I Can’t Believe How Much I Paid For This… - Sony Vidimagic FP-60
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Promos
Visit squarespace.com and use offer code LTT for 10% off Create your build at buildredux.com Sony has made a lot of cool products over the last few decades, and while the Vidimagic FP-60 CRT projector might not be impressive today, it had a lot going for it back in 1984. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Sony Vidimagic FP 60 Indextron Video Projector repair: youtube.com The Sony VidiMagic VCR - Video Projector Original Dealer Training Video 1984: youtube.com Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg ► EQUIPMENT WE USE TO FILM LTT: lmg.gg ► OUR WAN PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg FOLLOW US --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech TikTok: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Intro: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High Video Link: youtube.com Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi Artist Link: youtube.com Intro animation by MBarek Abdelwassaa @mbarek_abdel Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 1:03 Vidimagic FP-60 4:05 SMB3 6:08 Brightness 7:05 Beam Index Tube 9:58 Blade Runner 11:50 Conclusion 14:17 Outro
The video opens with a tongue-in-cheek exploration of the Sony Vidimagic FP-60, a CRT projector from 1984, highlighting its unusual portability for the era. The host emphasizes that while the FP-60 is not competitive with modern displays, it was designed to bring big-screen presentation power to business environments and even saw co-branding with Avon for corporate use. He breaks down the FP-60’s core novelty: a single electron gun with a beam index tube that produces color with a single tube rather than three, reducing weight and convergence issues common to triple-tube CRT projectors. Throughout, the segment blends humor with historical context, noting the device’s 35-pound heft and the lack of built-in modern conveniences like a working speaker. The discussion then shifts to the FP-60’s price in 1984, roughly $3,000, which would be around $9,000 today, arguing that this limited home theater appeal but potential business value makes it a fascinating collectible. The presenter doubles as a traveling salesman persona to entertain while introducing the device’s specs and ambitions. He also teases a sponsor segment, maintaining the show’s playful, over-the-top style. The first major technical discussion centers on why the FP-60 could deliver larger screen images with decent durability, contrasting it with older CRTs and reel-to-reel projectors and prefiguring the later sections that compare brightness, latency, and use cases. In the closing notes of the segment, the host foreshadows a deeper dive into how this ancient hardware fits into today’s technology landscape, including the possibility of a future repair look or more in-depth tests. The video then promises a broader arc across brightness, gaming latency, and presentation viability, while linking to related historical videos and a call to action for audience participation on future repairs. Finally, the host wraps with a nod to their sponsor and a tease for the next retro tech exploration, inviting viewers to stay tuned for more vintage hardware adventures.
Topics · vintage hardware · display technology · consumer electronics · technology history · projectors · crt displays · retro computing · tech nostalgia
Questions answered
- What was the FP-60 primarily designed for, and why did it have business appeal?
- The FP-60 was designed as a portable CRT projector for business presentations, offering large screen capability with the durability and reliability of CRT technology, which attracted business users despite its high weight and limited home theater appeal.
- How did the FP-60 manage color with a single gun, and what is the Indextron technology?
- The FP-60 used a single electron gun with a beam index tube and a fourth phosphor stripe, detected and decoded by a photomultiplier tube to index and adjust color on the fly, avoiding the need for three separate CRT tubes.
- What were the main limitations of CRT projectors like the FP-60 compared to later display tech?
- Main limitations included brightness, contrast, and weight, with CRTs generally being dimmer and heavier than LCD/DLP alternatives; however, they offered better black levels and long tube life, making them valuable in certain contexts.