Im sorry this is kind of lot of info you guys dont really need but I typed it all so im just going to post it. Im a almost 22yrs old, and been working for the past 3yrs, I still live at my parents home, hopefully not for much longer.Anyways I am in to gagets,lights,lasers,audio and video and web forums, an have been for a long time. I have been fine on the home audio side for awhile, but need to upgrade my video. Around last Thanksgiving I purchased a samsung50"rpdlp tv and a high def direct tv dvr box. I returned the tv set because I thought it was too bright for my room at night.

Since then I have been doing alot of research and dont think I want invest $2000+, into a 46-50+" lcd or plasma, or another rpjtv. Id rather wait a few years for organic led displays (oled) to drop that kind of money on a flat panel.

So thats what brought me to front projectors, and that I always liked lights and always wanted a projector.
Well I been doing about month of research here, and ordered a Mit HC1500 from a local super store new years eve, It hasnt arrived yet 7 to 10 bussnies days. I think im going to return it soon as it gets here.
Well anyways, then I cought eye of the mits HC4900 deal, I been tracking it since new years day and I feel Sunday and Monday is my last chance to save the extra 100 on the hc4900.
My room is in basment, white walls and celling, I have two windows, one is a small door window, towel over it its fine, the other window is alittle over 3' tall and 3' wide, I put a towel over covers most of window. Witch is good because I want alittle light so I can tell when the sun goes down. Also I dont mind having a dark room , as long as its not pitch black all day or every time the tv on. I like a little bit of dim ambient light . Its a odd shape room, but with the lcd projector placement and zoom I think I will be fine for a 92inch diy screen and projector placed on a table.

I plan on using this projector as my main tv, depending if I get the bulb warranty or not, I have a old 36inch tuber in my room now witch I can still use, But I dont think I want to drag the monster with me when I move out.

so my questions are.

Does the Hc 4900 perform decent with a little bit of ambient light like 1 dimmiable down facing lamp in the other conner of my room?

Choices.
a: Order the PP HC 4900 deal, for $1550 with 3yr lamp warranty use it mostly as my daily tv for the most part of 3+ yrs, and use 1080 resolution through my laptop, hd sat and maybe get ps3 eventually.

b: keep the lower priced 720p Mits HC1500, but im worried my next living arrangement, the room may not be as big and the throw will be to long, plus I saw rainbows on the dlp rptv I had.

c: keep looking for a good deal on a flatpanel lcd, I dont want a cheap one with motion blur, I will pay 2000+ when its a 46"+ OLED, I will for sure buy that.

d: wait a little bit maybe for new rptv technology, or lower lcd prices. But I do not want to wait too much longer, I spent all that money on that Hddvr box and been using it with a sd tv for almost 2 months already.

I really want to do option A. but Im worried even with the warranty it wont be that practical for a every day bedroom tv.

Any input, thought or reassurance would be great I need to pull the trigger buy before the 7th if im going to do it. Thanks all, and this is a great forum. Sorry bout all that reading for kinda lame questions.

Hi Heyitsme

With the 1500, the throw for a 92" screen would be from about 11 to 13 feet back from the lens. If you put it on a table beside ( or better between ) your seating, you should be able to fit it in all but the smallest rooms when you move.

The 4900 would be more flexible for future installations, but this will mailing come into play if you ceiling or shelf mount.

In your position, I'd keep the 1500 and bank the difference for lamps, especially if you're going to use it like a TV.

Remember, if you use it as a TV you should turn it on and leave it on for your entire daily viewing period. Short turn on / turn off cycles reduce lamp life.

Jonathan

Thanks Jrwhite, ya I wouldn't try to turn it off more then 1 or 2 times a day. I do want to go the cheaper route, but its only $550 dollars cheaper for the hc1500, and that wont have a 3yr bulb warranty with it. Also I am little sensitive to rainbows I see it on most dlps i have watched. The main thing that caught my eye on the HC4900 is the 5k hour low bulb mode that the 1500 does not have and being able to go with a larger screen if I wanted to in a small place.
I dont know what to do decisions, decisions well I got a day and half more to decide still.
thanks all and any more opinions would be great.

Bump, anyone more opinions?

HC 4900 $1550 Projector with 3yr lamp warranty practical for everyday tv use?

Tomorrow is the day, I pull the trigger or not, and I think I want to.

Thanks

The HC4900 is a great pj and is worth the extra $500 over the HC1500. Of course the HC1500 is a better value, but if you have the extra money and you care about your pq go for the HC4900. What screen do you plan to use?

What's your audio setup?

Also, I'm confused by you saying you though the RPTV was too bright. Sounds like you never calibrated it as the stock setting always has too high contrast/brightness.

I plan on making a screen if I go that route, I have just an old Dolby digital jvc receiver, 4 bookshelf speakers, center, and 5yr old Yamaha 800watt powered home audio sub. Nothing special, but good enough. The Samy RPTV I had, was to bright all together, I had it for a week and had the contrast and brightness set around 30 after alot of adjusting. But then I found I lost to much detail at the lower settings on dark scenes.

The one thing that has me worried is after 3 or 4 years the projector may not work anymore from prolonged heat. Where as a tv set I would hope last 5-7 years. Correct me if im wrong?.

Anyways, Im starting to think, and read about the new laser dlp technology, that supposed to come this year, I hope it will come real soon witch it probably wont and will probably have bugs at first and premium prices.

So ya Im still stuck, when I get home from work I have alot of research to do, because today is probably the last day to pull the trigger on the best 4900 deal.

Can you send me a pm as to where this deal on the 4900 is?
Thanks,
Brian

gumby pm sent. Also one question I have been wondering for anyone to answer . Do rear projection tv sets with the bulbs, suffer the same effect from powering on and off like front projectors?

If you can get the HC4900 for about $1,500 w/3yr lamp warranty it is a great deal. It will probably be another 6-12 months before the other 1080p projectors drop to this price level. I have the HC5000 and am quite pleased with its performance, I am upgrading but that's just me. Since HC4900 is just a HC5000 rebadged minus the HQV Reon chip, The performance should be very similar. I am using a Stewart Studiotek with the HC5000 in a 16x13 completely blacked out room. There is some but not overly significant difference in image quality when I turn on the floor lamp (directional). You'll notice the extra sharpness of 1080 over 720. HC4900 certainly is more flexible with it placement with lenshift and 1.6:1 zoom. If you do some careful shopping you can get a manual pull down screen for around $150.

you should....

a) buy a panny 50" plasma for $1300, and

b) quit freeloading off your parents

Thanks, that sounds like a good deal I will look into that quickly, and yes I do freeload, but only in manner of not having to pay rent while I live at there house. I work and pay for everything else its nice but im going to move out soon.

Edit: I looked into that very nice price and size but 720p, Id rather just go ahead and do 1080p if im spending over 1000.