Projector lumens?

Ok, so I am a big flight sumulator fan, but I have never had a "real" flight simulator, only the simplified kids versions. I just decided I wanted a real one. So I got falcon 4.0 and apropriate joysticks, thrusters, and pedals. It is epicaly awsome. The only real problem is... well... my laptop screen is amazingly uncool for a game this epic. i mean, here I am, engaged in arial combat, trying franticaly to remember how to fly this thing, and its all on a tiny little screen about the size of a notebook.

So I want to get a projector. This leads to the issue: Which projector do I buy? Obviously, I could dish out 10 grand for something ENORMOUS and never worry about it again, but I realy dont want to.

What I realy need is some comparison of lumens in different lightings so I can tell what kind of projector I need, THEN start shopping by price and condition.

So, any ideas? How many lumens will apear in daylight? How many lumens will apear CLEARLY by daylight? And how many lumens will aprear clearly in dim lighting?

Thanks,
Liam.

To play in a well-lit room, you'd probably need to dish out 10 grand anyway. Just play it in a dark room. Then any run-of-the-mill 2000lm+ projector will be plenty bright.

Have you considered multi screen monitors?

I have not considered multiscreen monitors, mostly just because I have serious spacial concerns in my work area. Whatever I use, I have to be able to put it under my desk when I am done. Which is why I thought a projector would work.

Thanks guys!

Don't buy a projector. Projectors suck. ALL video projectors suck. Even movie projectors suck. They're meant for providing video to large numbers of people in very dark conditions without having to pay for something better (like a TV). Aside from appearing dim, projectors are expensive, have shit resolution, poor color reproduction, poor contrast, are loud and hot, and if you're hurting for space right now, you won't have the space to adequately mount your projector so that it doesn't shine on your head or bump into stuff on your desk. They suck.

Before you run off and get a projector, buy a separate monitor. Even the largest of laptop screens is the lowest-end, smallest monitor you can get on the market today. A high quality 24" IPS monitor will do you wonders, and will even let you use it for other work. Sit closer to the screen if you want it to feel even bigger. You could even buy a big TV and connect to it using HDMI, DVI, or even VGA. MUCH better than a projector.

You should also consider getting a better (or at least more expandable) computer than a laptop, especially if you want to upgrade to multiple monitors for the full experience. You'll need video cards that support multiple screens at a time as you upgrade. It'll also help to have a good video card to handle the high resolution of the screens and display the graphics at a high level.

I have a lenovo T410, with an i7 processor and 8gb of ram. I would prefer not to upgrade if possible. The idea here is to get a BIG screen. If I want to use a small screen, I will stick with my laptop and mount it right in front of my face. Or borrow one. I for one like projectors. I am not concerned particularly with the quality of the image, but rather with the size. In my experience, for these purposes, a projector would be ideal.

Thanks though!
Liam.

Well then you could just get any ol' projector if you don't care about the quality of the image.

This thread is not about the quality. This thread is about how many lumens are visible in what lighting conditions. I have decided that 4000 lumens will be suitable for my needs, and have purchased a used projector from my local comunity college, with a spare bulb, for 160 dollars. It is visible, at 48 inches, in a room with the curtains drawn and other lights on in the building.

Thank you for your input guys!
Liam.

You would be much better off going for a good flat panel monitor.(LCD screen)
They are common, fairly cheap, plug into your laptop, and can be used with just about anything more in the future. For a couple of hundred bucks you could get a (comparatively) huge screen that you don't have to put away afterwards. Just use it like any other computer user does. Chances are that after using it for a few weeks you will be complaining about having to use just the laptop screen on those other occasions.
Most laptops will run the larger screen easily and recognize that the built in doesn't need to be on saving power and wear on the unit too. (Depends on the model though.)
I know several laptop users who all swear by the larger screens when they can use them.

I dont just want a larger screen, I want a BIG screen. 48 inches at least. The cheapest way I know of to do that, is the way I am doing it as I type this message.

48 inches huh?

Either you could fork out $$$ for a high quality projector (which you may still not be able to use in light conditions. Or you could fork out the same (if not less money) for 4+ LCD monitors and set them up like these pics.

or


I personally use 3 monitors in a panoramic setup and I'm very happy with it.

Lase

EDIT: Or you could buy a 60 inch TV and use that as your monitor.

I have not considered multiscreen monitors, mostly just because I have serious spacial concerns in my work area

Click to expand...

If you have spacial concerns you probably won't be able to get the projector far enough away from the screen to have a 48 inch image

Best to do a multi-monitor as lase said, huge TV's don't give the same effect. I've tried a flight simulator on my triple screen setup, and it's awesome.

The spacial concern is only with surface area. I dont have anywhere to mount a huge monitor set up. I do however have plenty of space. this realy isnt very clear at all, is it. I have large area available, just not many places to set things down.

But I will look into the triple monitor thing.

I think you know what you are looking for now but I will still add a comment to see what replies come from it...

Most flat panel displays can be mounted easily on simple bars or just about anything you can put together yourself. It isn't hard or expensive. As the monitors are relatively lightweight you could easily put up a single wall mount bracket and hang three monitors from it making them adjustable.

Of course a 32" flat panel TV with 1080i resolution can be found for cheap now too. Some of them are quite compatible with computers as an auxilary monitor. And it could be used to watch streamed video or whatever too. (wish I had room in my home "office")

If you have an old projector that seems to be working for you then I say "Great !"
Just watch out for when the bulb goes >poof< though. They are the most expensive (and sometimes hard to find) part and the part that is the most sensitive to vibration, overheating, and just about every other stress that it will experience. (designed to fail.) Having said that I will admit to be watching the market for cheap versions so I can pick up a couple myself for some other projects I'm considering. (They are great for Halloween projected on your front windows too. Look it up online.)

But enough of my opinion now.

The only reason you should get a big TV or a big projector is to be able to show things to larger numbers of people who you have to fit into the space in front of it. If you're getting a big screen for just yourself it is just wasted because you can sit closer to the screen and get the exact same effect.

But if you just want big for the sake of big, go big, and suffer with the shit brightness, poor color, and poor clarity that will never even approximate the quality of even the cheapest and shittiest LCD monitor, while paying far more.

The total irony of you using a projector is that it'll need to be projected a good distance onto the wall, and then to make it seem big your head will be blocking some of the light. Either that or you'll sit further back, effectively gaining nothing.

Are you a student living in a dorm or small room?