In our experience, however, we've learned that we're willing to give up a little picture quality to get as big a screen as possible - but only a little. Picture tubes are now generally darker than in the past, too, which helps them produce images with higher contrast. This is better noticed when you're not in a darkened room. Flatter screens also give less distortion if you're watching from off to the side, as well as helping to cut down on reflections from room lighting. Naturally, they're also some of the most expensive TV's and, as good as they've gotten, the best direct view TV's still give better pictures, though that's more a testimony to the quality of direct view sets than a knock on projectors, the best of which are excellent.
Rear projection is by far the most popular and can be found at virtually any TV retailer.
These are large, self-contained units that can be furniture showpieces as well as TV's. Some of the projectors can be mounted into coffee tables while others can be hung from your ceiling. The rule of thumb with front projection TV is that the bigger the screen, the farther back the projector must be, so take your room size into account when shopping. Projectors are now trying to make inroads into this market, and with some success. The downside is that they use light bulbs that need replacing and, as good as they've become, it can still look like you're watching TV through a screen door.