I have a friend asking about projectors...

Projectors suck because you have to replace the expensive bulbs regularly.

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-Are there projectors out there that would provide better quality than a new Samsung TV for example?

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There are some that come damn close, but you get a projector for increased screen size, not because the picture quality is better than a decent TV. As someone else said, the picture quality of a projector will never be as good as a TV in a bright room.

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-If so, how much would he be looking at spending for a "good" projector?

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If you want a "good" projector, probably between $1,000 and $2,000. You can obviously get a top of the line model for much more, and an ok one for a couple hundred dollars less.

The amount you need to spend will depend a lot on your set-up. Some projectors are better for bright rooms, others have longer/shorter throw distances, etc. This is not something you can just walk in and buy - your friend will need to do a good bit of research. This website is a great resource: Projector Central. Tell your friend to use the Calculator at Projector Central to configure his setup.

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What's a good brand?

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Epson and Panasonic are both good, but there are others that are good too. Keep in mind that models within each brand will vary as well, so again, tell your friend to do a lot of research.

FYI...I have an Epson 8350 and I love it, but I use it in a dedicated theater room with minimal light and I only use it for movies and sports - I have a flat screen in the living room for everything else.

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Projectors suck because you have to replace the expensive bulbs regularly.

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This is very inaccurate. My projector in eco mode will last over 7500 hours and it gets used roughly 3 or 4 hours a day during the week, sometimes less. And they're inexpensive depending on the kind of projector you have (lcd vs dlp). My model has long life bulbs as low as $140

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Projectors don't work in a room that has a lot of daylight.

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This can easily be mitigated with the right kind of screen. In ambient light, which is what is in my living room, I went with a 1.5 gain grey screen and there's no blowout at all during the day time and its crisp and bright at night.

There's more to projectors than just the unit. The screen is as important as the projector, if not, the most important part of a home theater.

I spent about 4 months studying projector and screen technology. This site below is one of the best places you can go to get the information you need.
Projector Central

I highly recommend Elite Screens fixed frame screens. They're very high quality, affordable and easy to assemble. I went with a 1.5 gain 135" screen and its beautiful during the day, with the blinds open and bright and clear in the dark for movie night.
Check them out here and on amazon.
Elite Screens

Also - 3D for projectors blows 3D tv out of the water. Its not even a contest.

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thinking of getting one instead of buying a new tv for his house

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just make sure it's wireless

I have a BenQ W1100 and love mine. Sometimes I wish it was 3D capable but I probably wouldn't use it as much. I have over 2000 hours in 3 years and the bulb is still strong.

What you want is one of those Casio LEDs, yo.