Since the Sharp M10S is available for $1749, I'm thinking it might be a stop gap projector to get me by until those 4096X2304 laser based 100,000 lumen, variable aspect ratio, 10000/1 contrast projectors come out this fall for $999 (I understand you have to use a flat black screen with those anyway). Or should I wait a bit for the holographic units due out next summer? But back to our $1749 M10S, I saw a demo of it along with some other projectors. Now, I'm not even close to a videophile, so you purists cover your eyes ... I thought the thing looked darn good.
I know that there are no perfect projectors out there, and certainly not for $1749. So I am not expecting perfection. But every time I get all set on a projector, at the last minute I find the thing has horrible flaws; Lamps explode, color banding, and oh my GOSH! So I don't want to buy this thing then read that they occasionally explode and kill everyone for a few city blocks or somehow synthesize HIV from carbon dioxide in the air. So you folks that know these projectors, how about it, are there some hidden secrets to these machines?
First, here is what I think I know based on searches in this forum and elsewhere, and please correct me if I am wrong.
The M10S, the U3-880 and the UGO S-lite are the same design, different companies.
The M10X, the U3-1080, UGO X-lite, and the Mitsubishi X30 are just XVGA variants of the above.
Now, focusing on the Sharp M10S:
Positives:
Excellent contrast ratio (800/1 full on/off)
Decent color
Bright enough for darkened room (800 lumens)
No crawlies
Reduced rainbow
No hot whites
Moderate noise level (sound)
Not much light leakage
Short throw distance
Simple
Cheap
Negatives:
SVGA, not XVGA
No zoom
1000 hour bulb that costs $500-$600
Maybe a bit softer image then higher priced SVGA projectors (looked great to me!)
No ceiling mount (but does flip the picture, so I guess you can kludge it?)
S-video input does passable but not great job (looked good to me, see, no videophile)
No DVI, but I'm hearing that doesn't really have much impact
Gentlemen (women?), start your engines, if you have some dirt, let's have it. Positive comments accepted too.
Thanks.
