As far as critical equipment goes, the multimedia projector you choose for your make-or-break presentation is as important as it gets. You can spend hours memorizing figures, writing witty anecdotes on note cards, and ironing that power suit.

But even if your content is knock-'em dead good, the effectiveness of your presentation depends on the audience being able to see it clearly. A high quality multimedia projector can make the difference between a presentation that sings or falls flat.

The projector industry has exploded as notebook computers and multimedia projectors have replaced slide trays and transparencies in conference rooms everywhere.

The size and price of multimedia projectors have shrunk accordingly, as manufacturers scramble to cater to businesses that want projection devices that are as small and affordable as the laptops their presentations are built on.

Different projection technologies have helped pave the way for the current crop of low-weight machines. Of course, depending on the type of projector you need, weight may not be a factor at all.

Not that that makes your decision any easier - choosing a model with the correct resolution, brightness, and other features can still be a difficult task.