CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

sjperelman · Joined: 19 Apr 2013 Posts: 4

Hello. I'm new to this forum, and to projectors in general. I'm looking at buying a projector from here to watch movies with at home. Since I don't have a dvd or blu-ray player, I'll have to use my 2008 macbook to hook up to the projector. Is this possible?

The projector I'm looking at is the Barco Data or Barco Data 400. I know this only has rgb inputs. Will I be able to hook this up to my macbook with a mini dvi to vga adapter? Or is there some other simple way to do it?

Thanks for your help.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Yep I have a mac book and used it. I also use Switch ResX for custom resolutions.

Athanasios

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 12:31 am Post subject:

Forget the Barco Data. If you're looking at getting either one from me, I've thrown them out, sorry. If you're looking elsewhere, the BArco Data 400 MIGHT be a consideration if it's free, but make sure the tubes aren't full of fungus, very common on those Sony tubes.

I just went through my stock of tubes that I haven't touched in 3 years, and probably 20% developed fungus just by sitting there.

Also, the Barco 400 is from 1988, so it's now a VERY old unit. Look for something newer, even with worn tubes, to get a better image than out of those old sets. Just my $.02.

ecrabb · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 1:01 am Post subject:

OP, like Curt said - the BarcoData machines are REALLY old. Personally, I don't think they'd even be worth driving across town for, much less paying to ship.

Judging by your IP, you're in a large metro area that I visit frequently... I've browsed craigslist there, and you should be able to find something much, much nicer, and still for very cheap. For instance, Sony 12xx's can usually be had for around $100-200 in very nice condition. Such a machine will make a very nice 1080i picture on a 100" diagonal screen. IMHO, there's nothing digital, new or used, that can touch the picture quality at anywhere near the price point. You'd have to spend at least $500 for a digital that would start looking significantly better (in some regards, not in others).

Feel free to search and post what you find here or PM, and we can help you pick a winner.

Cheers,
SC

sjperelman · Joined: 19 Apr 2013 Posts: 4

Thanks for the help, everyone.

What about the Sony 10xx projectors that are listed on this website? Would one of those be a good choice?

I've looked on craigslist and ebay, the problem is just that there are so many options, and it's hard for me to differentiate between everything not having any experience with projectors. Also, I'm trying to spend less than $200 on this thing. Is a CRT projector the best way to go? Most of the things I'm finding are digital, and I have no idea what the picture quality or anything will be. Ecrabb, I tried to find a Sony 12xx projector online, but I couldn't find one for sale.

I found this online: http://cgi.videogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?projcrta&1371056695&&&/dwin-hd700 but the website seems kind of shady to me.

Basically, I guess I'm wondering if there's anything that might help me narrow down my options.

Again, I thank everyone for their help.

ecrabb · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:08 pm Post subject:

I don't think Curt has any of the low-end machines anymore. Even if he did, it would literally cost more than your budget just to ship one from Washington state to you in MI. So, if your budget is around $200, don't consider buying with shipping - whether from Curt or anybody else - unless you can drive to wherever it's listed. Period. There's a chance you could find something on ebay, but sold by a local reseller.

$200 is a pretty thin budget unless you stumble onto a smokin' deal. Some people here have found CRT projectors for next to nothing; literally for free. But, you'd have to get resourceful, and it would probably take some patience and effort on your part. You could put up a wanted ad on Craigslist and maybe get lucky. At least you're in a large metro area, which makes the likelihood of finding something much, much greater.

Here's an example of something in your area:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/ele/3763824971.html

I wouldn't pay more than a couple hundred - maybe $250 - for it.

The DWIN HD700 you linked to on Videogon... Nothing shady about the site or the listing. It's just a place for folks to sell stuff, and it's generally pretty kosher; some guys here list their stuff there. That DWIN is a basic entry-level CRT projector, but it's kind of neat because it's small (for a CRT projector) and has no fans, so it's silent. Should display a nice 1080i picture, I think. It's about what, 4 hours from you? Probably makes the most sense to drive and go pick it up, as you could inspect before purchase, and even though the DWIN is small (for a CRT), shipping will probably still cost as much as gas.

If you wanted to go digital, there's something like this Sanyo PLV-Z4:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/ele/3755000705.html

My dad has one. Roughly 4-year old 720p LCD digital. Lamps are probably $100.

Whether you go CRT or digital depends on your needs. CRT is big and loud, and takes a lot of learning and effort to get it up and running with a nice picture. It also requires an external box to use it with newer HDMI-based equipment. OTOH, it will likely run for years without spending a dollar on it, and if you like to tinker, they're a blast. No ongoing maintenance, and you can run the thing 8 or 10 hours a day without a care in the world.

If you don't like to tinker, and you just want to watch some movies or play games on a big screen, there are some decent used digital projectors in the $200-300 ballpark that would make a fine projector. OTOH, if you use them much, you'll eat through a $100 or $150 lamp once a year, some of the older LCDs are organic and will fade, and they're generally cheap, plasticy pieces of hardware.

Just depends on what you're after.

Do you have a dedicated, light-controlled space to view a projector? One thing CRTs are not good at is competing with any ambient light. They're best in total darkness.

SC

sjperelman · Joined: 19 Apr 2013 Posts: 4

Based on the information I've gotten so far, and unless I happen upon a really great deal on a CRT projector, I'll probably just get a digital projector for now. I do have a light-controlled space, but I don't really have the money to buy a nice CRT, or the time to tinker with an older one. And I don't think I'll use it so much that I'll go through a lot of bulbs.

sjperelman · Joined: 19 Apr 2013 Posts: 4

Here are some projectors I found in my price range on craigslist. If anyone cares to take the time to look at these, and has advice concerning any of these machines that they could offer, it would be greatly appreciated.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/eld/3697765803.html
http://porthuron.craigslist.org/ele/3743629940.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/ele/3704080728.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/ele/3719162984.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/eld/3764320864.html

ecrabb · Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:27 am Post subject:

There is no substantial difference between an old and new CRT projector which would result in more or less tinkering. Owning a CRT means reading, learning, and tinkering. Period. In fact, the newer/better CRT projectors have more control, and typically mean more reading and learning and tinkering - to get the best picture out of the projector. However, for the investment in time and learning, you can get a hell of a nice picture for not a lot of money, and really not worry about spending a dollar on it for years to come.

That said, if you're not looking for ultimate picture quality, and want something easy to use and install, that doesn't require much learning, a digital is very convenient. Something like that Sanyo I linked you to is a pretty nice projector for the money. If you could buy the machine for $150, and slap a $50 lamp in from ebay, you can probably watch it for a year or two before you want to replace it or you have to put a lamp in it (depending on how much you watch it, of course.)

Good luck with your project!

SC

ecrabb · Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:36 am Post subject:

I would stay away from all those. The Favi and Optivision is "white van" Chinese junk. The Epson, Lightware, and Panasonic are all 10+ years old, standard definition and/or 4:3, and are far inferior to the Sanyo I linked you to.

In your price range, the Sanyo in Novi is the best deal in my brief search. It's 720p HD, and the contrast ratio is far, far superior to all that other stuff. There are really good projectors to be had in the $500 range, but if your budget is $200, the Sanyo should be a good machine.

SC