Video projector, lcd or plasma?

What's the best choice between video projector, a wide lcd or plasma tv? I'm asking it for tv viewing, movies, dvd - mostly not hd quality. What do you think?

I'm betting on the video projector because of the big and adjustable size, even if for the best quality it needs poor light environment - not to mention the low price, comparing it to all LCD and plasma tvs.

So here's the deal, you choice depends on the room that the device will be in.

If it is dark like a Basement then you can go with a projector or plasma. Personally, a projector does not deliver a good picture unless you are prepared to spend upwards of a $1000. While it does allow you the freedom to make a really large image for minimal bucks, the quality of the image is nowhere near as good as a plasma or LCD. Also the projector is more costly to maintain. On average the bulbs in the projector unit need to be repalce every 2000-3000 hrs. at an average cost of $300. Plus as a previous poster mentioned, you have to purchase an ugly screen or paint your wall a boring bright white.

With a Plasma you get really good picture quality, depth, and colour recreation. Plasma's have and will continue to drop in price as LCD are capturing more and more market share. If you are only going to be watching standard def tv and movies then a Plasma is a good choice as it delivers a more forgiving image in the fact that it's picture is naturally sharper than an LCD's.This will help make a better picture in standard def. On the down side, a Plasma tv uses a pressurized phosphorescent gas to make the images which means that the screen has to be made from glass. Glass as we all know causes reflections and therfore is no good in a room with a lot of light. Yes, you could choose a model that has an anti-glare coating on it, however this just makes the images look darker than they should, and why sacrifice picture quality if you don't have to.

LCD, by far is the most flexible of the platforms. LCD use liquid crystal to make the image and have plastic screens, they can be put in any room no matter the lighting. You can actually shine a flashlight directly at the screen and still be able to see the picture perfectly. LCD's also have the widest view angle, most units now are boasting a 178 degree view angle. LCD's on average run cooler, use less energy, and weigh a lot less than Plasma's. The major downside to LCD's is the amount of options available to you. In order to find the right one for your needs you need to consider, contrast ratio, response time, refresh rate and a ton of other options.

LCD is usually the way to go simply because both an LCD and a Plasma are rated to last approx. 10-15 yrs, and anything can happen in that time. If you move and no longer have a dark enough room for your plasma, then what?
Also more and more manufactures are really pushing the envelope in terms of technology in these LCD's. The developement of the Plasma has seemed to slow down and looks like it is becoming more of a niche product rather than a mainstream TV.

Some suggestions:

If you want a Plasma, I would reccommend a 1080P Panasonic Viera, or 1080P Samsung. They are buy far and away the best value for your dollar.

If you want an LCD, I would suggest that you buy a 1080P 120hz Sony, Samsung, Sharp. These are also your best value for the dollar. The Sony is usually the most expensive of the 3 but there are reasons for that.

I hope this helps, if you have any other questions or would like some more info on making your choice of platform or model please visit my website www.kustominstalz.com and fill out the questions form on the Contact US page, and I can answer you in real time.