Optoma BigVizion: 100-inches of rear-proj DLP for $20K

You may not be able to mount Optoma's BigVizion rear-projection display on a wall, unless you build a wall around it, as shown in this Optoma PR shot. But that may be worth it for the size: at 100 inches, Optoma says the DLP unit is the world's largest 1080p display. And you know what? They may just be right. Of course, at $20K, it had better be big, especially with LCD and plasma prices continuing to plummet. So, let's say that again: 100 inches. $20K. Heck, that's only $200 a diagonal inch. A veritable bargain, no?

[Sean @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Cost per diagonal inch is hardly a fair assessment.
Overall area increases more with each additional diagonal inch.

Cost per square inch would be more useful.
At $0.35/Square Inch, this is actually a pretty good price.
Still, you can get a 1080p front projector and a screen for a fraction of that cost and not be limited to 100".

[Nate @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Bah, once you go above 50-ish inches, it becomes way more economical to get a front projector. 20k my ass. I have a 108" screen and I paid only 4k (and yeah, that's 1080p).

[Inky Blacks @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I would like to know where you can buy a 1080p projector for 4k? What you must really mean is that your projector will accept a 1080i signal and down convert that signal to 720p and display the 720p. There are no 1080p projectors for sale under 15 to 20k as far as I know.

IB

[William H. Miller @ Jan 3rd 2006 1:02AM]

A rear projector has the advantage that it is not degraded by ambient light the way a front projection system is. So for a similar size, a RP will typically be brighter and have MUCH better contrast if any ambient light is present. (For a totally darkened HT setting, a FP is fine.)