You can pickup a projector for under $1K if you look for used, or late model projectors.
The Infocus X2 is a decent budget projector and last I looked you could pick it up for about $800 at Circuit City. Though it's replacement, The Infocus ScreenPlay SP-4805 looks like a MUCH better projector.
Also keep in mind that with a projector You'll need to provide your own audio... I got by for a while with a pair of stereo PC speakers (no better or worse than any TV's build in sound...) but you'll want to upgrade to a surround sound eventually I'm sure.
Also keep in mind that a good screen can DRAMATICALLY improve the picture quality. You can get buy projecting onto a clean white/off white wall but keep in mind that you should consider buying a screen eventually. A decent sized quality pull down screen will run you about $300 - $500. Electric remote operated screens are typically about $200 more than regular screens.
Or if you're handy you can buy the raw screen material and build it your self (Attached directly to a wall or to a frame you build for it).
Talk to Deftech too he's a projector junky like myself.
General rules of thumb when buying projectors
-DLP technology (don't settle for anything else
)
-Get native widescreen if you can afford it
-Get native 720p (WXGA) if you can afford it
-Bulb life should be 3000hours or better
-Contrast ratio should be 1500:1 or better
-look for around 800 lumins or better brightness
-get a 4x color wheel or better if you can afford it (most cheaper projectors are 2x though it wont bother you unless you're one of the few people we see "rainbows" with DLPs)
-make sure it supports all the resolutions 480i/p 720p and 1080i (if it supports PAL 576i/p even better)
-make sure it's "HDTV compatible" and has component inputs or has an optional adapter for component inputs (for instance my projector has a VGA port but includes a component cable adapter SPECIFIC to my projector, if it's not included check the price of it, mine was included but they can run as high as $80)
-If it has DVI or HDMI make sure it also has HDCP on those ports, as you'll need to that play the upcoming HD-DVD and BRD formats.
um yeah... check out some AV forums and get people opinions on certain models or see what models others are posting about. it's hard picking out a good projector because stores don't even have them setup like the do TVs... so you pretty much have to buy them blind.
