Okay, before I start, I'd like to say, HOLY HECK! I can't believe the last time I barfed out a journal was 2004. but then, I hate online journals, really. I won't rant about that now, however. I have more important fish to fry!!

I've recently been wrestling with Ebay. Fighting tooth and nail with people all over the world. Trying to catch an illusive projection panel...

...it started, I guess, back in year 9 at highschool, I was doing graphic design, and we were taken to a computer lab that the last time I saw was full of windows 3.1 computers back when windows 95 was in full swing for 2 years. now it was full of impressive machines, and 1 projector, the Teacher used it to blow up his computer screen to the size of a wall, the wall in particular he was aiming it at. I was in love.

years went by, more and more projectors were used around the school, but I was a kid, how could I afford something that cost well over a grand? Prices came down, it was always at the back of my mind, but I began to forget.

I left sixth form, stayed unemployed for a while, then got a job about 2 weeks after my last journal post, I've been there ever since, amassing savings. I worked across from PC world, they have pc projectors! only 400 quid or so..but disappointing in quality. I studied around on the net. and found that if you got an over head projector (like they use at school) and take apart a TFT monitor carefully, get a fan, and you can make your own projector, with far better image quality for a fraction of the price and have bulbs at a 20th of the price.

then I found out about projection panels. these are like a tft monitor. but with fans and stuff build in. just put on a OHP, point away from your face and fire.

Her bosom jiggled with the exact frequency of radio Luxembourg as he tore her bodice asunder. Vast melons the size of melons erupted and broke a window (just checking to see if you're still reading)

anyway. this is where we came in. Projection panels, they have them on ebay from time to time. I found several. found one. got outbid. found another got sniped!. (ha! the joke's on you snipe-ass, the panel you bought was monochrome and had the resolution of a calculator)

I resorted to ebay shops. I found one in america, not too bad, pretty cheap too as most things in the US are when you're paying for them with real money (Ha! yeah, I went there.) So, I'm still waiting for that one to arrive.. I may have just lost another 40 quid to the internet. On the other hand. I got one from germany. it's specs are as good as the screen of the laptop it's connected to.

my laptop is connected to the projection panel, which is on a stand behind my couch. the sound system is my big hifi set I haven't used in a while, the laptop connected to it's auxiliary socket. big beefy sound. some software is also used so that I can use my joystick instead of a mouse.

The projected screen size is approximately 8 feet from corner to corner.

so far, I've watched a dvd or two, several episodes of stuff I've downloaded. hypnotised myself with the milkdrop visualistion in winamp at full screen. and captured the flag on unreal tournament.

4000 lumens 3m projector: £119
Ask 1024 projection panel: £235
Wall: Free with house
Feeling your like Friend's rich dad from back when you lived on the council estate: Priceless.

I will upload some good photos in the near future.