I have never write a Amazon review before , but I have learn a lot about projector over the past couple week , and think I should share . as price have be come down , I finally decide to get a projector . 720p be plenty good for I . after read plenty of review here and the various projector website out there I narrow my search down to the Optoma hd66 and the Epson 705HD , both go for + \/ - $ 650 at the time of this writing , and both highly rate . a bit about I - I be not a projector or electronics nut , but I do appreciate know that I have the best -lrb- or better -rrb- of what be out there when I do buy thing of significant $ $ $ . male , early 30 's . do not watch any tv , just the occasional movie at home . after much fuss , I decide to order the Epson . it seem to have more feature , have longer bulb life , and in the end I figure since I be no projector connoisseur I would be more than impressed with its performance . however , I be not blow away enough , so I order the Optoma . I be keep the Optoma , and return the Epson . I test both use a connection to my old Mac Powerbook g4 laptop , project onto a white wall paint matte white . here be what I learn : Epson 705HD : - lcd technology really do display `` little pixel '' that be visible if you be up close . not really a big deal with a movie where thing be move all the time . - significantly brighter than the Optoma . - better design box , integrate lense `` cap '' that slide , easier to use adjustable leg , more friendly packaging\/manuel , carry case . basically you get the feeling that Epson put some think into its product . feel more name brand and consumer friendly . - supposedly have ~ 1000 bulb hour more than the Optoma when in Eco mode -lrb- a touch less bright than normal mode -rrb- . - have a speaker -lrb- I do not use it -rrb- . - definitely better for office or daytime use . - Blacks appear gray when compare to adjacent wall . - compare to the Epson , have a larger `` screen size '' to `` distance from wall '' ratio -lrb- I think this be call `` throw '' -rrb- . plenty big . in fact I have to `` zoom out '' as the screen actually feel too large for the distance I be from the screen . the projector be prop up on a table immediately behind my couch . once adjust it be fine . the large size could be great for the gamer out there though . optoma hd66 : - feel more `` make in China '' with less fancy sticker and design . - not quite as bright as the Epson . - I have yet to try this one during full daylight , but guess the Epson would be better here . but this be fine with I b\/c I figure if it be bright outside , I should probably be there instead of inside . - much better color . - throw ratio not as good as Epson , but more than adequate for my need . - dlp really do have much better black . the `` black frame '' around the movie be a far cry from gray , and I have a feeling if I fool around with it , I can probably get it to almost disappear . - better picture quality - this be apparent to I and all 4 of my non-professional projector testing friend , and more apparent the darker the room be . the Epson be great , but the Optoma be like `` Whoa - I would not think I would be able to tell , but I can . '' - harder -lrb- though still possible -rrb- to discern the `` pixel '' - feel more like film . - I be worry about the `` rainbow effect '' . my friend and I be all able to see RGB shadow if we shake we head back and forth wildly , and maybe a flash of it once or twice during the movie when we eye would flick across the screen . not really a big deal , though I guess some people be more `` susceptible '' to see it than other . both : - easily find my computer and display the correct resolution automatically . - amazing resolution . - plenty of adjustment to mess with color and whatnot . I only fool around with these for 5 minute or so . you can easily make the color warmer or cooler . - have a small remote with plenty of function . battery include . - do not come with hdmus , DVI , VGA cable . however , each do come with cable that allow you plug the traditional dvd player -lrb- the yellow , red , white `` rca ? '' -rrb- cable into the VGA port . like I say in the end I be stick with the Optoma hd66 . since the reason to get a projector , for I , be to have a really great screen to watch movie on , I figure I should lean toward picture quality over feature . if I watch tv for a lot of the day , the brightness and bulb life of the Epson may have sway I in that direction . I hope this be helpful and save you all some time .