and I'll have some of my friends shell your house. :)

              Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

              M 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • M merridus

                Christopher Duncan wrote:

                what they don't tell you is that these bulbs die with an explosive bang loud enough to make you think you're taking mortar fire.

                Is this common or does it happen only in certain conditions? Depending on bulb quality or environment in the room, things like that. Best warn my brother just in case though, his has been in place for a year or so now.

                - Rob

                C Offline
                C Offline
                Christopher Duncan
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                This was an InFocus projector, and it happened 2 for 2 on the bulbs. Only the second explosion caused powdered glass, but once is enough for me. Can't speak to any other brands.

                Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

                M R 2 Replies Last reply
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                • C Christopher Duncan

                  This was an InFocus projector, and it happened 2 for 2 on the bulbs. Only the second explosion caused powdered glass, but once is enough for me. Can't speak to any other brands.

                  Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

                  M Offline
                  M Offline
                  merridus
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  Yeah firing glass across the room once is once too many. Hope you get on better with a nice big TV :D

                  - Rob

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • C Christopher Duncan

                    What's the difference between Plasma and LED technology?

                    Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

                    L Offline
                    L Offline
                    leppie
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    Plasma is generally better with contrast than LCD. LCD provides crisper images, but tend not to scale so well on lower quality sources. LED OTOH has much better contrast than LCD, comparable to plasma, and it really looks nice given a true 1080p source. It also seems their prices are coming down quite steadily.

                    xacc.ide
                    IronScheme - 1.0 beta 4 - out now!
                    ((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • C Christopher Duncan

                      When I built this house, I set up a media room with a 70" projector screen with a short throw (10 ft), so the picture was big and the quality acceptable. I've replaced two bulbs thus far (not cheap: ~$300), and I can live with that. However, what they don't tell you is that these bulbs die with an explosive bang loud enough to make you think you're taking mortar fire. Quite exciting. Best of all, when the second one went, it spewed powdered glass across the room. Yep. Actual glass, fine as grains of sand on the beach, all over the couch, carpet, and had I been sitting there at that precise moment, me. Having replaced the bulp, the color wheel now makes a grinding, whining noise, no doubt from an internal coating of glass as well. To say that I'm through with projectors would be an exercise in understatement. So, looking at a large screen to hang on the wall. Looks like 65" is tops for plasma, and they've come down in price quite a bit since I bought the projector system (at the time the biggest screens were $8-10k). What's the thinking on large, wall mountable TV technology these days? I'm not sure what features to look for, or what pitfalls to avoid. I just want something that doesn't explode.

                      Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

                      D Offline
                      D Offline
                      Dalek Dave
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      TOP TIP: Save money on those Huge TV's! Try sitting slightly closer to a smaller one! :)

                      ------------------------------------ To eat well in England, you should have a breakfast three times a day. W. Somerset Maugham 1925

                      H S 2 Replies Last reply
                      0
                      • C Christopher Duncan

                        When I built this house, I set up a media room with a 70" projector screen with a short throw (10 ft), so the picture was big and the quality acceptable. I've replaced two bulbs thus far (not cheap: ~$300), and I can live with that. However, what they don't tell you is that these bulbs die with an explosive bang loud enough to make you think you're taking mortar fire. Quite exciting. Best of all, when the second one went, it spewed powdered glass across the room. Yep. Actual glass, fine as grains of sand on the beach, all over the couch, carpet, and had I been sitting there at that precise moment, me. Having replaced the bulp, the color wheel now makes a grinding, whining noise, no doubt from an internal coating of glass as well. To say that I'm through with projectors would be an exercise in understatement. So, looking at a large screen to hang on the wall. Looks like 65" is tops for plasma, and they've come down in price quite a bit since I bought the projector system (at the time the biggest screens were $8-10k). What's the thinking on large, wall mountable TV technology these days? I'm not sure what features to look for, or what pitfalls to avoid. I just want something that doesn't explode.

                        Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

                        H Offline
                        H Offline
                        Harvey Saayman
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        Christopher Duncan wrote:

                        plasma

                        Christopher Duncan wrote:

                        what pitfalls to avoid

                        Avoid plasma screens, there's a reason they are much cheaper than LCD's. The quality as absolutely crap IMHO. And another thing, be sure to get an LCD that says "Full HD" instead of "HD ready"

                        Harvey Saayman - South Africa Software Developer .Net, C#, SQL you.suck = (you.Occupation == jobTitles.Programmer && you.Passion != Programming) 1000100 1101111 1100101 1110011 100000 1110100 1101000 1101001 1110011 100000 1101101 1100101 1100001 1101110 100000 1101001 1101101 100000 1100001 100000 1100111 1100101 1100101 1101011 111111

                        R S P R L 6 Replies Last reply
                        0
                        • C Christopher Duncan

                          What's the difference between Plasma and LED technology?

                          Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

                          S Offline
                          S Offline
                          Single Step Debugger
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          AFAIK the energy consumption and the brightness of the LEDs are better. But the LED TVs are relatively new so you need to ask someone who actually owns one.

                          The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • C Christopher Duncan

                            When I built this house, I set up a media room with a 70" projector screen with a short throw (10 ft), so the picture was big and the quality acceptable. I've replaced two bulbs thus far (not cheap: ~$300), and I can live with that. However, what they don't tell you is that these bulbs die with an explosive bang loud enough to make you think you're taking mortar fire. Quite exciting. Best of all, when the second one went, it spewed powdered glass across the room. Yep. Actual glass, fine as grains of sand on the beach, all over the couch, carpet, and had I been sitting there at that precise moment, me. Having replaced the bulp, the color wheel now makes a grinding, whining noise, no doubt from an internal coating of glass as well. To say that I'm through with projectors would be an exercise in understatement. So, looking at a large screen to hang on the wall. Looks like 65" is tops for plasma, and they've come down in price quite a bit since I bought the projector system (at the time the biggest screens were $8-10k). What's the thinking on large, wall mountable TV technology these days? I'm not sure what features to look for, or what pitfalls to avoid. I just want something that doesn't explode.

                            Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

                            H Offline
                            H Offline
                            hairy_hats
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            Has the super-size TV set become an object of vulgarity?[^]

                            I hope you realise that hamsters are very creative when it comes to revenge. - Elaine

                            J 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • D Dalek Dave

                              TOP TIP: Save money on those Huge TV's! Try sitting slightly closer to a smaller one! :)

                              ------------------------------------ To eat well in England, you should have a breakfast three times a day. W. Somerset Maugham 1925

                              H Offline
                              H Offline
                              hairy_hats
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              Or just don't buy one and go outside instead.

                              I hope you realise that hamsters are very creative when it comes to revenge. - Elaine

                              S 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • H Harvey Saayman

                                Christopher Duncan wrote:

                                plasma

                                Christopher Duncan wrote:

                                what pitfalls to avoid

                                Avoid plasma screens, there's a reason they are much cheaper than LCD's. The quality as absolutely crap IMHO. And another thing, be sure to get an LCD that says "Full HD" instead of "HD ready"

                                Harvey Saayman - South Africa Software Developer .Net, C#, SQL you.suck = (you.Occupation == jobTitles.Programmer && you.Passion != Programming) 1000100 1101111 1100101 1110011 100000 1110100 1101000 1101001 1110011 100000 1101101 1100101 1100001 1101110 100000 1101001 1101101 100000 1100001 100000 1100111 1100101 1100101 1101011 111111

                                R Offline
                                R Offline
                                Russ T
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                Harvey Saayman wrote:

                                The quality as absolutely crap

                                How so? Most of the plasma screens that I've seen lately have just as good picure quality as LCDs. For some programs (e.g. fast action stuff like sport) they seem to be even clearer than LCD. You still hear of the occassional problem of plasma screens "burning in" a network logo etc, but those issues seem far less common than LCD-specific problems like dead pixels. That said, I don't have any major hang-ups about either plasma or LCD. I was really just wondering why you think plasma screens suck?

                                Harvey Saayman wrote:

                                be sure to get an LCD that says "Full HD" instead of "HD ready"

                                If you're going down the LCD path, that's good advice!

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • H Harvey Saayman

                                  Christopher Duncan wrote:

                                  plasma

                                  Christopher Duncan wrote:

                                  what pitfalls to avoid

                                  Avoid plasma screens, there's a reason they are much cheaper than LCD's. The quality as absolutely crap IMHO. And another thing, be sure to get an LCD that says "Full HD" instead of "HD ready"

                                  Harvey Saayman - South Africa Software Developer .Net, C#, SQL you.suck = (you.Occupation == jobTitles.Programmer && you.Passion != Programming) 1000100 1101111 1100101 1110011 100000 1110100 1101000 1101001 1110011 100000 1101101 1100101 1100001 1101110 100000 1101001 1101101 100000 1100001 100000 1100111 1100101 1100101 1101011 111111

                                  S Offline
                                  S Offline
                                  Shelby Robertson
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  Harvey Saayman wrote:

                                  Avoid plasma lcd screens. The quality as absolutely crap IMHO.

                                  FTFY. I have a 50 inch Samsung plasma. The contrast ratio cannot be matched by an lcd. If bold, vibrant colors are what you are looking for then plasma is the way to go. Plasma does use more power, and California is tryign to have them banned...which i consider another good reason to own one.

                                  Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:

                                  Unpaid overtime is slavery.

                                  Trollslayer wrote:

                                  Meetings - where minutes are taken and hours are lost.

                                  H 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • S Shelby Robertson

                                    Harvey Saayman wrote:

                                    Avoid plasma lcd screens. The quality as absolutely crap IMHO.

                                    FTFY. I have a 50 inch Samsung plasma. The contrast ratio cannot be matched by an lcd. If bold, vibrant colors are what you are looking for then plasma is the way to go. Plasma does use more power, and California is tryign to have them banned...which i consider another good reason to own one.

                                    Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:

                                    Unpaid overtime is slavery.

                                    Trollslayer wrote:

                                    Meetings - where minutes are taken and hours are lost.

                                    H Offline
                                    H Offline
                                    Harvey Saayman
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    Shelby Robetson wrote:

                                    ...which i consider another good reason to own one

                                    :laugh: +5!

                                    Harvey Saayman - South Africa Software Developer .Net, C#, SQL you.suck = (you.Occupation == jobTitles.Programmer && you.Passion != Programming) 1000100 1101111 1100101 1110011 100000 1110100 1101000 1101001 1110011 100000 1101101 1100101 1100001 1101110 100000 1101001 1101101 100000 1100001 100000 1100111 1100101 1100101 1101011 111111

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • C Christopher Duncan

                                      When I built this house, I set up a media room with a 70" projector screen with a short throw (10 ft), so the picture was big and the quality acceptable. I've replaced two bulbs thus far (not cheap: ~$300), and I can live with that. However, what they don't tell you is that these bulbs die with an explosive bang loud enough to make you think you're taking mortar fire. Quite exciting. Best of all, when the second one went, it spewed powdered glass across the room. Yep. Actual glass, fine as grains of sand on the beach, all over the couch, carpet, and had I been sitting there at that precise moment, me. Having replaced the bulp, the color wheel now makes a grinding, whining noise, no doubt from an internal coating of glass as well. To say that I'm through with projectors would be an exercise in understatement. So, looking at a large screen to hang on the wall. Looks like 65" is tops for plasma, and they've come down in price quite a bit since I bought the projector system (at the time the biggest screens were $8-10k). What's the thinking on large, wall mountable TV technology these days? I'm not sure what features to look for, or what pitfalls to avoid. I just want something that doesn't explode.

                                      Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Copywriting Services

                                      T Offline
                                      T Offline
                                      Tom Deketelaere
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      What's the life span of plasma tv's these day's? I remember it used to be less than 5 years but that was quite a while ago.

                                      S 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • T Tom Deketelaere

                                        What's the life span of plasma tv's these day's? I remember it used to be less than 5 years but that was quite a while ago.

                                        S Offline
                                        S Offline
                                        Shelby Robertson
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        I think mine is rated at 60,000 hours till half life. Which is over 6 years if you left it on 24 hours a day.

                                        Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:

                                        Unpaid overtime is slavery.

                                        Trollslayer wrote:

                                        Meetings - where minutes are taken and hours are lost.

                                        R 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • D Dalek Dave

                                          TOP TIP: Save money on those Huge TV's! Try sitting slightly closer to a smaller one! :)

                                          ------------------------------------ To eat well in England, you should have a breakfast three times a day. W. Somerset Maugham 1925

                                          S Offline
                                          S Offline
                                          Steve Thresher
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          ... or buy a pair of these http://www.collette-optical.com/atelevisionglasses.php[^]

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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