I need suggestions for a cheap (300.00-600.00) LCD for the kids to use for gaming and some movie watching. They had been using an old ae100u and the ballast has gone bad. Rather than fixing it I am looking for sugestions on a used LCD make/model that I could pick up off ebay.

Any reason to stick to lcd?

I get headaches from DLP.

Sanyo PLV-Z4 (LCD 720p) on ebay. It's on my list. I'm still using an NEC LT150. Hey, it still works and has a great picture.

You can get a new Sony VPL-AW10 from B&H Photo for $695 w/ship. Comes with a 2 year warranty. You can also buy an extended warranty direct from Sonystyle. B&H is an authorized Sony dealer.

How about the Nextar XPJ? It is undoubtedly a piece of crap but maybe your kids would still enjoy it. ;)
And you would only be out 150...

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/SkuSearch_v2.asp?SCriteria=3001645

I get headaches from DLP.
Do your kids get them too? If not a dlp may be a better choice for a kids projector, as they will probably use it for long time spans. That is, unless you can get an lcd with some inorgnaic polarizers. Just trying to keep you away from polarizers degradation ;)
Though, if you didn't have a problem with your last projector you may be good.