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Thread ID: 59034	2005-06-19 10:02:00	When a 21" screen is just to damn small	Metla (12)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
365305	2005-06-19 23:29:00	Alrighty, For the screen I sourced some clean panelling from a local demolition company (just happened to have one locally) which I cut to size, Painted gray and nailed to the wall. The original plan was to paint directly on the wall but I figured the patteren of the wallpaper would show through.Gray was used as it "enriches" the blacks, on a white wall they show up as grays unless you have complete darkness, something to do with reflecting ambiant light. The idea is to get a gray that is made using a blue tint, In fine old tradition I had forgotten the name of the required shade by the time I reached the paint store and had to wing it. The only other issue is the paint has to be flat and has to be applied evenly to avoid brightspots (parts of the screen that reflect the light from the projector more then others....it took a few coats...). I'm stoked about how well the screen works, Its not as good as a full on professional screen but the price was right.....and its BIG :D Initially I priced up a ceiling mount for the projector, Prices on those are redicules, so i ended up mounting a shelf just below ceiling height and mounting the projector on the underside of it, Made my own brackets, its pretty rough and will be tidied up at stage 2. The rest of the plan is to build a second screen on another wall (going to build a false wall) that can be seen from outside (had some huge glass doors fitted a few months back,opening onto a bbq area.....There's that damn demolition company again) The theroy being that the projector can be swapped from one location to the other in a few seconds,merely by grabbing the shelf its attached to and transferiing it to the other set of brakets.... Um, The projector itsself gets its signal from the DVI output on my video card,I have 2m long VGA cable running between the 2,it treats the projector as a second monitor, I usually run it as a clone though it works fine in dual screen mode and span mode. The projector itself is the very cheapest unit in NZ that is still in production and was purchased from the good people at Ascent. www.ascent.co.nz Being a cheap projector it does have some weak points, apparently skin tones are very hard to get right,and when a close up of a face is onscreen you can see it drop the ball, with visible noise and artafacts,especially on peoples cheeks. Noticible on all those overblown lingering facial shots on LoTR... Still, As far as bang for your buck goes (which is always my main consideration) shes fine,damn fine. And watching Master and Commander last night was an experience....	Metla (12)
365306	2005-06-19 23:30:00	Ooooooooops Sorry. For last night's posts. Hard day. Too many grapejuices in the evening. Got carried away. Humble apologies........mark c :blush: :blush:	mark c (247)
365307	2005-06-19 23:31:00	Oh yeah, On the pics I positioned a beach umbrella beside the screen, It was rendered invisible for some reason, However, the screen that is displaying my site, You can see my paint tray on the floor and the window to the left. You may have to lighted the picture up to see them...	Metla (12)
365308	2005-06-19 23:43:00	OOOOOOooooohhhhhhhhhhhh Showed Hubby......give me time and he will weaken...:p he still wants a new telly....LOL question, is 3 m by whatever maximum size? and can it be made a bit smaller ...is this projector directed this size thing???? just looking at my block walls and i dont have that much spare wall....... :) beetle	beetle (243)
365309	2005-06-20 02:04:00	Thanks for the details on the screen and projector. What does a replacement bulb cost? [Edit after going to Ascent site] $ 396 - correct? How many hours = life of bulb? Being a cheap projector it does have some weak points, apparently skin tones are very hard to get right,and when a close up of a face is onscreen you can see it drop the ball, with visible noise and artafacts,especially on peoples cheeks. Noticible on all those overblown lingering facial shots on LoTR... Well, it would be interesting if others with more expensive projectors also get "noise and artefacts", pixelation, or whatever.	Strommer (42)
365310	2005-06-20 02:19:00	Bulbs are $350 Running on low they are stated to be good for 3000 hours, Though in my experience they start dimming at about the 1000 hour mark (my experience is limited to one other projector) As far as the more expensive units go, The other projector I refered to cost near 6 grand (though on todays market it would sit around the $3500 to $4200 price), replacement bulbs for it are $800, and its 16/9 native display rather then my 4 . 3 . Its picture quality is stunning, everything crystel clear and some scenes look near 3D (the bit out of Return of the king where Frodo is standing on the castle wall and the winged creature is beating its wings above him has to be seen to be believed, the huge noise coming out of the sub didn't hurt either) . Comparing the 2 against each other the more expensive one is definilty superior, But far more money then I was prepared, or even capable of spending . Its displayed on a screen that cost $800 as well . . . Having said that, when I plugged a comp into it the picture was a blurry mess, presumibly it had a hard time displaying a computer generated 4 . 3 image . Im happy (way beyond happy, I want to shut up for the day and head home to my projector) with the price vs quality that my setup gives me . I was up till 4am this morning installing all my old favourite games . . . . Bang for buck is king . For me anyhow . Edit- I see you priced the bulb :D Anyhow, The cost of the bulb was also a factor in my purchase, if they were all around the $800 mark the project would have been shelved immediatly . I did also look to buy one off tradme, I wouldn't recomend it though, when you take the asking price, factor in the amount in dollar terms that the bulb has done . . . . it makes more sense to buy a new cheap one . . .	Metla (12)
365311	2005-06-21 08:01:00	Aparantley you can purchase 'projector paint' for projector screens. My boss is using it in his new house. What kind of sound system do you have hooked up to that thing Melta?	pine-o-cleen (2955)
365312	2005-06-21 08:29:00	The only purpose made projector paint I came across is my travels was a product called screen goo, The retail price in NZ is many hundreds of dollars (probally nearer a grand for the 2 different products that make the package) just to paint an area that can be covered by a screen for less. Doesn't make much sence to me,more effort,more money, plus the chance of less then satisfactory results. The others I came across were just general paints that the manufacturers had designated as projector paint, The main type has glass beads in it to emulate a screen, Everything I read in relation to this product was negative. Another was just regular paint such as I used, except dressed up in a fancy tin and given names like "Silver Ghost"...rather then Valmen Grey or whatever it is/was... Sound system? ALTEC LANSING VS 3151R 5.1 www.alteclansing.com Running off a Soundblaster Live 5.1. The speakers had awesome reviews with many writers saying they hold their own and in some cases surpase a dedicated Home Theatre stero system, So I was looking foward to cranking them, Now, they are easily the best computer speakers I have ever used, the sound is clear and loud but the end result is miles away from what a real stereo can do, my home theatre stereo in my main lounge kills it as far as quality and volume is concerned (what else is there?) Audio reviewers must be on drugs.	Metla (12)
365313	2005-06-21 10:28:00	So the TV comes via the computer,how do you go for remote? For me its sounds the cats pajamas,but will wait till the good projector comes down to the price you paid for your one.Largely because there is bugger all on the telly these days and don't watch many dvd's.	Cicero (40)
365314	2005-06-21 10:58:00	The TV card has a remote, speakers have a remote, Projector has a remote. I don't use em, I got some 5m extensions for my Mouse,KB,gamepad,Joystick and a 2m one for my wheel..	Metla (12)
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