Well I got my Z2 (Boxlight SE2HD actually) back in December of '03 I believe it was. I use it for everything. TV, computer monitor, movies, etc. so it gets used a ton.

On my first bulb I got 3800 hours and it was still working. In fact its my "backup" bulb right now. I only changed it because well...... 3800 hours is alot!

So I just happened to check out the hours on my second bulb here....... 3968!! These things just wont die on me! How am I supposed to justify upgrading when this stupid thing is still working?!? :p.

Hmmmmmmmmm.

I bought mine at the same time as you.

My first bulb has yet to reach 2000 hours and I am hoping that it lasts until sub $3k 1080p projectors are widely available.

If I had to choose between buying a new bulb and buying a new pj at this point I would upgrade to the Epson 1080. (I would buy from Hong Kong for about $3k)

I love my Z2 but the fact that it does not play well with HDCP is bad considering that Blu-Ray and HD DVD players only upconvert via HDMI.

Vlad_Dracule , l haven't heard from you since those great Z2 days. My Z2 turned 3 yrs old this past Jan and I have over 5000 hrs on the original lamp. Still nice and bright and can easily achieve an AVIA calibration.

Randy, my Z2 with the 109 firmware works great with the PS3. What Blu ray are you having trouble with?

Yeah I had been trying not to visit too much because it always made me want to upgrade but now my Z2 is really starting to show some wear. I'm thinking I'll snag an HD70 or something around the $1K mark just to hold me until the 1080p's come down in price.

I have a Z1 with about 500 hrs on the bulb. I sure hope I have the luck with my bulb that you guys had.

How often do you clean your filter and do you take it apart regularly to blow it out? I was trying to figure out if you guys did anything different from the avg joes.

Seems like a recurring theme! ;) I registered at the forums in '04 when I was shopping for a PJ, then didn't really return often til I needed a new one. :o Of course things had changed so much that I really had my work cut out for me getting back up to speed. So I think I'll stick around this time. :D

I have a Z1 with about 500 hrs on the bulb. I sure hope I have the luck with my bulb that you guys had.

How often do you clean your filter and do you take it apart regularly to blow it out? I was trying to figure out if you guys did anything different from the avg joes.I clean my filter every 50 hours or so and when I turn mine on and I leave it on for at least two hours. Also if I plan on using it a couple hours after I'm done I just leave it on, because it's the constant on/off cycles that seem to reduce lamp life. The more less hot/cold cycle it goes through the better. Keep the room temp down and if the lamp goes into high (you'll hear it) the room is to warm, remember it's warmer at the ceiling than where you're sitting.

I'm no pro but this has worked well for me and has made my lamp last more than 5000 hrs. Then again maybe I'm just lucky :)