There are a lot of ways to enhance the experience of a home theater, but few consider the things that will keep your projector operating at the optimum level. The projector is not like a lawn mower, it won’t need an oil change, or need the ever-elusive oil/fuel mix. You won’t need to change strings like on your weed whacker, or rotate the tires. Fortunately, every common maintenance consideration you will have for a projector is simple, and easy to do.

The first tip for basic upkeep of the projcetor is to keep a fresh lamp inside. The light source is maybe the most important part of a projector,…no light, no picture! There are ways to tell how long your lamp has been used, like the lamp life counter found on most projectors. Be sure to reset the counter when you change the lamp. If your lamp is rated for say 3000 hrs of use, when the counter gets about 1500 hrs, start shopping for a new replacement lamp. Not all projectors have a lamp life counter, so think about keeping a log, or write down the dates the lamp was changed. You can get fairly accurate in predicting how long your lamp has left if you know how much you use the projector, and the time since the last lamp change.

While changing your lamp, it is the perfect time to clean the filters that are inside the projector. Doing this will eliminate the possibility of the filter being clogged with excess dust, thus causing the projector to overheat. If the projector overheats, it could cause the lamp to burn out early, or even explode. Also, be sure to check the lens for excess dust or fingerprints. Use a cleaning cloth that does not scratch the lens as you clean it. Thes tips should help maintain your projector, and ensure that it projects the best images possible.

The down turn in the economy has everyone feeling the pinch. People are working longer hours, spending longer on their commutes to and from work, and finding it more difficult to balance career life, and family life. When there is time away from work, families spend a great deal of it, and a great deal of money on family entertainment. One way to offset the cost of entertainment, at least in the long run would be to invest in home theater/entertainment.

It is said that the average family spends around $200 per month in entertainment. It is not hard to see that this is an average amount, as the cost of a professional sporting event would eclipse that dollar figure rather quickly, for a family of four. The average coast of admission for a movie is $10 for adults, and $8 for kids under 12. The math on this suggests that just getting to a movie a few times a month would also pass the average monthly figure for entertainment. For argument’s sake though, lets use the $200 number and show how home theater would be a great way to entertain your family and be a great value in the long run.

$200 per month over 1 year would be $2400. Using that $2400 to invest in home theater equipment would allow for a wide range of options to choose from. Choosing the gadgets you want is a matter of budget, taste, and personal preference. Flat panel televisions are a great option. They are low to no maintenence, relatively affordable, and they produce extremely clear images. Mounting options for flat panels can range from simple fixed mounts on the wall to pivoting wall arm mounts. The lone drawback in selecting a flat panel tv as the centerpiece for your home theater would be the cost of the tv. There may not be much left over from the $2400 budget to get accessories like surround sound, or the mounting option you choose.

For the most bang for your buck, and if you have the space in your home, try the projector and screen. The advantages here are that you can have a much larger display than a plasma or lcd tv. In addition, the look and feel of a movie theater is easily accomplished with a screen and projector. Here is a great example of an all inclusive home theater package that falls well within the $2400 budget.

There are do-it-yourself options for home theater enthusiasts. You can also choose to select each piece individually. Choosing the all-in-one package leaves enough room to hire an installer as well. So, even though the economy may be challenging for all, family entertainment does not have to suffer because of it.

If you are in the market for a new television, it can be a daunting task in sifting through all of the choices in size, technology, etc.. Check out these tips in deciding what technology is best for you.

1. Projectors do not have RF cable or antenna connections the way a TV set does. However, if you have cable or satellite and the box has either S-Video, component, and/or DVI, or HDMI connections you would be able to hook them up to a video projector.

2. Video projectors have a limited lamp life. If you use your projector every evening for a few hours (or more) you’ll have to replace the lamp every 1000-1500 hrs of use, which could cost a few hundred dollars per lamp.

3. A projector requires a large screen. TV programs do not look as good on a projector screen as they do on a television. If you have HDTV-cable or HDTV-satellite, however, you will get a much better result with the projector screen. Ideally, video projection works best with DVD, Blu-ray, or HD-DVD movies. To extend the lamp life, you could use a television for everyday viewing, and save the projector for movies, gaming, or sports events.

Soon all TV broadcasts will be digital. Whether you choose a projector and screen, or a television, be sure to choose one that is HD compatible for best viewing results. Remember that television programs look a little better on a television than they do on a large projection screen.

There are a lot of circumstances in which outfitting your home theater will dictate the type of viewing method you choose for it. With television technology being what it is today, the visible difference can be almost un-measurable to the human eye, at least from a plasma vs. lcd standpoint. As it relates to projectors and screens vs a flat panel tv, the line of better or worse is even less clear. Here are a few things to consider in compairing the two.

First, the size of your home theater room will be the first indicator as to which method to use. If you are in a small room, with limited space, a flat panel may suit your needs best. Projectors, and the screens they are played on have some limitations like the “Throw Ratio”, or how far away the projector can be to still show a good image. Closer is not always better in this case, but having a projector capable of quality images and greater distances from the screen can affect the price of the projector.

Next, consider what you are watching, or playing on your equipment. Movies and general television may appear to be a bit sharper on a plasma tv, and projector/screen. It is said that plasma tv’s can produce rich and full blacks and darker colors. Movie viewing would be enhanced in this delivery method. Projectors also produce great image quality for movie viewing. If you are a sports fan, or video gamer, LCD televisions may be your best bet. LCD tv’s and projectors produce bright vibrant colors, and LCD’s do not have the “sports blur” effect like plasma tv’s occasionally do.

Last, consider the lighting, both natural and electric. Light has a dramatic affect on picture quality, regardless of the method of image delivery. LCD tv’s are a little less challenged by ambient or natural light, as well as some projectors with high Lumens output. In general, the darker the room when displaying images, the better the images appear.

One other thought, $1000 is enough to get a flat panel or a projector. Flat panels are often mounted on the wall, so plan on purchasing a mount if you chose that option. Projectors work best when the images are shown on screens, so budget for a screen of some sort as well. You may also want to mount your projector to the ceiling, and you can buy a universal projector mount for under $100. Projectors also have a renewable light source, a replacement lamp, that must be changed every 1000-2000 hours of use.

All things considered, choosing any of these options will work well for a home theater. Looking closely at the features for each peice, and thinking about viewing uses will help narrow the list of options to choose from. Follow a budget, and do your homework about each technology you are considering, you really can’t go wrong.

Depending on the type of presentation, you can use either a DLP (Digital Light Processing) projector or a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) projector. For Powerpoint presentations, LCD projectors are the best choice because LCD has a sharp, bright picture and higher lumens output. For video DLP projectors give better quality. If you are looking for portable solution then LCD projector is not suitable in that case DLP projectors are best.

Brightness is another factor to consider when choosing a projector. 5000 lumens is the brightest while 1000 lumens is the lowest level projector. 6000 lumens projectors are the best for large trade shows in convention centers where you are trying to reach thousands of visitors. The most commonly used projectors are 2000-3000 lumens. For a classroom you should consider using a projector with more than 1000 lumens. If the projector will be used for larger presentations of 100 or more people a projector with more than 3000 lumens may be needed. The higher the lumens the costlier the projector becomes, however. Projectors with high lumens are also heavier.

Remember that when buying a projector you should analyze your needs first. You may not need to spend as much money as you think or you may have to spend the extra cash to get a projector that suits your needs.