Panasonic HD projector

[Ext User(Brendan Pratt)]

Just wandered in to WOW up here in Brisbane, and noticed what appears at
first looks to be a pretty good deal.

It's a Panasonic HD projector (unknown what model number), with a 106"
motorised screen, and a free spare bulb via redemption for a total of
$3499. They have the projector by itself for $2999.

Brand name of the motorised screen is unknown, but shouldn't be too hard
to find out.

Any tips, hints, warnings, suggestions would be appreciated. :)

Thanks.

[Ext User(John)]

"Brendan Pratt" <bprattNOSPAM@overflow.net.au> wrote in message
news:44c7778d$0$484$61c65585@uq-127creek-reader-03.brisbane.pipenetworks.com.au...
> Just wandered in to WOW up here in Brisbane, and noticed what appears at
> first looks to be a pretty good deal.
>
> It's a Panasonic HD projector (unknown what model number), with a 106"
> motorised screen, and a free spare bulb via redemption for a total of
> $3499. They have the projector by itself for $2999.
>
> Brand name of the motorised screen is unknown, but shouldn't be too hard
> to find out.
>
> Any tips, hints, warnings, suggestions would be appreciated. :)
>
> Thanks.

I think the model you are referring to is Panasonic PT-AE900, You can
certainly get
the projector on its own for less than $2500 and there are other
alternatives from Sony,
Sanyo, Hitachi and Benq.

[Ext User(Troy McClure)]

It sounds like the AE900 which is a reasonable performer. The spare bulb is
a good deal, if you get a good price but this price looks like they've built
the cost of the bulb into the price. I've seen the AE900 for under $2500
(but looking around the price has shot up now a bulb is included).
The screens are usually cheap and nasty and this is where most of the profit
is made. There are companies that put new motorised screens on e-bay every
day and they usually sell for around $300.


"Brendan Pratt" <bprattNOSPAM@overflow.net.au> wrote in message
news:44c7778d$0$484$61c65585@uq-127creek-reader-03.brisbane.pipenetworks.com.au...
> Just wandered in to WOW up here in Brisbane, and noticed what appears at
> first looks to be a pretty good deal.
>
> It's a Panasonic HD projector (unknown what model number), with a 106"
> motorised screen, and a free spare bulb via redemption for a total of
> $3499. They have the projector by itself for $2999.
>
> Brand name of the motorised screen is unknown, but shouldn't be too hard
> to find out.
>
> Any tips, hints, warnings, suggestions would be appreciated. :)
>
> Thanks.

[Ext User(Brendan Pratt)]

John said the following on 27/07/2006 12:41 AM:

> I think the model you are referring to is Panasonic PT-AE900, You can
> certainly get
> the projector on its own for less than $2500 and there are other

So where can I find those sorts of prices from then ? :) I'd like to
save some money too. :)

> alternatives from Sony,
> Sanyo, Hitachi and Benq.


Any particular model numbers from those others brands that I should be
looking at ?


Thanks.

[Ext User(Brendan Pratt)]

Troy McClure said the following on 27/07/2006 12:57 AM:
> It sounds like the AE900 which is a reasonable performer. The spare bulb is
> a good deal, if you get a good price but this price looks like they've built
> the cost of the bulb into the price. I've seen the AE900 for under $2500
> (but looking around the price has shot up now a bulb is included).

Well that'd explain the price jump then. :(

> The screens are usually cheap and nasty and this is where most of the profit
> is made. There are companies that put new motorised screens on e-bay every
> day and they usually sell for around $300.

Oh ok, the screen they told me retails for around $1200, but I didn't
think to ask the brand/model details, but them telling me the retail
price was $1200 seems to indicate that it ain't no cheap and nasty brand
(but until I find out for sure what brand/model it is I won't know for
sure).

Thanks for the info.

[Ext User(Troy McClure)]

It depends which city you're in where the deals can be found. I have in the
past seen the PT-AE900 at Harvey Norman for under $2500 but not for a while
(they put their prices up when they offer interest free). Just be careful
some stores still have stocks of the PT-AE700 which was also high definition
but suffered several quirks (but is still a good projector). Sanyo Z3 and
InFocus Screenplay projectors as well as Sony are all fine projectors. At
the end of the day it is always a trade off features versus price. Some
projectors are better with high ambient light, some are better at cinema and
are poor at data if you hook up a computer. BenQ tend to be DLP projectors
which have there advantages and disadvantages.

Panasonic is a good projector for a good price from a well supported
company. One disadvantage it does provide a soft type focus which eliminates
the "screen door" effect but the picture is not as sharp.


"Brendan Pratt" <bprattNOSPAM@overflow.net.au> wrote in message
news:44c7f0ea$0$511$61c65585@uq-127creek-reader-03.brisbane.pipenetworks.com.au...
> John said the following on 27/07/2006 12:41 AM:
>
>> I think the model you are referring to is Panasonic PT-AE900, You can
>> certainly get
>> the projector on its own for less than $2500 and there are other
>
> So where can I find those sorts of prices from then ? :) I'd like to save
> some money too. :)
>
>> alternatives from Sony,
>> Sanyo, Hitachi and Benq.
>
>
> Any particular model numbers from those others brands that I should be
> looking at ?
>
>
> Thanks.

[Ext User(Italo)]

"Brendan Pratt" <bprattNOSPAM@overflow.net.au> wrote in message
news:44c7f1a3$0$511$61c65585@uq-127creek-reader-03.brisbane.pipenetworks.com.au...
>
> Thanks for the info.

One more thing to keep in mind is where you'll be placing the projector and
how far from the screen. Check out www.projectorcentral.com for their
distance calculator. They have pretty all the currently released projectors
and can save you some headaches later

For example, I was all set to either buy the SONY H60 or the Sanyo Z4, but I
needed to place the PJ on top of the lounge coffee table at about 2m away
from the screen. Both of those PJs would not have been able to give me a
large enough image and I opted for the Hitachi PJTX200 instead.

cheers
--
Italo