Batcave Home Theater

An anonymous reader noted a fun follow up to the Star Trek Home Theater we disussed not that long ago. "A retired naturalist thought that her cellar would be a great Batcave, and transformed it into the ultimate home theater. That's right, a Batcave themed home theater created by New Hampshire-based installer DC Audio Video Systems. The set-up includes prop bats which hang from above, a motorized 110 16:9 Stewart Electriscreen, Triad Silver THX Speakers, and a Sony G90, a $36,000 commercial 1080p 2500 x 2000 CRT projector. The room also features eight black, motorized leather recliners and a LiteTouch LC5000 System for Lighting Control." Update 18:16 GMT by SM: updated link to the original story.

Not all that batty

[Rob T Firefly]

While it certainly looks like a cave, I can't really see anything bat-like about it. Not Bat-computers or Bat-insignia or anything. Still interesting though, in an armchair geologist or spray-foam aficionado sort of way.

Besides, there's no big penny! A Batcave without a big penny is no Batcave at all.

well..

[rucs_hack]

Very pretty, but I don't see how this would add value to a house. Try to sell a home with this fitted and you seriously limit the number of potential buyers. A well put together, neat, and uncluttered home theater is likely to be a greater selling point.

Is I a killjoy? Probably, Should I have my slashdot karma revoked in a fit of outrage? Reckon.
But still, these things are important, especially now.

Is this real?

[sxltrex]

The projection system is front-projection (you can see the projector between the front row seats in one of the photos), yet in the picture with the curtain half raised the picture is only visible on the exposed part of the screen--there's no hint of it on the curtain itself. I would think that would only be possible with a rear projector?

an obvious upgrade

[llZENll]

a $50,000+ setup and he doesn't even have a 2.35 aspect screen with a panamorph lens?

Re:Is this real?

[ePhil_One]

I imagine the picture is faked, like most TV images in ads (they simply don't photograph well)

Re:well..

[Poeir]

Houses are for living in. Why focus more on resale value than enjoying living where you do?

Re:Things like these...

[Anonymous Coward]

Compared to a houseful of Playboy models (with regular updates too), any other house improvement is just... pathetic.

How about a houseful of women who are actually attractive? Those Playboy chicks never fail to resemble the trunkful of battered Barbies at the secondhand shop.

Re:well..

[tm2b]

You've got to live somewhere, which means you've got to pay. Unless like many Slashdotters you live in your parents' basement, of course.

When you rent, you're throwing away some of the cash every month - when you buy, you're keeping a fraction of the money in equity. The only problem is that some people overreach and get mortgages larger than they can afford instead of something with monthly payments that are roughly equivalent to rent minus a maintenance budget and insurance. People do get into trouble and forget to budget for maintenance and such, but that's not a problem inherent to buying.

There are reasons not to buy of course - if you don't expect to live in the same place, the overhead of buying a house is substantial. But the idea of owning a home rather than renting is solid. But that's funny, germans are usually better at math.

As to the final point, sure, keep an eye on impact on resale value. But don't ignore your dreams just because it might make a few $k difference down the road - life is for living.

Re:well..

[toddestan]

If a house is purchased, then by implication, it is to be sold at some point. certainly this is usually the case nowadays. Therefore any modification made to a house should ideally be done with its effect on resale value.

On the contrary, if you wanted to do a modification like this you would have to own the place. No landlord would allow you convert their rental to a batcave. That's the big benefit I see to owning a place, the ability to modify it however I want.