It is Projector Buying Day!

dancingmatt · 19-05-2005, 1:00 PM

Hello all

Right I'm going to do it, I'm going to buy a PJ today! I want it 50% for PAL DVDs from a PC, and 50% for PC games, and I also want it for a tiny% on Freeview from a set-top box... namely the FA Cup this Saturday! and also Eurovision...

Here are my specific choices, and I'd like opinions on what would you would choose to do. This is NOT a "which is better" thread, I don't really think one model will suit me more than another of the list below. But I do want to get it tomorrow so I've got it for Saturday, and I originally didn't want to spend more than £800. So bearing in mind the quality of the PJs, the time to get it and the prices I've found how would you spend my money:

- buying an ex-demo "excellent condition" Sanyo Z2 for £799 from a well-known high street retailer, with 38 hours on the lamp, but not knowing whether the lamp properly cooled down inbetween uses;

- buying a Sanyo Z3 for £965

- collecting an Hitachi TX100 for £960

- buying a Panasonic AE700E for £999

The only option in my original budget is the Z2, I've read loads of very good reviews of it (and all the others) so I know I'd be happy with it. What concerns me is the 38 hours on the lamp and not knowing how they got there...? I've read another thread about how not properly letting the PJ cool down can seriously shorten the bulb life by perhaps 50%?!

Should I go with the ex-demo? or buy one of the others - please tell me what you think but please also bear in mind that going over £800 is a real pain...!

Today is the day! I hope...

DM

phillfyspoon · 19-05-2005, 1:22 PM

i have a ae700 and am thrilled put the effort in cables and connections and u will be rewarded greatly. I havea panasonic plasma below it and it isnt far off but alot bigger.

belgrade · 19-05-2005, 1:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancingmatt

- buying a Sanyo Z3 for £965

- collecting an Hitachi TX100 for £960

- buying a Panasonic AE700E for £999

DM

Have you seen these pj's at these prices somewhere, or are these prices before VAT?........or are all of these pj's ex-demo?

I've never seen the z3 or AE700 so cheap before.

dancingmatt · 19-05-2005, 1:56 PM

Seen them all today, and all including VAT. Not ex-demo, bar the Z2.

Now what do I pick?!!?

Help

DM

PJTX100 · 19-05-2005, 1:57 PM

I think even a new Z2 would be steep at £800 compared to the other prices...

You won't go wrong with any of them.

As they are so close in price I personally would go for the one with the best warranty.

..PJ

PS any reason you say "collecting" a TX & "buying" the others?

dancingmatt · 19-05-2005, 2:21 PM

I'm amazed the Z2 isn't cheaper in places that still have it - I've even seen it priced dearer than a Z3 (although they may have just stopped updating that webpage I suppose)

Collecting the TX - I can get to the shop and save the delivery. The others are with delivery - oh no, hang on, the Z3 is £10 ish more to be delivered. To be honest though, I can't see a delivery being here on time... so the TX is most appealing for that reason. But the 1 year warranty sucks... although with a Barclaycard I can get an additional year's warranty...

PJTX100 · 19-05-2005, 2:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancingmatt

although with a Barclaycard I can get an additional year's warranty...

Tried that, but they don't cover PJ's....

Anyway that scheme was coming to an end wasn't it...? It's probably been replaced with a customer service "of equal or better value" like 5% off pet grooming services or something equally obscure.

Sounds like I'm putting you off the TX! I'm not! Top machine!

...PJ

dancingmatt · 19-05-2005, 2:40 PM

They did get rid of the scheme, and for £5.99 you can get it back plus "more"...

I read that here: http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/Product.../everyday.html

But it doesn't cover PJs? Are you sure?

Personally I think it's a major let down that they got rid of the "refund you if it goes down in price" bit... could really have used that!

**UrbanT** · 19-05-2005, 2:48 PM

I'd opt for the Z3 because:

a) the Z2 is overpiced, 2nd hand, and not in the league of the others
b) as the cost is virtually the same, I would buy the Z3 over the TX as it has a dust removal system. Trust me, this is chuffing annoying when you get dust blobs
c) Z3 over the Panny on cost

Just my thoughts

HAILOS · 19-05-2005, 3:00 PM

Any of them will do a great job for you.
I've not seen the others, but I have a TX100, and I can say it gives a fantastic picture, and PJ virgins get totally blown away, not expecting the quality.
But I'd have to agree with UrbanT regarding the dust removal, great feature.
Also, I believe warrenty is better with Sanyo...
By the way, where did you see the Z3 at that price ??

PJTX100 · 19-05-2005, 3:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancingmatt

They did get rid of the scheme, and for £5.99 you can get it back plus "more"...

I read that here: http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/Product.../everyday.html

But it doesn't cover PJs? Are you sure?

I think you'll find that a PJ won't be one of the "over 50 types of appliances"...

I rang them and when it got to the point of describing what the product was they couldn't find anything remotely like a PJ in their drop-down list. Unfortunatley there's no "other" category...!

Hmm... Z3 for warranty and dust, TX for cup final... sounds a no brainer to me!

...PJ

dancingmatt · 19-05-2005, 4:30 PM

So despite all the really good "I'm very happy" reports I've read from people, here and elsewhere, this dust issue with the TX100 is quite a major thing then? Now I've looked into that... damn...

PJTX100 · 19-05-2005, 4:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancingmatt

So despite all the really good "I'm very happy" reports I've read from people, here and elsewhere, this dust issue with the TX100 is quite a major thing then? Now I've looked into that... damn...

The TX is no more or less prone to dust than any other machine. The only difference is the Z3 has an implement which gives you a fighting chance of blowing it out (without having to remove the case or resort to other wierd and wonderful procedures with vacuum cleaners, compressed air etc).

Dust comes with the territory, it's not a decision point, and the odds are it won't be an issue...PJ

Geesus · 19-05-2005, 4:48 PM

Received my Z3 from Pixmania yesterday for £958 delivered - while the picture is utterly stunning, I wish I had paid £100 more to get it from a UK supplier, as my warranty appears next to useless, certainly in this country (UK) anyway...

It also came without a UK plug, so I had to put a normal spec plug on the cable, and upon booting up found it had a dead pixel, but as I have diced up the original cable I cannot send it back under the 7 days cooling period

In fairness you can't even notice it during viewing, and it has no other problems that I have read about on here (in particular colour uniformity) so I think I'll keep it anyway

PJTX100 · 19-05-2005, 5:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geesus

In fairness you can't even notice it during viewing, and it has no other problems that I have read about on here (in particular colour uniformity) so I think I'll keep it anyway

That sucks about the dead pixel, hope it doesn't spoil the viewing experience.

For all LCD PJ's, colour uniformity, VB, noisey fans, dust blobs, uneven focus, pixel alignment, dead pixels etc. You'll read all these shortcomings and more in healthy supplies on forums like this because people often come here to query / discuss issues. (DLP has it's own particular set of foibles).

I certainly wouldn't highlight colour uniformity in particular as a potential issue, yes it happens but it's relatively rare. VB seems to be the most common shortcoming. And it can appear spontaneously at any time, or it may never appear.

Main thing is don't spend your life worrying, make a decision, and go for it!...PJ

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