| When people shop around for HDTV equipment, all too | | | | option for HDTV displays in the form of projectors. |
| often they fall prey to the idea that they need certain | | | | With DLP projectors, the DLP chip and the light source |
| types of HDTV sets, while in reality there are a lot of | | | | are contained in one unit which projects the image |
| different options that most people consider. Part of | | | | onto a screen across the room. While such a |
| this is caused by media hype of certain types of | | | | system needs a minimum amount of distance for the |
| products, but a lot of it is caused by simple ignorance | | | | light to travel in order to project a decent size image, it |
| of the existence of any alternatives. | | | | will also make a much more effective use of space |
| The case of flat panel HDTV screens is an excellent | | | | than a single unit DLP projection screen TV set. |
| example of this. Flat panel TV sets are the | | | | Another advantage of a DLP projector is that- while |
| stereotypical HDTV display technology and are | | | | this type of HDTV display tends to be more |
| extremely stylish because of the fact that they can be | | | | expensive than others- it also offers the best value in |
| hung on walls like pictures or simply set on a table for | | | | terms of the screen size that it can produce for the |
| an extremely clean look. The major technologies that | | | | money. It's not unusual for a relatively moderately |
| flat panel screens employ are LCD technology and | | | | priced projector to be able to display a picture that's |
| plasma display technology. One of the reasons for | | | | seven feet across. And the higher end projectors |
| the popularity of flat screen TV technology is that the | | | | can produce a picture that's a full fifteen feet across! |
| displays that use it are so versatile. Flat screen | | | | DLP projectors are also good for displaying the |
| HDTV sets can provide a much larger screen in | | | | graphics from video games and computers as well as |
| smaller rooms than cathode ray tube or projection | | | | HDTV. |
| screen technologies could simply because they aren't | | | | When it comes to the set top boxes that will make up |
| nearly as deep. | | | | a home theater system, it's also a good idea to think |
| While flat panel HDTV sets are undeniably popular and | | | | outside of the box. For example, instead of getting a |
| stylish, they're far from the only alternative when it | | | | separate DVD player, DVR, and receiver; you could |
| comes to choices for a screen in a home theater | | | | get a media center computer that combines all three |
| system. For example, DLP projection screen HDTV | | | | of those devices. Media center computers can also |
| sets can provide a better picture under a greater | | | | access the Internet and download video and music, as |
| variety of conditions and at a lower price than most | | | | well as be used to play a variety of computer |
| flat panel HDTV sets. That's because digital light | | | | games. Plus, many media center computers can |
| processing and produce brighter pictures than plasma | | | | record video from the TV signal and then burn it onto |
| screens with deeper blacks and faster response times | | | | DVD's that can be played in other devices. When |
| than LCD screens. Of course the obvious | | | | you picture that kind of versatility combined with a DLP |
| disadvantage is the space that any projection screen | | | | projector, you could have a very unconventional but |
| TV needs in order to produce an image. | | | | functional home theater system. |
| DLP technology also provides another interesting | | | | |