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Very cool, and great video. It seems that projector tech (like laser printer tech, and flatbed scanner tech) has been pretty stagnant, the last few years. Eve

Very cool, and great video. It seems that projector tech (like laser printer tech, and flatbed scanner tech) has been pretty stagnant, the last few years. Every now and then, I look at the latest projectors, to see if there's any justification for me to replace my old (10 years or so) LED projector, and I have not seen anything that has made me want to.

Miraste 2y ago
They have gotten better. Recent consumer projectors use triple (RGB) lasers as a light source, which improves color accuracy a lot. It's not worth replacing one that works, but it is noticeable.
- ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
  My experience with laser projectors, is that they work great, but have very weak beams (for reasonably portable ones). I need it to be something I can toss into a backpack (along with a bunch of other stuff), and be around 1000 lumens. Not just lumens, either. The color needs to be good, the resolution needs to be (hopefully) greater than 1080p, and it needs to be usable in a semi-lit room. I don't care about speakers. I use projectors as a speaking aid. I've been using a tiny InFocus LCD unit that's great, but a little anemic (1080p/750 lumens). The promise of a laser, is that you can project it against a cinder-block wall, and it will stay in focus, and show great color.
  - Miraste 2y ago
    I've only used larger, higher power ones that are meant to stay in one place. Even with those, all the "point it at a wall and it looks like a TV" marketing is fiction. They don't look good without projector screens unless you're in a dark environment.
    - ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
      Makes sense. I have heard that laser projectors don’t need to be focused. Is that true?
      - Miraste 2y ago
        Yes and no, but mostly no. Nearly everything advertised as a laser projector uses the laser as a light source for a normal DLP/LCD/LCoS setup, and needs to be focused the same as with a light bulb source. Even the triple laser ones work this way-the triple laser part just means they don't need a color wheel. There are true laser projectors where the lasers go directly to the projection surface. These are called Laser Beam Scanning projectors, and they don't have to be focused. They work pixel by pixel in scanlines kind of like a CRT, and since the laser doesn't diffuse over short distances, it's never blurry. Unfortunately, it's a dead technology. I only know of one still in production, and it's 120lm or something.
- SirMaster 2y ago
  They improve color gamut coverage and color volume, but I would not say accuracy. It's much harder to get an RGB laser projector accurately calibrated than an old mercury lamp or even single blue laser / yellow phosphor projector.
abdullahkhalids 2y ago
For the sake of my eyes, I have wanted to switch from using a secondary computer monitor to a projector. I imaging switching looking from primary monitor at 2 feet vs projector screen at 8 feet would be good exercise for the eyes. Does anybody have recommendations for a good projector? I care less about color fidelity, given that this is for work, and more about excellent contrast in a lit room, and resolution.
- crazygringo 2y ago
  I think you can go to an optometrist and get glasses that will achieve the same effect. I'm nearsighted and wear glasses when I watch a play/movie/etc. with faraway detail, but I wear a second, different pair of glasses when working in front of a close screen. They don't make anything sharper, but I have zero eye strain now while working. My optometrist says it's a common thing in your 40's to start to need that.
  - ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
    I have a pair of “computer glasses,” that I wear, when working on the computer. They aren’t the same as “reading glasses,” but aren’t very good for things like watching TV, or driving.
- plun9 2y ago
  I use a projector and TV side-by-side as monitors. The TV provides better contrast during the day. Unfortunately, the projector model I use—Dell S718QL—has been discontinued. You can look at reviews of recent ultra short-throw (UST) models such as ones from Epson, Hisense, LG, or Samsung. For best results, pair a UST projector with an ambient light rejecting (ALR) screen.

Miraste 2y ago

They have gotten better. Recent consumer projectors use triple (RGB) lasers as a light source, which improves color accuracy a lot. It's not worth replacing one that works, but it is noticeable.

ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
My experience with laser projectors, is that they work great, but have very weak beams (for reasonably portable ones). I need it to be something I can toss into a backpack (along with a bunch of other stuff), and be around 1000 lumens. Not just lumens, either. The color needs to be good, the resolution needs to be (hopefully) greater than 1080p, and it needs to be usable in a semi-lit room. I don't care about speakers. I use projectors as a speaking aid. I've been using a tiny InFocus LCD unit that's great, but a little anemic (1080p/750 lumens). The promise of a laser, is that you can project it against a cinder-block wall, and it will stay in focus, and show great color.
- Miraste 2y ago
  I've only used larger, higher power ones that are meant to stay in one place. Even with those, all the "point it at a wall and it looks like a TV" marketing is fiction. They don't look good without projector screens unless you're in a dark environment.
  - ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
    Makes sense. I have heard that laser projectors don’t need to be focused. Is that true?
    - Miraste 2y ago
      Yes and no, but mostly no. Nearly everything advertised as a laser projector uses the laser as a light source for a normal DLP/LCD/LCoS setup, and needs to be focused the same as with a light bulb source. Even the triple laser ones work this way-the triple laser part just means they don't need a color wheel. There are true laser projectors where the lasers go directly to the projection surface. These are called Laser Beam Scanning projectors, and they don't have to be focused. They work pixel by pixel in scanlines kind of like a CRT, and since the laser doesn't diffuse over short distances, it's never blurry. Unfortunately, it's a dead technology. I only know of one still in production, and it's 120lm or something.
SirMaster 2y ago
They improve color gamut coverage and color volume, but I would not say accuracy. It's much harder to get an RGB laser projector accurately calibrated than an old mercury lamp or even single blue laser / yellow phosphor projector.

abdullahkhalids 2y ago

For the sake of my eyes, I have wanted to switch from using a secondary computer monitor to a projector. I imaging switching looking from primary monitor at 2 feet vs projector screen at 8 feet would be good exercise for the eyes. Does anybody have recommendations for a good projector? I care less about color fidelity, given that this is for work, and more about excellent contrast in a lit room, and resolution.

crazygringo 2y ago
I think you can go to an optometrist and get glasses that will achieve the same effect. I'm nearsighted and wear glasses when I watch a play/movie/etc. with faraway detail, but I wear a second, different pair of glasses when working in front of a close screen. They don't make anything sharper, but I have zero eye strain now while working. My optometrist says it's a common thing in your 40's to start to need that.
- ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
  I have a pair of “computer glasses,” that I wear, when working on the computer. They aren’t the same as “reading glasses,” but aren’t very good for things like watching TV, or driving.
plun9 2y ago
I use a projector and TV side-by-side as monitors. The TV provides better contrast during the day. Unfortunately, the projector model I use—Dell S718QL—has been discontinued. You can look at reviews of recent ultra short-throw (UST) models such as ones from Epson, Hisense, LG, or Samsung. For best results, pair a UST projector with an ambient light rejecting (ALR) screen.