[lousyreeds1]

Hi all,


I was THIS close to purchasing a Hitachi tx100 today, but having recently heard about Sony's new budget 720p offering (vpl-aw10), I'm getting cold feet. The most appealing difference in the Sony is its purported ability to deal well with ambient light. Having a projector that's watchable during the day or with an overhead light on would be HUGE for me.


The Sony comes out in June. I'm worried that if I wait that long, the last Hitachis, which are no longer in production, will have been sold, and if I don't like the Sony at that point, I'm screwed. So I have two questions:


1. Do those in the know think the Sony has a chance to be significantly better than the Hitachi, especially in situations with ambient light?


2. Do those in the know think the Hitachis will last until mid-June or beyond?


If know one is 'in the know', sorry to bother. But I would really like to hear some opinions if they're out there!


Thanks.

 

[Ovation]

That particular Sony does NOT have lens shift (unlike its more expensive sibling, the AW15, and the Hitachi) so if you require a fair amount of placement flexibility, then the Hitachi seems a likelier bet. However, the Sony is new, not 3+ years old, in terms of technology and I suspect its PQ is probably better. The Hitachi JP52 is probably a closer match in image quality (particularly with its dynamic iris) but I believe it's only been seen at around the 1000$ mark at a large warehouse store whose name cannot be (for reasons that remain obscure to me) mentioned.

 

[floridapoolboy]

The cheapest I've seen the TX100 is $699, while the PJ52 is around $1150. Keep in mind, however, that the PJ52 comes with a 106" fixed screen and an HDMI cable, and it is now a comparable deal. Also, the PJ52 has the newer LCD panels, and a contrast ratio of 7000:1, compared to 1200:1 for the TX100. Quite a difference!

 

[lousyreeds1]

Thanks for your help. Went for the TX100 and it's been fantastic!