dell projectors

[mike]

I recently purchased a Dell 1200MP projector for our home theatre and general TV viewing. I really enjoy its picture quality, brightness and price. I know Dell does not make their own projectors, so I have searched the web trying to find out who makes theirs. So far no luck. Any one out there able to help me find the manufacturer?

[steve]

Actually, Dell does make their own projectors. Though to say that Dell makes them is actually kind of not true. Dell has a supply chain of independent factories set up all throughout the east coast of China that manufacture specific pieces of nearly all of Dell's products. The only thing that they don't really manufacture themselves is the proprietary components such as the DLP chip in your projector, which Texas Instruments makes. I'm not sure where TI makes their DLP chips, these days though. Probably not in Texas.

[mike]

Thanks Steve.
When I search for bulbs at various sites, they don't list Dell as a manufacturer. I assumed it was because they don't make their own.

[steve]

Well, the reason that you can't find Dell bulbs on other sites is because Dell sells only through themselves, not through resellers or retail outlets. You'll only be able to find Dell bulbs off Dell.com.

Of course, like I said earlier, Dell doesn't make the bulbs - some independent factory does. The manufacturer's part number for your bulb is "YF562" while Dell's part number is "310-7522"

So, in a sense, you are right, Dell doesn't make their own bulbs. They just outsource it. Of course, you wouldn't be able to buy the bulb directly from the factory, so you have to go through Dell.