BuyerZone Editorial Staff
No matter how good your content is, the effectiveness of a presentation depends on the audience
being able to see it clearly. A high quality digital projector can make the difference between
a presentation that sings or falls flat. Here are some key features to be aware of when selecting
a new ultralight projector.
Type
Digital projectors are often referred to as “LCD projectors” even when they’re
not actually using LCD technology. There are two main types of projectors right now, LCD projectors
and DLP projectors. LCD projectors shine light through transparent LCD cells; DLP models reflect
light off hundreds of tiny mirrors. LCDs tend to produce more highly saturated colors and sharper
images; most DLP projectors offer deeper blacks and higher contrast. There’s no clear advantage
of one over the other: compare two models with the same brightness and resolution to see which
type is best for you.
Digital Projectors - Buying Tips
- Remote Control - The ideal remote lets you advance slides, control audio volume, switch
between input sources, laser point, and zoom. In addition, most come standard with remote
mousing capabilities and screen markup that allows you to digitally draw on a screen
to highlight areas of interest.
- Picture Adjustment - You should be able to set the contrast, brightness, and sharpness
for a presentation. “Keystone” correction is useful if you have to set up
the projector at an angle – it allows you to square up the borders of the picture
and remove distortion. Automatic keystone correction takes care of the adjustment for
you.
- LCOS projectors - Next-generation projectors use liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) technology.
By combining elements of DLP and LCD projectors, LCOS projectors are able to create very
high-resolution images with excellent color saturation. Currently, only very high-end
projectors use this technology, but the technology will migrate to lower-priced models
over the next few years.
Weight
The latest ultralight projectors tip the scales at just under three pounds, even though they
come close to matching larger models in brightness and extra features. If weight is an important
issue for you, be sure to find out the total weight of the system (cables, remote, case) and
not just the projector. But try not to get carried away: you won’t notice a difference
of six ounces, and you will pay a premium for the very smallest models.
Brightness
Your presentation will be a wash if your projector can’t produce clearly visible images.
For typical small conference rooms, 1,000 to 2,000 ANSI lumens should be plenty. Keep in mind
that projector screens are much better reflectors than plain walls, so they make projected images
much more visible. You may need more brightness if you often present in locations without screens
or in larger conference rooms.
Resolution
To get the best performance from a projector, its native resolution should match your computer’s
resolution. The two most common projector resolutions right now are SVGA (800x600) and XGA (1024x768),
and most computer systems should support either one. Most projectors can adjust to higher or
lower resolutions, but they usually do so using interpolation, which degrades the quality of
the image somewhat.
Pricing
Most ultralight SVGA projectors fall between $800 and $2,000, with XGA's going between $1,500
and $4,000. To understand your total spending, look into lamp life as well. Lamp life will
be rated for any projector you buy – typical lifespans are between 1,000 and 4,000 hours,
with replacement bulbs running $250 - $600.
Want more information on choosing a LCD Projector? Read our LCD Projector Buyer’s Guide.
Information was provided by BuyerZone users. Quotes have been edited for clarity only.
