Do you think it would be stupid to buy this projector?

Question

http://www.projectorcentral.com/epson_powerlite_77c_multimedia_projector.htm

I'm looking in to getting a rather cheap home theater setup. I found this projector for a reasonable price, but I know that is limited to the connectivity. I know that you can't hook up HDMI to it, but I don't have PS3, 360 or any kind of satellite tv. I would mainly be using it for dvd movies and wii games. Would it be worth paying an extra few hundred dollars for a projector that supports HDMI or just get the cheap Epson? I wouldn't need the HDMI for right now, but who knows what they are going to put out in the future. I want to make a good investment, and I've never owned a projector. It seems better than spending the same amount for a smaller sized plasma or lcd. Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

I would not consider this to be a high definition projector.  While the resolution is 1024 x 768 (a computer display resolution), when cropped to 16:9 you will only have 578 lines in the picture.  Hardly better than a standard 480-line picture.

Chris R's answer is correct.

Answer 2

just a suggestion, buy the projector and set up your theater system the cheapest way you can= as long as it works for you. It's like you answered your own question by saying no telling what their going to come up with in the future== To me it looks like there will be many bargains in the up coming year= good luck=

Answer 3

Projector has to have a dark room and the cost of replacing the bub cost almost the price of the projector. It depends Epson makes some great data projection. They tend to break more than a toshiba though from my experience.

DLP - like a projector but it uses chip and mirrors (laser tv) will replace all of that in the coming years

Plasma - I don't recommend

LCD - this is the best for the buck for now, prices are all over the place. 37" to 47" $649 and up. I've seen 60" but that cost too much.

Answer 4

All this projector will do for you is make you want to upgrade your projector.  If the budget is the major limitation, I would suggest waiting (save-up) and get a projector that has at least a 16:9 native resolution, 720p and an HDMI input. Look at projectors around $2000.00 and you'll be getting something you can upgrade the rest of your system to over time. Click the link below and read about a good budget unit.

Answer 5

I cannot recommend a presentation projector for home theater use.  You will not be satisfied with the result (poor blacks, bad video processing, etc)  Also, if you spend multiple hours per day playing the Wii then a projector might not be for you.  A typical bulb costs anywhere from $150-$300 and last between 2000-4000 hours.  Make sure you figure that into the cost of ownership or plan to buy a bulb warranty.  That said, I've been a satisfied projector owner for 6+ years.

You can buy an entry level 720p DLP projector for $900-$1000.  It will throw an image that rivals any $1500-$2000 LCD TV.

Take a look at the Mitsubishi HC1500\1600 or the Optoma HD65.   These are the budget kings at the moment.  You will like both of them  1000% more than the Epson PowerLite 77c that you are considering.  Spend some time reviewing projectors as avsforum (see the link below)