Dear Dr. Bob: I've heard you can view ordinary videos on the digital projectors that marketing execs use for presentations. Can I get rid of my TV and use one of these portable projectors as a home theater system?
Dr. Bob: You've gotten wind of one of the best-kept secrets in high-end video. Digital projectors work just as well as big-screen TVs and nearly as well as $8,000 projectors expressly made for home theater systems.
The Proxima UltraLight X350, made by InFocus (www.infocus.com), reigns as the current king of ultralight mobile projectors. Its DLP technology is superior to that of any LCD unit in its price range, and it shines a brilliant 1,100 lumens, bright enough to project flicks onto your living-room wall in broad daylight. This $4,999 unit packs enough resolution to present DVDs in flawless detail and HDTV signals in the 480-progressive format - not full definition, but still awfully sharp. The X350 purrs quietly and, unlike a big-screen TV, it connects easily to a laptop, PC, or PDA. At 3.5 pounds, your whole video system will pack into a drawer after the credits have rolled.
If you're budget-conscious, you might try cruising auction sites for used InFocus projectors. Though they're dimmer and heavier, these under-$2,000 models do a fine job. You'll be surprised how spacious your living room will seem once you get rid of that big-screen TV and start projecting movies on the wall.
Got a tech question? Ask Dr. Bob at askdrbob@wiredmag.com.
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