Light are on

The lights are on.

The electrician finally found time to come and install my lights and turn the power on to the shed.

 The lights are pretty much how I expected them to be the baby spots on the side maybe a little dimmer than I thought but will serve their purpose well as they are intended to highlight wall art and provide some ambient light during viewing.

The electrician for some unknown reason did not bring the HDMI cable through the ceiling next to the plug.  But as there is no current I can do this job myself when I install the projector.
The builder was back for probably the final time to tack down the flooring in the ceiling and also at my request knock down some flooring nails that were sticking up. Given that he spend about 10 minutes doing this I am confident that there are still a lot of flooring nails for me to knock down.
I'll post some pictures tomorrow but we are nearly finished just the floor and the final fit out to go.

Pre paint pictures

Still waiting but getting there

Okay the windows I was waiting for have arrived and are fitted. The interior walls are in and the ceiling. It looks great. But no sign of the electrician for the final fit out.

I spent $400 on paint for the interior yesterday and painting is set down for Tuesday. I hope to get the walls, ceiling and floor done in one day with two of us painting. I think it is wishful thinking but aim high. White low sheen easy clean paint for the walls and satin clear coat for the floor.

For anyone following this saga, I finally made my decision between the smart TV and the  projector with a bit of advice from Alan Todd of Todds Hi Fi.  I will stick with my old plasma for short term and have purchased the amazing Mitsubishi HC 4000.
Two factors influenced this decision, the rising Australian dollar and falling smart TV prices and the performance of the projector in the sound lounge at Todd's HiFi.

A few minutes of seeing a properly tuned projector perform meant the decision was easy.
So now I am waiting for the electrician and the painter.

I am also fitting a very loud alarm with video recorder to protect my investments in the shed. Jaycar have excellent easy to install systems for a great price.

Part of the fun of this project has been to discover these new gadgets and suppliers.

The fake VJ Walls look great against the hardwood floor.

So why are we waiting

This is where we are up to:

Work has come to a halt on the grand design. On every road there are a few bumps and despite my hope that it would have been finished last week end there is a delay in the delivery of the windows.

This means they cant finish the outside cladding nor the internal walls.

It does give me the opportunity to take some photos and measurements so that when the walls go on I will know where the bearers and joists are located. Why would this be important, well to hang the projector screen and projector I'll need to find them to attach them to as they are too heavy to just go on the paneling.

I am not worried about the delay all things in there time and the builder can't bill me for work he hasn't finished so he has more incentive to move it along.

Once the builder is finished the painter comes in then the final fit out.

Still haven't decided on the projector but I am leaning towards the panasonic 4000 over the infocus.

The TV may have to be a Christmas present.

Just waiting for the window.

Floor me

The sub-frame is down and today is flooring day. The chippies are banging away, so much easier with a nail gun rather than a hammer why even I could do it. Just kidding.

The size of the Shed is becoming apparent.

The natural colours of this hard wood floor will be brought out with natural oil. Can't wait for the true colours to be revealed.

It will be stunning.

Choices, Choices, Choices

The ground work is laid so my mind turns to the fit out technology.
As mentioned I scored the bargain of the year with the motorised projector screen.

Naturally, the first choice then is a projector to go with it.
I have the wiring organised so decision made except nothing runs smooth in the course of true love. Whilst investigating the variety of home movie projectors which hide away in specialist stores like Video Pro, fell in love.
Sadly, it was not a projector by which cupid's arrow struck home but something newish called a smart TV in 3D no less standing 55inches.
The stores lure you in by playing bluray DVD's which look amazing, sadly the free to air HD looks dull except for the ABC oddly.
But like super models they lurk in the stores stick thin and brightly coloured.

The budget does not go to both and a garage sale won't cover the gap. So one will be in and the other will need to wait for Christmas.

What about interest free I hear you wonder? Get it now and pay no interest. Well given the traps that GE include and application fee of $150 I don't support the interest free schemes.
In this post GFC world my advice, which I will be taking myself, is to save up for your toys and enjoy them more. As an ex Banker and a CPA I think I will listen to my own sage advice.

Projectors
The case for projectors is simple and the choices narrowed to two units.
The Infocus SP8602 ($3,800 before bargaining) includes a free replacement blub worth $800 and the Panasonic PT AE 4000 ($2,999).

Smart TV
These are many and varied but boil down to the Samsung and Sony and are in the same price range as above. They wirelessly connect to the internet bringing catch up TV streaming movies, you tube, and for the more technical no doubt any video available on the net.
Skype via a web cam and your TV no computer needed. The smart TV merges your big screen and your little screen as well as connecting to your laptop or iPad / iPod.

As a Sony devotee I find myself amazed that the Samsung seems to be a better product.
The other point against the smart 3D TV's is that they are at the start of the technology release and they will get cheaper and better over then next twelve months.

So as they say I'll let the decision incubate and the story is to be .... continued....