Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
I’ve been thinking a lot about projectors lately, partly because I’m in the middle of a projector review marathon, but also because I have a small child and a very healthy sense of parental paranoia. I don’t want to create a home theater. Instead, after testing a handful of surprisingly powerful projectors, I’m increasingly intrigued by what they offer in terms of flexibility. In short, I’m starting to wonder if a portable projector might be a safer route for my family’s living room entertainment than a constantly present massive black screen.
Would you trade your TV for a Google TV projector? 763 votes Absolutely. 30 % I'd consider it, if the specs were good enough. 49 % Absolutely not. 21 %
TVs are a parent’s paranoia at its peak
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
TVs are heavy, rigid, and exactly the kind of thing toddlers inevitably pull on or crash into at full speed. Even properly placed stands can wobble, and while tip-over straps help, every time my toddler cruises near the entertainment center, my anxiety goes with her. The obvious solution is to just mount the TV to the wall, and for many households, that’s perfectly reasonable. But it’s not universally easy, affordable, or even possible. Some rentals don’t allow wall mounts. Older homes and apartments can have unconventional construction. In my case, we have single-wall construction, which means mounting would require major reinforcement.
“Every time my toddler cruises near the TV, my anxiety goes with her.”
Even when wall mounting is an option, it can involve professional installation, permanent holes, and a level of commitment that doesn’t always align with how often family spaces change once kids enter the picture. Right now, my 75-inch TV sits on the sturdiest, bottom-heavy dresser I could find on Facebook Marketplace, with both the TV and dresser secured to the wall. And yet, I still find myself worried that my toddler will eventually try to climb the drawers or drag an ottoman over to high-five Elmo.
A projector, by contrast, doesn’t involve a giant slab of glass or oversized furniture. Knocking over a ~5- to 10-pound device might still give someone a bonk, but it’s very unlikely to do the damage a 75-inch flat-screen can. More importantly, it’s a hazard that can be easily tucked away when not in use.
Is a light, portable solution better?
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