Projector People's Timeline
After more than 30 years in business and nearly 15 years online, we here at ProjectorPeople.com have seen it all.
We remember when 650 lumens was bright and 10 pounds was light. We remember when 480p was revolutionary and naysayers scoffed at the idea of 3D projectors.
Heck, we remember when the naysayers scoffed at us.
In 1999 we became the first site to sell projectors online. Critics said it would never work. But we sold our first projector within 24 hours of launching, proving them wrong and starting one of the most successful online stores in the AV industry.
Read on to learn about the key days in projector history. And stay tuned to see what comes next!
1979 1992 1999 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015Audio Visual Innovations (AVI) is founded in Lakeland, Fl.
Signal Perfection Ltd (SPL) is founded in Columbia, MD.
AVI launches ProjectorPeople.com and within 24 hours sells the first projector ever sold online: the 650-lumen Epson Powerlite 5500C. Price just $5,999.
Video projectors hit their lowest price point yet: $1,000. (Now you can get them for less than $400.)
Projector People launches the first projector blog.
CBS News interviews Projector People about watching big screen movies at home.
Projector People becomes the first projector reseller on youtube.com, publishing tutorials, product demos and manufacturer interviews.
Jan. – Projector People sells the first of the Epson Ultra Black series. The Epson 1080UB is a whopping 1,600 lumens (“which really sparkles in bright rooms”). You want sparkle nowadays? Check out the latest UB projector, the 2,400-lumen Epson 5020.
June – Projector People tests out the lamp-free projectors that debuted at InfoComm 2008. Lumens top out at 1,000. (Lamp-free now available in 4,000 lumens!)
June – AVI and SPL merge to form AVI-SPL. Projector People is now a part of the world’s largest pro-AV integrator.
Sep. – Projector People becomes the first projector reseller on Twitter
Jan. – Pico projectors become all the rage at CES, maxing out around 11 lumens. (Now you can get a 500-lumen projector that fits in your pocket.)
Feb. – Rumors of wireless HD start circulating. (Now you can get wireless HD 3D!)
April – Projector People becomes the first projector reseller on Facebook
June - Rumors of 3D projectors swirl at InfoComm. They’re here!
July – The extremely popular SI Screens is available online exclusively through ProjectorPeople.com.
May – Casio introduces the first lamp-free full size projectors exclusively through ProjectorPeople.com
Aug. – The first short throw projectors hit the Projector People shelves.
Aug. – Projector People featured in a NY Daily News article about backyard theater.
Sep. – The world’s first 3D projector, the LG CF3D, is available exclusively through – you guessed it! – ProjectorPeople.com.
April – BenQ launches the first laser projector line, available only through ProjectorPeople.com.
June – Vivitek releases the first projector capable of converting 2D content to 3D.
Aug. – Panasonic visits Projector People to give an exclusive sneak peek at its new AE7000U, the first 3D Panasonic home theater projector.
Oct. - Panasonic gives us another sneak peel to their newest home theater model. This time we get an exclusive first look at the AE8000U. Swoon!
May - Sony releases the Sony VPL-HW40ES, the first home theater projector featuring SXRD technology, resulting in remarkable improvements in color and contrast.
July - Projector People featured in an outdoor theater article in RealSimple magazine.
Oct - - Projector People introduces Onkyo Dolby Atmos® 3D surround sound system to our lineup.
Mar. - Projector People partners with Sony to offer the first true 4K projector for under $10,000.
