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One Comment on “Dell 5100MP – DLP projector – 3300 ANSI lumens – SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) – 4:3”

1. 
   P. Scott Pope "Scott Pope"
   September 27th, 2011 at 20:53

   1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

   
   Fantastic Picture, Daytime Brightness, Great Value, January 8, 2010

   By 

   P. Scott Pope “Scott Pope” (Chicago, IL) –
   
     
   
     

   This review is from: Dell 5100MP – DLP projector – 3300 ANSI lumens – SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) – 4:3 (Electronics)

   The majority people who watch high-definition videos from my ceiling-mounted Dell 5100mp on a 120″ screen are extremely impressed. With 3300 lumens virtually covering an entire wall in my living room in 720p, it provides a true theater experience. It trumps any in-home video I have personally witnessed. Previously, I had owned a Dell 2300mp projector with only 1024 x 768 resolution and 2300 lumens. However, it just didn’t get the most from my HD cable DVR or my Sony Blu-ray player. So, when I found a used HD-compatible 5100mp at a reasonable price, I jumped at the chance. Despite having to deal with a few technical problems, I consider it the best value of any major purchase that I have ever made.

   DLP projectors have some shortcomings compared to other display technologies. One of the biggest problems is their general inability to display pictures in high ambient light conditions. Dell basically solved that problem with brute force by using a 3300 lumen lamp. This is bright enough for almost any viewing environment except with direct sunlight is shining on the screen. Home theater aficionados may point out the less than pure black “blacks” common in DLP projectors but that is something I can tolerate.

   The resolution is the most impressive feature of this projector. At 120″, I can see a major difference in picture quality and standard definition pictures. Furthermore, it is possible to see the difference between standard DVDs and 720p. Whether connected to my DVR, Blu-ray or my notebook computer, I never cease to be amazed. The HDMI input makes for easy connection to any of these video sources. With the growing library of HD movies on demand through my cable provider, the at-home cinematic experience becomes very convenient.

   The projector has not been without problems. As I purchased this projector used, I am not fully aware of its history. About a year after receiving the projector, it began to automatically shut down after approximately an hour of use with a “lamp failure” indication. The problem began in the summer and appears to be heat related as blowing a powerful Vornado fan on it seemed to ameliorate the problem. Yet, the issue persisted, so I purchased a new $445 (with tax and shipping) replacement lamp. Unfortunately, this did not solve the problem and so I decided to send it to Dell for repair. Sadly, Dell has onerous repair policies that include charging customers $250 upfront for such repairs. After nearly two weeks, Dell technicians claimed they could not reproduce the problem. What irritated me about this situation is that I could never get a straight answer from the Dell repair technician as to what typically causes such problems. Ultimately, the projector came back and resurfaced two year later. After closer inspection, it appears that inlet vents became clogged with dust. After a thorough cleaning, the problem didn’t reoccur.

   In total, I am extremely happy with the 5100mp despite the issues with the erroneous lamp failure. Given its portability, flexibility and picture quality, this projector beats plasma or LCD alternatives. If I were to upgrade the projector, I would want one with true 1080p resolution and, ultimately, an instant-on LED light source. The few projectors that possess both of these qualities start at $20k, which incidentally is the approximate price of the first DLP I used at a previous employer ten years ago.

   Pros
   Great picture quality
   Large image size at short distance
   RF remote
   Bright image

   Cons
   Expensive bulbs $450 = $0.20+ hour
   One minute warm-up time
   High electrical consumption of 400 watts = $0.05/hour
   Audible fan noise
   Expensive repair costs

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