Does anyone know if this actually works?

Question

http://cgi.ebay.com/CONVERT-LCD-PLASMA-or-ANY-TV-TO-BIG-SCREEN-THEATRE_W0QQitemZ110241914242QQihZ001QQcategoryZ15086QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I mean, I know it is probably somewhat fraudulent, or is just complicated, but it still has my attention. If i do end up buying it I would expect to buy disappointed.

Answer 1

Looks like another version of the old fresnel lens (Google it) approach to magnifying an image.  It won't give a useable image.

A total waste of money  ... even at the low price. The seller obviously hopes to make a bit on a lot of sales to people who say "well it's only $7, what can I lose?"

Answer 2

I have never seen this.  I would suggest that it could be possible to magnify or project an image from a screen onto a different medium once enlarged.  This is fairly basic physics.  The concern I would have is that when you expand the size of something, you increase the size of EVERYTHING associated with it.  So if you have a fairly crappy television, you will be blowing up the "DOTS" that make up the picture.  A picture from a cheap 26" television - blown up to 175" - would be virtually useless.  It would look something like a picture you see on the internet - a low pixel type - and you blow it up and blow it up until all you see are odd coloured squares.  If you did this with plasma - AND IT WORKED - you would EXPECT that it would be a great, clear picture.  For $6.95 I can't imagine that there is any useful technology though!  It may give you the INFORMATION of what you need for $6.95 and then you may have to go out and spend $1000 for mirrors or boosters or reflectors or .... whatever?

Answer 3

probably does work.

but i wouldnt exactly count

on ebay very much..

Answer 4

You would probably end up disappointed.  I wouldn't do.  Also the color would be horrible and so would the quality of the projection.  Also, where would your old TV go with the projector?   It would probably take up lots of room.  Also, Plasma TVs have deep colors and HD screens.  The projector thing would be sad compared to that.  Sorry, but I really think it's a hoax, or it works but it's disappointing.  G=P

Answer 5

These things usually work, but are a pain to get working just right. Often they are blurry, because they lack the adjustments that are used to align commercial rear projection televisions. They can be fun to play around with, and for seven bucks it might be worth your time.

Answer 6

It probably does work.

As to how well, on the other hand: most likely it will not be any good.

First, consider the kind of light that is used in any kind of image projector, from an antiquated film slide projector to the most modern DLP video projector.

Then, consider how much light a direct view display, such as a plasma or LCD television, is capable of.

Now, consider what is going to happen to that limited amount of light from a direct view display when you try to project it on a larger screen, essentially spreading that limited amount of light out on a larger area.

You are very limited by the relatively low amount of light, so the resulting image will be too dim to be acceptable.  

This is also why projector bulbs are as bright as they are; they have to be in order for the brightness to be where it should be when the image is projected.

Without any way to substantially increase the light output, there is no way you will get acceptable results from the rig being sold on eBay.

This is another one of those things that belongs in the snake oil category.

Answer 7

sounds like a ripoff to me

Answer 8

my momma always says... if it seems too good to b true .....it probably is. \well, thats what my momma always says anyway. alright, alright, alright.