HTF Contest: Win an Epson HC 8700 1080P projector courtesy of Epson and ProjectorPeople.com! - Page 10  

I would watch my Lions pull out another fantistic win in 1080p glory, ooohhh what a great season they are having - Superbowl bound I tell ya.

 

Wait, am I living in a fantasy? Am I just dreaming about the Lions and that beautiful Epson projector?

For the past several months I've been sitting here punching away on my laptop at the kitchen table.   Alas, my former "office" which was formerly a spare bedroom, had to be hastily reconverted to sleeping quarters once again when my 20 year old was forced to rejoin his father's happy home, along with me, my wife, and her sister, who is also here due to sinking economy which was caused by (choose one and only one):

 

1.  The Democrats

2.  The Republicans

3.   George Bush

4.   Barack Obama

5.   Harry Potter

6.   Conan O'Brian

7.   Lindsay Lohan

8.   Mel Gibson

9    Sarah Palin

10. Jon Stewart

11. All of the above

 

Anyway, I digress.  Where was I?  Kitchen table....computer...okay that's the one.  From this kitchen table I have been veiwing this big empty room with every piece of junk known to mankind stored in it instead of in  our garage where it should be.   That would be because the interior of the  garage itself looked much like the inside and outside of the Fred Sanford and Son Salvage Operation.  But this summer, everything in the garage was transported to the nearest dump, thus doing my part to help keep the local landfill in business and the economy growing upward. 

 

So I began to have this vision of sugarplums dancing in my head.  Oops, wrong dream.  I'm saving that one for the grandkids.  What I could see when I closed my eyes and tapped my ruby slippers together was the junk moved out of saidroom,  and my very own home theater proudly reoccupying that huge empty space.  It wasn't going to be easy.  Making dreams come true never are.  Just ask Pinochio, he'll set you straight on that fact.  And he had a Blue Fairy which I haven't seen hanging around in my yard lately.

 

Now I do  own an HD TV.  We were in fact early adopters having purchased the fine  product at Sears without Roebuck Inc.  But, it only goes up to 1080-I, and since it is quickly approaching 10 years in age, which in Dog years is pretty dang old, it may be ready to clunk out.  And even if that thing keeps working, we'd  probably bust it all to heck trying to move it back to my future Dream HT Room.  If you've ever owned one of these big old tanks, you'll know that moving it around is roughly equal to moving a grand piano just about anywhere. And if it does make the journey, how long before one of the three (yes, 3)  projector bulbs burn out?  Or even all 3 of them?  And it isn't a snap or cheap to replace them either.  Besides that, it suffers  screen burn in from where my wife fell asleep leaving the cable guide up on the screen even after my ifninite warnings.

 

Then there's my  audio problem.  Our surround sound system which is older than the old 1080-I  not only no longer surrounds anything,  it  only has one and a half working speakers, that is when it outputs anything at all.  It was good in its day, but that day has come, gone, and rode off into the sunset with Clayton Moore to the tune of the William Tell Overture.  How old is this thing?  We're talking dual casette decks, baby.  Talk about cutting edge technology.   

 

So when my wife  asked me to make out a Christmas Wish list that she would choose one item from, I included a new home theater sound system along with a satchel full of blu-ray discs I have my eye on.  Unfortunately, my wife delivers bad news really  well.  In this case it was "sorry, can't afford it this year.  The economy you know, not to mention upkeep on my sister and your son."  

 

Yes, it was another setback, but not an insurmountable one.  I plan to go into full blown whining mode from now until Christmas which can in fact be rather effective under the right circumstances.  How do you think I got this laptop three years ago? 

 

So if I should win the Epson projector, my dream will be well on it's way to becoming realized.  I'm sure it would certainly give my whiney  arguments to my wife a big boost, and what was going to take two to three years to realize will suddenly become a reality, just alike E.T. was. 

 

And what will I be watching?  One of the promises that I have extracted from my Honorable Number One Son, is that we would watch at least three classic movies a week, in exhange for room and board.  And from Thanksgiving until Christmas, I intend to shove every decent Christmas movie known to man in the old Blu-ray which has yet to see it's full potential since I whined it into existence last Christmas.  We had a sneak preview with the movie Holiday Inn just a few nights ago.  Okay, so I had to give in and watch the colorized version for his sake.  One does occasionally have to compromise.  But he enjoyed it and is slowly beginning to find out that the history of cinema did not begin with  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. 

 

So we will begin the day by watching The Macy's Parade as if we're really there which is great because you know I always wanted to stand on the streets of Manhattan freezing my buns off while waiting for Snoopy to come floating down the street.  I mean, nothing says Thanksgiving like the pageantry of Macy's?  And when he asks me, "But daddy, is there really such a thing as a Mr. Macy?"  I will rip out my Miracle on 34th Street DVD and show him that not only was Macy a nice lovable caring old man, but that yes, there really is a Santa Claus as well.  I'm sure there will be some more  debate and arguing as to whether or not we will be watching Natalie Wood, John Payne, and Maureen O'Hara in the shades of black, white, and grey in which I fondly remember them, or the dastardly colorized version only a child of the nineties could love.  But I will win this time, and if he gives me too much lip I'll make him watch Jingle All The Way and ruin the whole Christmas season for him.

 

And this year when I watch A Christmas Story, I'll know that just like little Boys who only long for a Red Ryder B.B. Rifle, Dad's who dream of their own Home Theater Room can have them become a reality as well.

 

The part where I suck up to the web site:

 

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone at the Home Theater Forums and to all a good night! 

 

 

 

  

   

What would I watch, easy enough, Red's Christmas series with my family. What is Red's Christmas series you might ask? Well, my brother-in-law, who lives in Georgia, has a Christmas party every year with some friends of theirs. They draw names and exchange gifts. Well, Alton (my brother-in-law) decided to put together on dvd, Red's Christmas. The story tells how Red, the king of hill billy rednecks, celebrates christmas with his very own TV show. It includes songs, dances, and a redneck rendition of "The Night before Christmas". It was such a hugh hit with his friends, that he ended up doing a new one each year as a continuation of the previous one. He ended up doing 4 episodes and now has it up on you tube. Here is a link if your curiousity is getting to you now, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNDw-7F4ZK0 . So, that is what I would watch, and just maybe, if red was appearing on the big screen, just maybe, Red, his wife, and my nieces and nephews, might just make it down to see the premier. So, I will cross my fingers, and hope you decide to give Red his chance to show up on the Big Screen....

We are planning on a Harry Potter movie night... This would be great for it.

Family movie night! If we win this projector, we'll watch the new Sound of Music blu-ray that I may or may not know I'm getting for my birthday tomorrow ;) . After that, no doubt the boys will hook up gaming systems for a night of fun that will very possibly last into the wee hours of the morning.

 

Thank you for considering my entry, and happy Thanksgiving to you all!

I analyzed this from an engineers perspective, cause I am currently a poor student at Purdue University. I definitely don't want to depress anyone with life as a bipolar or divorce or yadi yada yada, but, rather, offer a brief analysis of the problem at hand and some family dynamics. Let’s step back and scope out what a 1080p projector would mean to my family gathering this Thanksgiving.

 

• Deep, dark blacks; crystal-clear detail  — This would be enjoyed after dinner and would be a great improvement over the paltry contrast we get on our 26" CRT mashed-potatoes-and-gravy-looking television.
• Brilliant images, anytime, day or night — This is especially important for not only practicality of viewing with high ambient light, but it also may even offset some of the lower daily light exposure associated with the onset of winter. This will definitely keep my family alert during a movie soon after being subjected to a tryptophan level boost shortly after dinner.
• Natural, smooth image quality — Watching a movie such as James Bond must be subtle enough in flow that no one regurgitates his or her --likely less stimulating—cranberry sauce. (Sorry, Mom, I never really had the stomach for yours, yet alone—anybody’s).
• Widescreen format — Our angled "cathedral" ceiling, while aging, can accommodate an estimated 18ft diagonal. Since we don't have a screen, this would be the perfect place to have a 2.35:1 image without distracting black bars. Kick back and relax, bringing a whole new experience to a room, which was never associated with movie watching of any kind.
• High-definition, 1080p home theater experience — HDTV over directTV does not reach our place of gathering (in a forest), but I do have some leftover bluray titles I once used on my $629 launch PS3 indulgence, which I recently sold to look at my last options after pills: a  10000 lux light box for recovery from treatment-resistant bipolar depression. This thing is no where near as bright as this projector though.
• Remarkable color reproduction — Colors are especially important in so many ways. For my mother, a registered nurse who regularly runs a doctor's office in bad suburb of Chicago. This would mostly impress her but also brighten her day after dealing with countless, often impatient patients, and on days where she prays that she won't be mugged on her way into the office. I think my mom would love to see color accurate representations of Robert Di Nero on her favorite TV Show: Saturday Night Live, during the airing shortly after Thanksgiving. There is nothing like coming home from daunting, scary neighborhood to a few laughs and a "OMG, it's almost too real." 
• Stunning picture uniformity and positioning flexibility -- I have a buddy who is willing to share some screen material from his dad's studio in Chicago, and I have discussed the project with him already. But for the short-term, a larger image over a shorter distance will be particularly useful projecting from a coffee table or balcony until adequate mounting is found.
• Energy-efficient E-TORL lamp — I wouldn't be surprised if this projector has a better energy efficiency than the current TV at home. At 4000 hours per bulb, and at 2 hours a day and 5 days a week, it would last our family at least 4 more Thanksgivings and by then the replacement bulbs might actually show up on "Google Shopping" or "eBay" (which I just checked, lol). Hopefully we could win a bulb in a giveaway down the road, so as long as 2048p 3D is not already out.
• Cutting-edge connectivity — Our family is a mac family. While our macs don't have hdmi, they do have dvi or display port. This is fully compatible with HDMI except for audio, to my recollection. Down the road, if we've sold and therefore ceased making payments on the other house where my step-dad lived before he lost his wife to cancer----- we may be able to afford a home theatre renovation that may make our current house more attractive in the event that my family can't afford living to accentuate retirement and offset college expenses. Sadly, I cannot comment on how my aloof, non-committing, withdrawn doctor of a father will impact my Thanksgiving, but surely I can begin to see one facet of how I can become closer to my step father: sharing an experience he only would've only dreamed of.

• Ideal for fast-action movies, TV shows — My step-dad, who've I've grown to love and appreciate, loves James Bond and also the old runs of Batman and Robin. One of these films will be paramount in demonstrating to the man of the house that projectors, while a bit unconventional, are superior to flat panels in so many ways. Not only this, but it can call for less squinting in general.

 

• Easy maintenance — This is very important for my family's lifestyle. When I come home from college every once in a while. I will be the one maintaining it. However, I won’t always have time to deal with issues that arise, and I’m sure by what I’m reading about Epson’s support, my family will be covered. Hopefully on Thanksgiving we won't have a Dead-On-Arrival.

 

Current Solution: A roundish, bulky, ugly, 26”, 4:3 Magnavox is part of the current setup. On top is a dvd player, an analog DirectTV box, and that’s it. Nothing special. It would require crowding around in a room with little seating for movie watching having only room for about 3 or 4 people (family is 5, but I don’t know about guests yet). It can accept DVDs in 480i, DirectTV analog signal, and the signal of a lousy, aging remote. Setting up a movie might require plugging in a cable at most, but no moving furniture or shuffling things around the house. It must be considered that this is a last-minute upgrade which is taking place in a family holiday-esque, laid-back environment. This TV has annoying static discharge sounds and humming.

 

Solution 1: 1080p, cinema-inspired Epson 1080p projector. Very unlikely to get, but could be very exciting for our family. It is easy to use, reliable, and relatively quiet. Furthemore, it does not require much setup. For example, no one is pulling out furniture, lugging well-established parents’ TV to storage, etc. This is very awe-inspiring to family. Furthermore, it may cost ZERO dollars. WOW, it’s capable of any diagonal, practically, and can be set in the living room to utilize seating for up to 10 people. Wiimote will not damage this source, unless my mom, out of inexperience, releases the Wiimote and it some how goes back and up. Might initiate completion of HT basement rennovation, which might raise chances of selling house.

 

Solution 2: A flat panel of 42” diagonal. Costs money. It is likely to be lower quality because price range is $500-800. Must remove current TV in order to set up, which causes family commotion during  a Holiday gathering. Does not withstand a Wiimote throw. Not a big WOW factor.

 

Lastly, I put together a Pugh Matrix comparing our current situation with the free 1080p projector and a non-free 42” flat panel.

 

As you can see, the 1080p projector is the best solution. The criteria of being non-obtrusive would make it a clear winner, as if you picture being away from your parents for a while, you don't want to go home with a big TV and disturb the peace. Furthermore, This projector only has one real negative quality: Difficult to win. This projector would give our family more hope and maybe even a financial boost,  but Thanksgiving night will be a blast no matter what. On second thought, my speech instructor recorded all of my speeches this semester in 720p. I wonder if I should get those up on a projector for Thanksgiving! Sure might bring a few laughs (after I walk out of the room). 

 

Have a great Thanksgiving, 1080p or 480i. I always look forward to Mom's 2pi.

Edited by emerz219 - 11/20/10 at 10:27pm

My entire family was killed in a tragic blimp accident yesterday.  Even my dog died in that accursed flying deathtrap. Receiving the news via my cellphone even caused me to veer off the road, totaling my pickup truck.  Winning a projector like this will make my shattered hopes and dreams seem attainable once again.  Watching my collection of Inspector Clouseau movies will cheer me up for a few days, after which I will pawn it to pay the (massive) funeral bill.  That, or I'll just take the money and head for Mexico, where the funeral home's bill collectors will never find me.

 

Better yet, scratch all of that.  My family didn't get killed in a tragic blimp accident.  As a matter of fact, all of my immediate family are still alive and well.  Having said that, I must add that this is both a good thing and a bad thing.  Why?  Because my mother-in-law is one of those members of the "alive and well" club.  You see, my lovely wife is from England, and her "Mum" has come over from London to stay with us for TWO WEEKS.

 

Maybe putting on some reruns of "Miss Marple" or "Masterpiece Theatre" will FINALLY get her to shut up about how cretinous, barbaric and unrefined we Americans are.  

 

Have mercy on me.  Please send me the means for some peace and quiet.  My marriage, sanity, and entire LIFE will be enriched by this lovely projector.  

 

Thank you.

I would be definitely watching football after Thanksgiving.  It's a tradition that my husband came up with years ago. :)

One of the few experiences that we have enjoyed as a group is watching movies, but as our family has grown up and moved out, we have had very few opportunities for this simple pleasure. We used to all gather at my father-in-law's house; however, due to recent changes in all of our situations, we are no longer able to watch movies there. This will be the first Thanksgiving in many years that we will all be together, and being that we do not currently have a way to screen movies for a large group, having a new Epson HD projector would be the highlight of our family gathering. We would start off the evening by getting into the holiday spirit and watching the recently released blu-ray version of White Christmas. To take advantage of the full HD picture and sound, we would then toss in The Sorcerer's Apprentice blu-ray. To follow up a great Thanksgiving, we would get everyone back the next day to enjoy leftovers, and a screening of Avatar in blu-ray high definition. The Epson HC 8700 1080P would be a gift our family would enjoy for years to come, and possibly provide that focal point to encourage regular gatherings. Happiness is families watching movies together. 

 

 

Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. 

This Thanksgiving, seeing as how my screen entertainment tastes run counter to those whom I love the most (wife and 3.5 year-old son), instead of screening classic cinema (Fleming, Ford, Lean) I will more likely be showing a recent family-and-friend-friendly film... The Human Centipede.

 

I'm told this new release is a terrific, Capraesque picture about a poor, little centipede (the runt of the litter, to be sure) who magically transforms into a real, live boy and searches to find his place in the real world. While I may end up rolling my eyes at the obvious Pinocchio references, I'm sure the family will love what the film has to offer. Screening this film on the "big screen" with a new 1080p Epson projector will truly be a memorable experience for us all.

 

Thank you HTF, Epson, and Projector People!

The other day I was looking at projectors on the internet when I came across this awesome offer... Submit your story here in this thread and our panel of Home Theater Forum judges will pick the most creative, best-written entry to receive a brand new Epson projector. Well, after seeing this I knew immediately what to do... get the wife involved. Out of the two of us she is known for her creativite flare. I ran the contest details by her and she was all in. She was excited and informed me that she had just the story to tell and she would get started this weekend. Let me tell you something people, PMS made it to her before we made it to the weekend. She now hates the world starting with me. So here I am giving it a shot. If I were to win the Epson, the fist movie watched on my new projector would be A Christmas Story. It always seems to get the family in the Christmas spirit and believe me, this house needs some of that around here right now.

Edited by MDFULPS - 11/20/10 at 9:34pm

We have a winner!

First of all thanks to everyone that entered the contest. We took 15 of the best entries, we couldn't decide on just one as they were all terrific in their own way, put them in a hat and drew a name out of the hat.

And the winner is:


Joe Caps


Thanks to Projector People for having this contest in the first place and giving away the Epson projector.
Again, thanks to everyone that entered. It really was fantastic to read all the entries and see the participation by everyone involved.

Ron, Adam and Parker
Projector People
Huddler