Our little questionnaire (below) is designed to help you have a firm starting place in finding the projector that will make you a happier person. Our goal is to touch on the key questions of how and where you will use your projector. If you fill this out, or just think it through, you should have a good understanding of what your choices are:
My attitude is... (Choose one)
My Budget For A Projector Is...
I expect to own this projector for ____________ years.
My room is a (Choose one)...
My level of installation is (Choose one)...
My viewing habits are (only if you do not have a dedicated theater/cave-like room) (Choose all that apply)...
My plan is to (Choose one)...
My desired screen size is (Choose one)...
My screen will be (Choose one)...
My room’s ceiling is _____ feet high, so (Choose all that apply)...
I can mount a projector at approximately 1.3-1.6 times screen width--range where most projectors will work. (Y/N) ___ I need to mount further back (or closer), the projector will be approximately ___ screen widths from the screen (a 100 inch diagonal 16:9 screen is 87 inches wide) (Y/N) ___ I need to place the projector on a rear shelf – up high
In terms of vertical lens shift, (Choose one)...
I am ceiling mounting, and I can mount the projector so that its lens is straight back from the center of the screen (left to right), which means I don’t need horizontal lens shift (Y/N) ___ The closest seating I will have, measured in terms of screen width (ex: a 100” diagonal screen is 7.25 feet wide) is (Choose one)...
The furthest seating I will have (if more than one seating distance) is (Choose one)...
In terms of 3D Viewing, (Choose all that apply)... I am into 3D, can’t get enough, it is important to me that my 3D be great (Y/N) ___
In order to make it happen (Choose one)...
Warranty and support are important to my buying decision! (Y/N) ___ My room is not a fully light controlled. I know the size of the screen I want, I know that choosing the right screen is every bit as important as having a bright enough projector. (Y/N) ___ If I had to bet: Which projector choice (of the ones I'm considering) is the one, if I buy it, that I would be least likely to second guess my choice, six months after buying it? ______________________
Now that you've thought about all of these important factors, you are armed with a better understanding of what you want and what you need, which will be useful during projector shopping.