What is the best method of outputing HDV from a laptop or iMac G5 to a HD video projector?

I think you may have a problem there. Output to a second screen in FCP with HDV requires using "digital cinema desktop". Unfortunately, the quality is compromised in this mode. I find that it's most noticeable in dark scenes, and it looks like the footage is very noisy (when it really is fine). Also, the existing G4 laptops will probably be too slow to get smooth playback. The only way I know to get high quality output is using an HD capture card, and of course those won't work on a laptop or an iMac. Perhaps the new version (whenever it arrives?) will offer a better solution.

Do you really need to output directly from FCP? If not, then perhaps you'll be better off to compress with H.264 and playback in full screen mode on a second screen using Quicktime pro?

Thanks for your input.

The application is for weekly changes on a high quality projection screen. Graphics and video files. FCP would be the easiest way to accomplish this, although creating H.264 files would be acceptable as long as the quality could remain high. DVCProHD would be too bandwith intensive for the set-up. Perhaps Apple Intermediate Codec can run from a laptop or iMac G5.

I have actually had success with Keynote and standard def. video but I'm not sure if this will give me the best video quality after moving up to HDV.