This replacement 300W P-VIP lamp is a metal halide lamp provided to you by Christie. This lamp is user-replaceable (following Christies lamp replacement procedures) & will last up to 2000 hours (typical). The benefits of using a metal halide lamp in this Christie projector is that is allows for a smaller & lighter projector, because the power supply is smaller & lighter; a cooler running, quieter, & less expensive-to-operate projector because of the lower wattage; & a longer lamp life, because the stresses on the lamp (wattage, temperature change) are reduced.