I bought one today at a Best Buy for $599 (got the 4 year warranty for $189 which includes one bulb), but sure had to be persistent. I called Springfield store (75 miles away) three days ago and they said they had none. I called Fayetteville (80 miles away) and they said they had none but the computer showed two in Springfield. I called Springfield back and they disconnected me. I got in the car and drove up there, wandered through the stacks and found an HC1500 box about 30 feet high. Finally tracked down an employee and a ladder, and he was shocked to hear the price (said he was going to buy the other one tonight). These weren't in the "Magnolia Home Theater" room, but out on the general floor.
I was upgrading from a Plus Piano Projector (480p) that I've had for 5 years. Long story short, I've really agonized over this purchase, considered the SanyoPLVz2000, the Panasonic AX200, and the low cost HC1500. My heart kept saying "Go for the 1080, be a man" and my wallet kept saying "Are you sure about this? Better think hard." I sat tonight and watched "Monster's Ball" and a few hours of HDTV (Cox), and could not have been happier. The picture is fantastic, and I don't just mean "for the money" (don't you hate it when people throw that in there?)....I mean it's fantastic. I could see every one of Billy Bob Thornton's wrinkles in his craggy old face and I won't even start on Halle. I will just say she looks good when she sweats.
My plan was to get this and upgrade in a few years after the dust has settled on the new crop of 1080P. I just may hang on to this one a while longer than that, can't imagine enjoying an movie evening any more than tonight.
So.....I'll end with a message to all you folks who are struggling with this like I did. I think projector technology has come so far that 95% of us would be thrilled with any number of moderately priced 720P projectors. Thank goodness for the other 5%, they keep technology moving and they keep educating us, but don't let their sharp eyes and reviews frustrate you into overbuying.
