Projector and movies, net, TV, etc

So Bob got a projector, I have one and want something to be able to use the projector to watch movies sans laptop, what is the best way and my projector only has VGA, S Video and RCA connects.

Mitsubishi ES200U SVGA Mobile DLP Projector

Any ideas for viewing movies off of a portable HDD without a computer or comments?

I just bought a WD Multimedia Player to connect my portable hard drives (which contain my movies) to my projector. This unit has S-Video, RCA, Component, USB and HDMI outputs so you can run the video portion to the projector and the audio portion to your amplifier. The unit has 1TB of storage so you can load about 600 movies right onto it and it also connects to the internet so you can stream NetFlix, etc.

(See Bob's post.) You can plug a portable HD into a DVD player with a USB port. But not all DVD players play all formats; I recently invested in a new Panasonic from WalMart specifically to play downloaded TV shows. Works great.

I think there are some gizmos available for projectors, but I have not seen one. Newer projectors also will have USB ports, and might accept portable DVD players, but again have no hands-on experience.

My projector has a USB port but does not have a built in media player. It can only show photos directly. Some of the more expensive projectors do have the media player built into them.

BTW....the WD Player will play every format I have ever heard of.

My projector has RCA and VGA outs, which gives better video quality or does it not matter, so I can get a media player and just use the yellow rca for vid?

Right, not much difference between RCA and VGA in terms of quality.

CanuckBob wrote:My projector has a USB port but does not have a built in media player. It can only show photos directly. Some of the more expensive projectors do have the media player built into them.

BTW....the WD Player will play every format I have ever heard of.

Does the WD have a "player" that allows chaptering; that is, jumping back and forth in 30 second or 5 minute segments?

I believe it does but I haven't really played it yet. I understand it also returns to the same spot in a movie if you shut it off mid way through.

I'd like to see a link if you can find one... I assume you got it NOB?

Intercasa wrote:My projector has RCA and VGA outs, which gives better video quality or does it not matter, so I can get a media player and just use the yellow rca for vid?

VGA is 640 dots across screen with 480 lines. A little better than a Super VHS tape (400 lines). RCA is about the same. As far as use of the yellow RCA
jacks input and output we are seeing these less and less as time goes on. I see TVs for sale down here with no yellow RCA inputs or output. It is going
away. Still see VGA jacks around. I have no idea whether you can get boxes for these. My Download box only has component and HDMI on it. Hope
other have more data for you.

Z

I bought my projector for $260US so cheap but for watching movies where the wall of my bedroom is the screen, pretty cool and chicks dig it and I can bring it into the living room and do the same thing. It has S video, RCA and VGA.

I have seen some Blu ray players with USB, maybe a blu ray player would be a cheap way to connect new HDD with movies to projector and eliminate the need for a laptop.

Maybe in a year or two the nicer cinema projectors can be had for $400US and the media player servers with 2tb of space for under $200US.

HelperGuy wrote:I'd like to see a link if you can find one... I assume you got it NOB?

Here is a link to the WD Multimedia Unit I bought at Best Buy in Guadalajara. It was $3600 pesos which isn't bad considering it also has 1TB of storage.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=400

You can get a cheaper unit that doesn't have storage capacity, HDMI outputs or internet capability.

So when all of us are geared towards the largest and best possible picture on our TV's, why would someone wish to project a movie or TV show on the wall?

A good projector on a quality screen looks awesome. You can get a great, bright picture up to about 80 inches for a fraction of the cost of a similar sized TV. And it is simple to move around and even take outside for "drive in" night. You can make the picture even larger but you will sacrifice some quality.

The only downside is you do need a darker room for the best results.

and you can watch xxx movies on your bedroom ceiling

Intercasa wrote:So Bob got a projector, I have one and want something to be able to use the projector to watch movies sans laptop, what is the best way and my projector only has VGA, S Video and RCA connects.

Mitsubishi ES200U SVGA Mobile DLP Projector

Any ideas for viewing movies off of a portable HDD without a computer or comments?

Spencer, I can't really help with your question because I use PC's on my projectors but I did want to point out that I looked at the specs of that projector and it says "component yes" and it does not say it has rca. Componet input should not be confused with "RCA" (they kind of look the same). They are two completely different things however, E.G. digital and analog. You can not use an RCA output into a component (red,blue, green) input. IMO you are pretty much stuck with using a computer to play "digital" content with that projector. Unless you want to burn it to a DVD and use a player that has a component output.

Hope this helps.

It has RCA video, so says spec sheet and it is a yellow RCA jack, not the 3 or 4 colored ones.

I bought it to not have to buy 2 TVs and to play and save $$$, was cheap enough. I don´t have that much free time to watch a screen that isn´t work related but the projector is fun and a new toy, just want to make the most of it.

Intercasa wrote:It has RCA video, so says spec sheet and it is a yellow RCA jack, not the 3 or 4 colored ones.

I bought it to not have to buy 2 TVs and to play and save $$$, was cheap enough. I don´t have that much free time to watch a screen that isn´t work related but the projector is fun and a new toy, just want to make the most of it.

OK sorry for the interruption. I was just reading what was online.

Here are the specs http://www.mitsubishi-presentations.com/es200u/

I don´t know why it has audio in and out, seems like a waste to connect sound in and out to the projector unless it is for use of the remote.

You are on a roll Hocks...

So here is an update, I bought a Media box at MiPC, was 680 pesos and works great, supports HDMI, RCA out and composite. Here is the link:

http://www.mipc.com.mx/index.php/reproductor-digital-de-medios-encore-enmmp-x211-hd-streaming-de-red.html

Only issues are that it doesn't recognize the 1.5TB external hard drive so I have to copy movies onto a 16GB USB stick. Has 2 USB inputs as well as a memory card reader.

The box is a good deal for the money, eliminates having to use a laptop, not many stores have these units.

I have had three media players (inluding WD) but what worked best was a Panasonic blueray player with usb in - plays everthing and has hdmi support as well as svideo, vga, and composite. Picked it up a Walmart for very little.

Cool, my projector only has VGA, S video and VGA inputs. What model did you get?

Inter, thanks for the info. I linked on it and can't really find any detail on the manufacturer's page. Two things: I looked at the manual, and it says you can use USB hard drives, formatted either NTFS or or FAT32. But in my experience NTFS causes far less trouble than FAT32 with devices, so see if your HD if NTFS.

Second, it's supposed to be a streamer, right from your PC. It doesn't have wireless, so that means an ethernet cable, and installing something called TWONKY Manager from twonky.com. You might need that to get your HD to work. Naturally, it's not free.

I am intrigued with the built-in software (and the price, considering it comes with a pretty decent-looking remote control. It has Movie Player software, and please tell us when you can if that lets you pause, FF and FR.

Newsflash: I just got my hands on a copy of Twonky Server, if you need it...

Intercasa wrote:Cool, my projector only has VGA, S video and VGA inputs. What model did you get?

I'll betcha it's the DMP-BD77, same one I got there. In fact, I just ordered the wireless USB dongle for it, to allow networking. Once that's installed, I should be able to play shows right off my computer or any connected hard drive. It's an excellent player with a really well-designed remote control.