Projector Brands and Links

Projectors vs. other types of TVs

Digital front projectors create the largest images at the lowest cost but have limitations that don't make them suitable for many people and situations. Rear-projection TVs start as small as 60 inches, and screen sizes of 92 inches are available, but they are bulkier than a flat-screen TV or a projector screen. Plasma and LCD TVs are thin and can be hung on a wall, but screen sizes are smaller.

See our reports on televisions, plasma TVs, LCD TVs and projection TVs for more on those technologies. Our report on HDTV has more information on high-definition formats.

We found several terrific articles and buyer's guides outlining the types of TVs and explaining HDTV technology.

ConsumerReports.org has a good guide to the types of televisions and to HDTV, as well as a discussion of the pros and cons of front-projection TVs and how to choose one that's right for you. However, you must be a website subscriber to read these articles.

ProjectorCentral.com has a Home Theater Projector Buyer's Guide that walks readers through important considerations such as resolution, brightness, installation flexibility and more.

The article "3LCD, DLP, and LCoS -- How These Three Projection Technologies Compare in Home Theater Projectors" at ProjectorReviews.com is a comparison of the three most popular technologies for home-theater projectors.

Projector brands

Manufacturers' sites may provide specific information and specs for a model you may be considering:

Acer

BenQ

Epson

InFocus

JVC

Mitsubishi

Optoma

Panasonic

Samsung

Sanyo

Sharp

Sony

Vivitek