PORTABLE MEDIA PROJECTOR - SHARPER IMAGE

I got this projector for the sole purpose of reviewing, as reviewing is what I do. However, this projector has some serious flaws, and choices by Sharper Image that I will expose. First and foremost, I void the warranty to review products, because I must take them apart to find out if the products contain what they say they do. This has always been the case, but Sharper Image dropped the ball here, they foolishly lied about the specifications, making it appear better than it really is. The first thing I noticed, was that it only contains one speaker. Sharper Image claims built in stereo sound. If it has one speaker, it's mono, plain and simple. Ok, so it has a headphone jack. I wouldn't mind if it was stereo on the headphone jack, since it's built in. But the headphone jack is mono also! Same sound out of both speakers. I ran my AV test DVD to prove this. The second thing, is the lamp. The specs on this have been all over the place. The manual and Sharper Image's website claim 60 watt. However, the lamp inside is only a 50 watt. Supposedly a 75 watt can really help bring out the picture, but see, there's another problem. The lens is only partially finished. The projector is incapable of focusing correctly. It's like the lens is fogged but it's perfectly clean. A simple fix, is put a piece of paper over the lens with a penny sized hole. This is called a "stop down". The lens NEEDS this, however Sharper Image didn't appear to finish the lens design to integrate a stop down. Now, what about resolution? Bed Bath & Beyond claims 640x480, some sites claim 640x240. My testing results? QVGA 320x240 looks about right. It's hard to tell because the LCD used has staggered pixels, not straight pixels like an LCD monitor. So perhaps 640x240, but it is NOT 640x480. That is my review. I am disappointed. Will I return the projector to Best Buy? Yes, and a written letter to Sharper Image. A review is one thing, they can be bad and good, but for Sharper Image to lie about their product? That's a problem I take seriously.

First and foremost. I picked this unit up for the sole purpose of playing older video game systems on it. It serves it's purpose to a decent level of quality. I understood how inexpensive it was, so I wasn't expecting much. With the reson for my purchase out of the way. I'll list the pros/cons; Good - The unit is very inexpensive. - Connecting it is simple. (just one AV input option) - Adjustments are simple. No 'in menue' settings to deal with. Just point and watch. Bad - The unit does not output at the resolution listed. - THERE IS NO STEREO SOUND! This unit will only output in MONO sound. Which was horrible. - Power output while on is 55.6w. (so...how is it running a 60w bulb?) - Fan inside unit is VERY loud. (More so then my microwave, which is LOUD.) - Power cord not very long. Watching Movies - Don't expect a lot in terms of color. It looks very washed out. - DO NOT WATCH A MOVIE WITH SUBTITLES. You will have a hard time reading them. - Older movies from the 80s and before look good. Not great...but good. Gaming - Any of the next gen consoles do not look good at all on this unit. Even while set on the smallest resolution possible. - Older systems (Atari, NES, SNES, SEGA GEN ect.) look great on it. PC - Don't even bother. Even smallest resolution setting on PC or laptop does not work. All in All - SOUND: NO STEREO SOUND! ONLY MONO! You're better off running it through a different audio source. - VIDEO: Only good for watching older SD films (and this is coming from a guy that still owns a Tube TV) or playing older console systems. - CONDITIONS: Room must be completely dark to watch anything from this unit. Even just one light on can almost completely wash out the image. - PRICE: Price is still high for what you get. You're better off saving for a larger TV or better projector.

After reading reviews I wasn't expecting much from this projector, but the price was right for an occasional fun movie night with the kids. If I had gotten a more expensive one I would have been stressed that they would break it. Initially we tried to set up with our ps3, but it wasn't compatable, so I grabbed a cheap Dynex DVD player from Best Buy, and it worked just fine. The picture is a little pixely, and the projector sound is weak, even at full volume. We hooked it up to computer speakers (Insignia 2.1, only $40) And the sound was great. Perfect for fun movie night, kids aren't picky about resolution. I's say grab some popcorn and enjoy.

Overall this is a decent product. It works as advertised and puts out a good amount of sound for a projector. The box doesn't lie when it says that the optimal screen size is only around 40", it does display a recognizable image up to 90" but image quality begins to suffer after 40". The projector also has to be squarely facing the screen in order to avoid blurred or elongated images. In short; this is a good projector for parties, for kids to game on, or anywhere you need another tv, however it would not make for a good home theater or HD alternative. If you want a home theater system, spend the money on a good projector. If you want a simple projector to throw an image on a wall, then this does the trick.

This was just as advertised for the price. I can watch any movie I want on it. I don't play video games, so, that does not concern me. So far either a portable DVD player or my IPOD classic looks fine hooked up to it. I imagine a VCR would do even better, since it is lower res. Also, for sound I use my wife’s boom box, it works great. Especially under our Ramada outside. It makes for a fine outdoor movie night. PLEASE NOTE: It is a GOOD Idea to USE the Focal Stop another Reviewer mentioned. A covering over the lens with Penny Sized Hole. THIS makes A LOT of difference in the picture. ALSO: from Home Depot you can get a better 50 Watt halogen bulb than the device comes with. It costs around $6.80, and it is the high quality bulb, but it reproduces the light a lot better and brighter. Don't get the cheaper bulb. In Fact: it works better than any other 75 watt bulb I have tried to use in the unit. BTW: from my limited research, there is no such thing as a 60 W halogen bulb at least that will fit this machine. There is ONLY 50 W and 75 W, and the 75 W you can only get at specialty stores. I think 75 won't hurt the electronics, but, there is no need for it if you use a high quality 50 watt. ALSO: I am not sure, but I would be carefull about using a Flood over a Spot bulb, one of them creates a "Black Hole" shadow on the image. So long as you don't leave it too long, it is ok, it will go away when you put the other bulb in. Overall, I am pleased.

Projects a distance of up to six feet and delivers 640 x 480 resolution. Right there this should tell you that this is sub par for a real projector. DVD quality at best resolution, Bellow VHS at full size. You are not going to WOW most people. If you are looking for something to play movies at a family get together or setup in a bedroom instead of the old 13-19" tube style tv sitting on your dresser this is great. If you want a drive in or HD setup stop being cheap and spend more then $100. UP TO 90" but you lose VHS quality at 40" and DVD quality before that.

When I was done setting up the unit and turning it on, the picture looked bad. I saw what looked like" hair" inside on the LCD (like you would see in movies) and it was also very dirty. IE, Black spots all over the LCD screen. Had to open the unit up to clean it out. Yes, there was hair inside, about a foot long, all around the LCD screen. Also took a can of air to blow the dirty out of unit. What took the longest, was removing the hair, it was around everything, but not the light or the power supply. Unit is working good now.

Didn't expect this to be great for $100, but when we hooked it all up the picture was so blurry you could barely read the opening credits to a movie. We messed with the focus and it got even worse! Tried moving it to darker places, different colored walls, and even tried hooking up a laptop, but the quality of the video is not even decent. We're taking it back tomorrow.