Got a new IN82 !! but having a dilemma - sell it or keep it

[anibap]

Ok guys, I am in a great dilemma and would like hear my fellow Avforum members views and thoughts.

Some background-
I enjoy my PJ a lot. But, I do not have a proper audio setup to enjoy the blu ray movies at its best and I started looking for options in the AV receiver and speakers forum . Nearly decided on one set.

However, I had to take a step back from buying a audio setup. The problem I have now is my PJ watching has been reduced to hardly 1 movie a week or even less due to various personal reasons. And now, we are eagerly waiting for our new little member in our family that will definitely take more importance than PJ or any other thing in life.

Now to the dilemma:
Recently, I reported a couple of issues on the IN81 to Infocus. Infocus told me that they are going to send a replacement.

I received the replacement yesterday and it is not a IN81 but a new IN82 !!. They didn’t have IN81 in stock. IN82 is a DC3 DLP and better than the IN81. I fired it up yesterday and felt wow. Image wise it is definitely a step-up from IN81. Better contrast, more 3D like and vibrant with better blacks. I think the Ansi CR is higher as well. Overall, the best I have seen in my setup. Truly impressed.

I am quite excited with the IN82. But looking at my current situation I have a feeling that I won’t be able to use it frequently and if we move with our baby to the PJ room, then viewing will get reduced to once a month or less. It will be waste to keep an excellent PJ like the IN82 in such circumstances.

I have two options
1. Sell the IN82 – it is a new unit and comes with another 29 months Door step swap warranty. It can go to a new home where it will be put it to good use. I might buy a TV or a budget 720p PJ for occasional viewing.

2. Keep the IN82 and enjoy its wonderful performance. It is a treat to watch. Viewing may be occasional but I will always watch quality image. I think IN8x series has spoilt me with great colours and superior DLP viewing. But I am finding it difficult o justify its low use if I keep it.

I know it is very personal decision and I will have to take it myself. However, this forum has given me a lot of things including advice and good opinion from members from their own experience. I just want to hear from you guys what would you do if a similar situation arises?

The new IN82 may soon land in the classifieds...well if it happens, that would be a sad day for me...

Look forward to your thoughts...

Ani

 

[KelvinS1965]

It might not help, but I'll throw a few thoughts back at you, just 'food for thought'.

We have two children, one is 9 years older. This meant that until the eldest was about 13-14 we had to pay a baby sitter everytime we wanted to go to the Cinema, which makes it really expensive on top of the price of admission, plus parking, etc. For a few years the eldest was old enough to babysit the youngest, but not old enough to want to be out on a Saturday night 'clubbing', then she got to that age and we were without a 'free' sitter around that time I got my first projector.

Now it might be our house layout is different to yours, but his room isn't under the living room plus we're lucky to be detached, so within reason I can have it as loud as I like, plus he's grown up without us particularly 'creaping' around so I think that helps.

So would this mean you'd be able to set up a screen in the living room instead, for example? That way you'd get way more use out of it (even if the image might not be as good as a dedicated room, there's always the option of a greyscreen to control room reflections if that's an issue). IIRC the IN82 has lens shift, so perhaps it woiuld work on a table if required and only got out when you're using it (no need to drill holes or run cables in the living room ceiling, etc).

In the early months you both might well be too tired to keep awake watching a film in the dark, but that'll soon pass (promise ). Also you might be unpleasantly surprised to find how low the offers are on even a nearly new projector (I know, I sold my 4 month old AE3000 early last year when it was still current), so that's another strike against selling it. Equally if you do sell it, I'll bet the money goes somewhere else (it always does, it seems, like my new AV amp turning into part of our new kitchen ) so it won't be there to buy another PJ later...

Just some thoughts...I wouldn't blame you for going either way on it, so good luck whichever way you go. We might see you in the IN99 (LED powered, 3D ) threads in a few year time.

 

[Ronan1]

Hi Anibap,

I have read your threads with interest since you had a HD65 and your photos pushed me to get into projectors. I also have a child who is now 8 and enjoys watching his movies just as much as I do and with the speed they grow up it would not take long before they are gooing and gaaing at their disney and pixar on the big screen in your house too.

My son was 4 when he turned to me and told me "Daddy I think I am turning to the dark side" and I realised that maybe my movie passion had rubbed off on him too early! Since then he has been on a diet of childrens movies but we can sit and enjoy movies together without having to trek to the city every time we want the cinema experience.

Being a dad also means that time to ourselves can become scarcer and more valuable to us and I know for sure that my best escape and switch off from the world comes from my little home cinema room. I think we need these little things in life to look forward to and if its in your own house then you dont feel that you are being so selfish because you can always hit the pause button if you are needed unlike getting a panic phone call in the middle of a movie at the cinema when you are needed.

With a quality machine like that you could be satisfied with the image even several years down the line and even if its just one movie a week or a fortnight then you will still enjoy it a lot more than on a tv. Trust me, I could never go back to a tv for movies as its better to watch on a cheap pj like the HD65 then on a small screen tv. Just my thoughts and congratulations on the news. I hope everything goes well for you. Ronan

 

[Darkstar_surfer]

Hi Anibap

Our little one is now 5 months and I would never part with our PJ. There is nothing better than flaking out on the sofa on a Friday and Saturday night to watch that big screen moment. He sleeps just beside me in his pram and his mum usually sleeps on the other side of me on the sofa. If we put him out of the living room he screams till we bring him back in, has done from birth. I think he hates the silence. So if you think your IN82 will not get the use I could do a swap for my GT7000 and promise to use it well.

Honestly you will never forgive yourself if you part with it.

 

[anibap]

Hi Kelvin, Ronan and Darkstar,

Thanks a lot for sharing your opinions. It is great to see your posts as you have had similar situations.

So would this mean you'd be able to set up a screen in the living room instead, for example? That way you'd get way more use out of it (even if the image might not be as good as a dedicated room, there's always the option of a greyscreen to control room reflections if that's an issue). IIRC the IN82 has lens shift, so perhaps it woiuld work on a table if required and only got out when you're using it (no need to drill holes or run cables in the living room ceiling, etc).

The current place I am renting has a space limitation and the big bedroom is just long enough to have the IN82. Since the IN8X projectors are long throw ones, I get a 86 inch max from around 11-12 ft and that is the max I can get.

The other room and the lounge are too small for a PJ like the IN82. IN82 do not have lens shift to allow any flexibility. One of my reason to consider selling the IN82 is if we move with our baby in the big room the PJ use will be difficult and it won't fit the other rooms. Hence I as thinking of a cheap short throw PJ. Though I am not sure how would I compromise with the quality.

Also you might be unpleasantly surprised to find how low the offers are on even a nearly new projector (I know, I sold my 4 month old AE3000 early last year when it was still current), so that's another strike against selling it. Equally if you do sell it, I'll bet the money goes somewhere else (it always does, it seems, like my new AV amp turning into part of our new kitchen ) so it won't be there to buy another PJ later...

You are right but I was hoping as the IN82 is new and difficult to find, I may get a good price. It is a cracking unit.

We might see you in the IN99 (LED powered, 3D ) threads in a few year time.

My next good PJ purchase (sometime in 2011-12) would be either a JVC budget unit (HD350 category) with DLP like Ansi CR and Pop and correct colours or a DLP with LED and awesome blacks like the JVC. Hopefully we will see both types pretty soon.

Hi Anibap,
I have read your threads with interest since you had a HD65 and your photos pushed me to get into projectors.

I am glad that I could help in some form.

My son was 4 when he turned to me and told me "Daddy I think I am turning to the dark side" and I realised that maybe my movie passion had rubbed off on him too early! Since then he has been on a diet of childrens movies but we can sit and enjoy movies together without having to trek to the city every time we want the cinema experience.

Being a dad also means that time to ourselves can become scarcer and more valuable to us and I know for sure that my best escape and switch off from the world comes from my little home cinema room. I think we need these little things in life to look forward to and if its in your own house then you dont feel that you are being so selfish because you can always hit the pause button if you are needed unlike getting a panic phone call in the middle of a movie at the cinema when you are needed.

You are absolutely right and explained it wonderfully. A home cinema setup can be very useful and specially it can help in getting quality time with familiy members.

Just my thoughts and congratulations on the news. I hope everything goes well for you. Ronan

Thanks for your wishes. Everything is fine so far.

Hi Anibap

Our little one is now 5 months and I would never part with our PJ. There is nothing better than flaking out on the sofa on a Friday and Saturday night to watch that big screen moment. He sleeps just beside me in his pram and his mum usually sleeps on the other side of me on the sofa. If we put him out of the living room he screams till we bring him back in, has done from birth.

.....Honestly you will never forgive yourself if you part with it.

This big screen excitement at home is difficult to part with and once you are in it is difficult to get out. That is why I would prefer a cheap PJ over a TV in the other room. The IN82 won't fit there.

It seems baby Darkstar is getting ready to register as the youngest AV enthusiast in our forum. Wish him a great future.

 

[binbag]

Parenthood is an anagram of sacrifice but before you fall on your sword I'd advise planning no big changes until your offspring is at lt east 4 months old (your life will be totally upended before then) and then you can see whats left and how your life will proceed with the most important job in the world.


Nobody told me babies have to learn to smile. It took my daughther a few weeks and I really had the arse with her because I couldn't make her happy.

 

[memmerson]

Hi Anibap,
I had the same dilemma back in early '07. I had an Optoma H79 and a Stewart Firehawk screen both of which I was really fond of, just before the (first) little 'un arrived I had decided to sell the pj and screen (and a load of my other gear) so I could dedicate myself to fatherhood (no more nights spent tinkering).

As it turned out, this was just as well because our first child was a very difficult sleeper, i.e.: she wouldn't! And even if we'd kept the projector we wouldn't have been able to watch any thing on it without constant interruptions.

I bought a 40" LCD to replace the pj, then upgraded that 6 months later for a 52" LED LCD as I missed the larger screen.

In late '08 our second child was born, she was a completely different kettle of fish to our first, from birth she slept all night with no problems! So we felt it would be feasible to return to large screen projection again. But we held off until recently.

I guess my advice would be to wait until your child has a few hundred hours on the clock ;-) if he/she is a good sleeper then you may be OK, if not you can sell it.

IMO kids are all unique when it comes to sleeping, I believe that there is no catch-all method to getting them to sleep the night through, they either will or they won't, it depends mainly on them and not necessarily you and your methods!

 

[grogs316]

hi anibap

much like yourself I am the father of 2 young boys, 5 and 2. At the early stages you dont have much time to yourself to enjoy watching movies etc BUT in a very short space of time the kids start to sleep like normal people and before you know it the kids will be in bed around 7pm and you will have the rest of the night to yourself. Kids are funny, they get used to the noise so i have never woken the kids watching a movie. I also have the pleasure of watching movies with the kids, the 2 year old will happliy sit on my knee and watch finding nemo, the 5 year old would happily watch a movie ever day.
So unless you really need the money dont sell your projector, in the not to distant future you will get massive enjoyment with your little ones.
ps I also have an In81, do you mind telling what the issue was, mine has started turning itself offwith the temp sign coming on. i have emailed infocus and am awaiting their reply. My projector is about 6 months old and the lamp has about 500hrs.

 

[anibap]

hi anibap

much like yourself I am the father of 2 young boys, 5 and 2. At the early stages you dont have much time to yourself to enjoy watching movies etc BUT in a very short space of time the kids start to sleep like normal people and before you know it the kids will be in bed around 7pm and you will have the rest of the night to yourself. Kids are funny, they get used to the noise so i have never woken the kids watching a movie. I also have the pleasure of watching movies with the kids, the 2 year old will happliy sit on my knee and watch finding nemo, the 5 year old would happily watch a movie ever day.
So unless you really need the money dont sell your projector, in the not to distant future you will get massive enjoyment with your little ones.

Grogs,
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience and thoughts and I can see very similar thoughts from all the kind members who responded to my thread.

I do understand that things would settle down after a while. However, in my case the problem slightly different. It is very likely that we would move to the smaller bedroom and my in-laws and my parents who would be coming over from time to time will be in the current PJ room which is just big for a 86 image from the IN82. With our parents or in-laws in thre bigger room, watching the PJ will be extremely rare.

In the smaller room, I won't get any image bigger than 50 inch and that would be a crime for such a wonderful PJ. With this in mind, I was thinking if i sell it someone else can enjoy this PJ. I may have to look for a extreme short throw PJ.

If we move to a different place the story could be different as I would go for a longer lounge for the PJ.

ps I also have an In81, do you mind telling what the issue was, mine has started turning itself offwith the temp sign coming on. i have emailed infocus and am awaiting their reply. My projector is about 6 months old and the lamp has about 500hrs.

Mine developed two issues - The iris got stuck at 18/27 and a problem arised that shows two tones on two sides of the image.

I never had any issue with the over heating but have read about it. Is your ceiling mounted or table top? Make sure the vents at the bottom of the PJ do not gather any dust particles. If it is table mounted you need to ensure that enough space is there at the bottom.

Infocus service is great. Hope you will get a solution soon.

Ani

 

[Barcoing Mad]

Boy or girl?

If you're going to be watching Hana Montana on an eight foot screen in a few years, sell the projector and start running now, otherwise your eyes will start to bleed with insanity. And I'm still recovering from teletubbies. That's taken the best part of six years.

Otherwise, enjoy being a dad and enjoy your PJ. It's possible to do both.

 

[grogs316]

hi anibap,
I am not trying to ambush your thread but I thought would update on my dealings with infocus reference my earlier problem. I got an email today from infocus after I had described the issue with my projector. They gave me an eight word reply " no problem we will send you a replacement" I am now going to sit with my fingers crossed and hope they send me an IN82 as well. If they do they are offically the best company ever!!!