Toshiba begins 2006 with a new projector bundle, hoping to
take advantage of the likely mass migration to digital TV as
consumers seek to watch this year's big sporting events -- the
Winter Olympics, Commonwealth Games, FIFA World Cup soccer, AFL,
NRL, Formula One Grand Prix, etc -- on a big screen to match the
occasion.
The bundle consists of three main components: Toshiba's S8 DLP projector, a Centrex SDTV receiver that also includes recording capabilities, and a "high quality AV cable".
Upside
The fact that this is an all-in-one solution is handy for less
tech-savvy consumers who've been turned off digital TV by the
headache that comes with component selection. The bundle is also
considerably cheaper than if you were to purchase a projector,
PVR and the relevant cabling separately.
The Centrex set-top box is a standard-definition model, so it can't receive HD signals. That said, outside of a few prime-time weekly shows and movies that are mainly -- but not solely -- imported from the US, there's currently little HD content to take advantage of anyway. That includes most of the big sporting events, too.
Built into the receiver is a 120GB hard disk drive, so the unit is capable of recording up to 30 hours of content. There's also an integrated Electronic Program Guide (EPG) to help you painlessly schedule recordings.
Based around DLP (digital light processing) technology, the projector boasts an SVGA resolution of 800x600. Rated at 2000 ANSI-lumens, the lamp should be bright enough to project a decent image in daylight hours, while a 2000:1 contrast ratio puts it in good stead compared to the competition. Both 4:3 and 16.9 aspect ratios are supported.
Its array of video inputs -- component, composite, S-Video and D-Sub - should satisfy most users, and the projector supports HD resolutions of up to 1080i should you wish to connect a HD receiver down the track.
The projector can be placed anywhere between 0.88m to 6.5m from a wall, while it's capable of projecting an image between 1.3m and 11m high.
Finally, if portability is important to you, the S8 delivers with a fairly compact design. Its dimensions are 239x107x207 mm and it weighs just 2kg.
A three year parts and labour warranty rounds out the package. Toshiba also offers a 90 days lamp warranty as well as a 90 days new product replacement warranty.
Downside
The projector is sold only with the bundle, so users who already
own a receiver are out of luck. The unit also lacks digital audio
outputs and HDMI connectivity, limiting its ability to
connect up with external home theatre devices.
Outlook
If you're on a budget but still want to equip your living room
with high quality digital TV on a big screen, the Toshiba S8
projector bundle is undoubtedly worth a look.
Toshiba S8 DLP Projector Bundle
Company: Toshiba
Price: AU$1,999
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I can't understand why retailers & the media continue to cut & paste from marketing material.
Thanks to the TV networks not transmitting EPG data other then "Now & Next", EPG guides are useless in PVRs in Australia.
The only models that I am aware of that can access EPG data are those that can upload the EPG data, "harvested" off the net or purchased from providers such as ICETV. In Australia the Topfield PVRs are the only ones that can do that.