Senario Torpedo Entertainment Projector Reviewed (Verdict: Wretched but Awful)
At $170, the little "Torpedo Entertainment Projector" might entice some as a second display device or project fodder. Gizmodo's Charlie White took one home and found it to be complete junk, even with bargain price factored in.What about contrast ratio? Well, there wasn't any. We projected a white chip chart with numerous degrees of white down to light gray (see a shot of the projected chart in the gallery below), and you can hardly tell the difference between any of the chips. It was the worst contrast ratio, or lack thereof, performance we've ever seen.
On the other hand, the only review on Amazon is pretty positive, and the guy sounds like he knows what he's talking about.
After pre-testing, I'm happy with the performance. Elsewhere on the interweb the resolution is incorrectly given as 940 x 240; the 940 value must have been combined from 3 LCDs. After counting pixels I'm sure resolution is very close to 320x240 which represents a loss in quality from VHS tape video. The fan is noisier than newer full sized projectors.320 by 240 pixels is the same resolution of common cell phones—and less than an old television. But replacement bulbs are only $10, which is something. (Bulbs in quality projectors can cost in the low hundreds.) It still sounds like it might be worth waiting until these are on discount, then buying several to create some sort of low-fidelity art installation.
World's Crappiest Projector Reviewed [Gizmodo]
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I'm sure it's really a "960" x 234 (maybe 240) display with the backlight removed and some plastic lenses in front.
The 960 comes from the fact that there are red, green, and blue pixels (320 of each) across the display. This is a pretty standard mktg. thing for analog LCD displays. These displays are used in small LCD TV monitors and low end media players, made by the zillions and dirt cheap.
Hmmmm...could this be used as cheap projector for drawings? I mean it's a bit more expensive than a Overhead projector I wanted to use for blowing my drawings, but it would be cheaper using it, since I wouldn't have to print all my work...
Or is it that crappy?
In the spirit of self-promotion I'll mention that a crappy projector such as this might be perfect for people wanting to replicate my halloween projectors and lasers project on the cheap:
http://www.kulturblog.com/2007/11/marshie-attacks-halloween-interactive-driveway-activity/
I spent $600 on a projector and while it is OK for presentations, it isn't amazing for movies.
Maybe it would make a good lamp.
It looks like that security camera from Portal :)
You could use it to project your stencils on the sides of buildings for that super-scale Banksy graffiti vandalism you've been thinking about.
Lumenlab sell a cheap and cheerful projector - its a bit noisy, and the image isn't hi-def but the size / price ratio is perfect. I'm very happy with mine.
http://tinyurl.com/2h4ml3
While snarfing that link I noticed that they are now offering a 42" screen / computer - looks interesting!
http://lumenlab.com/
theres another reivew of this, ill post the link..and the guy in that says the gizmodo review is garbage becoz they dont know how to test a low end projector. Says they are trying to compare it to hi-def ones and thats plain stupid. And hes given shots of the projector in action so he knows what hes talking about too...Personally i love all these snobs coming on to critizise this projector..NOBODY EVER SAID THIS WAS HIGH END...but i guess they need to justify the 600 bucks they had to spend...