I've read a lot of posts about the new "upcoming" everything killer laser projectors and talk of how they will compete with and replace 3 chip DLP. What I haven't heard anywhere is that made in batches big enough to be called commodity products, these projectors will be affordable.

Anyone care to chime in on this?

$30k+ for a 3 chip DLP is one thing and I understand how it may be viewed as affordable or not afordable in our current market, but I can't imagine a new technology laser projector is going to reach consumers hand in any affordable manner.

Yes they may be here, but so was the JVC 4k projector though there were only two of them and it was over $200,000.

Can someone...shed some "lumens" on this?

Richard

I just can't see laser projection being commercialized on front projection first, as it would require higher powered lasers and the volume is still lower on high priced FPs compared to RPTVs (although that market is shrinking.) Usually engineering is tested on lower powered models first and then the brightness can be ramped up incrementally as engineering improves.

With Sony exiting the RPTV market, I can see a newcomer (or one of the existent players) trying to commercialize laser based RPTVs first, and then moving to the FP market once some of the R&D on the basics of the optical block has been paid off. This is just a guess, although as you say, we may see some of the boutique brands try and market a first-to-market high priced front projector.

I am sure they will be affordable in 5 years or so... :)

Laser projector would rule!

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6029/60201129jh7.png

I was hoping that we would see a FP with laser or led, but it seems like it will be several years. I therefore upgraded my lamp based 720P to 1080P to hold me over until then... :) SJ

If laser FPs were coming in the rather near future would you expect manufacturers to let us in on that secret?
A light engine is simplified by using rgb lasers.
One high powered laser might be very costly but what about the aggragate power of many lesser powered ones. Compare a high performance vector processor in a super computer to parallell use of pc processors.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12616872#post12616872

Still, I bet it will be a very long time before we get our hands on one that is cost effective. And by cost effective I mean under $20,000! :eek:

A light engine that is based on the Necsel laser solution, cost less than a light engine based on UHP lamp.

We already got confirmation from someone at Necsel that laser home projectors should be on shelves at the end of 2008 (I guess introduction at Cedia 2008, but I hope before). The first generation projectors were said to have around 1000 lumens with accurate colors.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Epson TW3000 will be based on a laser engine, and will cost less than $3000 (Epson and Novalux have a contract over Necsel technology).

my hunch is that it will occur within the next 24 months (affordable laser based FP), ie: the end of calendar year 2009.

if i thought it would be much longer i'd pull the trigger on a VW60, VW200, or their successors.

here's hoping for some good news at CES or CEDIA.

Cheap laser projectors outputing 1000 lumens? The chance of this happening is like the electric car putting the oil companies out of business in the same time frame.

I doubt the lamp lobby is as powerful as the oil lobby.
I did see an interesting documentary about how the oil industry killed off an electric car initiative in California.

Ohlson you really make me smile sometimes in my high stressed environment.:D

Ohlson is very much attuned to what is going on. He should be taken seriously.

A new laser PJ for $3,000? :eek: :D

I saw Novalux at CES and took some pictures of thier displays (front and rear projection tvs) and they were very impressive. It was cool the light source was outside of the projector and they had 3 tubes (if thats what you would call them) glowing red, green, and blue hung across the room and then went into the back of an infocus 777. The picture was very brite and the color was amazing. I remember the rep telling me that they were talking with Sony amung other manufactures. I have not been able to find those pictures I took but I will be back at CES and if they let me I will take alot more photos and post them.

Epson appears to be going laser to help them lower their production costs. It hints at what direction in price point this technology is poised (down) to go.

"into the back of an infocus 777. The picture was very brite and the color was amazing. "

Do tell!

How big was the picture?

Ohlson, did you know laser FP was shown all the way back at CES?

And I'm here waiting for Laser HDR projectors; a true revolution. I don't think it'll be even possible to make affordable HDR PJs without lasers (because of their high brightness and scanning potential) which is one extra reason why this enabling technology can't come soon enough.

What's HDR?

A new laser PJ for $3,000? :eek: :D

......good for about 1,100 hours, and the replacement laser will retail for $2,499:)

What's HDR?
High Dynamic Range
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging

......good for about 1,100 hours, and the replacement laser will retail for $2,499

Actually, one of the stronger points of the Necsel laser technology is more than 20,000 hours before failure (and without dimming !). How many UHP lamps is that ?, this could be a very bad thing, if your wife only allow you to upgrade the old pj after it stops working.

Laser projector would rule!

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6029/60201129jh7.png

Love that movie:)

Yeah, if you put Wayfarers on Alan and if I went back in time to the 80s when I wore my hair like that, that could be a pic of us!

I just find it hard to believe that a manufacturer, if they make a projector that good, is going to let it hit the market for less than 3 chip DLP costs now.

I, of course, will sign up for one if they are that cheap. For now I'll enjoy seeing everyone else's 3 chip DLP come through and get installed.

Richard

You will be able to afford a 3 chip dlp before these projectors 'measure up'.;)

instead of lasers, how about lamps that don't cost $400 and last longer than 2000hrs?

From a 'practical' standpoint an improved lamp design would be the most realistic.

Epson appears to be going laser to help them lower their production costs. It hints at what direction in price point this technology is poised (down) to go.

This made me think of a presentation Epson did prior to IFA, where they showed visions of the future. This included a projector that you would put on the same wall as you are projecting on, which would definately imply a laser light source. As this product would probably be targeted to the average joe consumer, like their PJ/DVD/Speakers combo, one would certainly assume that they believe lasers will be used for quite low-price purposes. They didn't say anything about a timeline though, as it was purely a presentation of a concept, nothing near prototype-status, it's probably still some years down the line though.

What are you all talking about?

Necsel laser solutions will be cheaper than bulbs and are coming soon. There have already been demos.

http://www.oled-display.info/laser-tv-introduction