Digital projectors getting more affordable
Like most other technology that is of real use to us, digital projectors have shown an accelerated drop in price. The same rule applies here: As more and more people buy digital projectors for both presentation and entertainment purposes, more and more units are being manufactured and their prices become more affordable.
Last October, IDC predicted that shipments of digital projectors would more than double between 2002 and 2006. Given the increasing popularity of digital projectors, it is no wonder that more than two dozen companies, from Acer to Zenith, sell their own brand of digital projectors.
The good news about the latest crop of projectors is that they do a very good job in both projecting PowerPoint slides and screening movies. Today, it does not make sense any more to buy a large-screen TV, as you can get a decent projector for more or less the same amount of money. All you need is a large blank area on your wall where you can project the video.
What do you have to look for when looking for a projector? Let us take the two-month-old InFocus X1 DLP projector as an illustration. With a price list of US$1,699, this is one of the most affordable projectors today, yet it has received a very high rating. Let us see what it has to offer.
First, it has a very high contrast ratio, 2000:1. It means that the projector is capable of projecting a black area as a very dark area. Its ANSI lumens -- the rating for brightness -- is not breathtaking, but at 1000 it is powerful enough to project a presentation in a well-lighted room. Try to avoid a projector with ANSI lumens less than 800.
Second, InFocus X1 does not emit too much heat. After hours of usage, the unit does not get really hot. If you use it as a portable projector, you will appreciate it as you do not have to wait a long time until it has cooled down enough to be placed in its soft carrying bag. Its fan is also among the quietest available.
Third, it has all the necessary adjustments on the top panel. Keystone adjustments -- making both vertical sides perfectly upright -- can be done using the well-marked buttons on the unit. Of course, if you need to make more complex adjustments, you can also use the menu and the remote control.
Fourth, the InFocus X1 has an optical zoom function. Although you have to place it quite close to the projection screen or wall, you can still get a large image thanks to the zoom capability. A projector with a powerful zoom can be used in a small boardroom as well as in a larger venue.
Fifth, this model has both computer-in and monitor-out ports. So, if you happen to be using a desktop PC to run your presentation, you can hook up a display monitor to the projector. The life of the US$300 lamp is expected to be 3000 hours. Lamp longevity is important, given its high price.
Sixth, the unit ships with a standard VESA 15-pin computer cable to connect it to your computer. Some projectors do not come with this cable, which means that you have to pay extra. Besides the VGA port, the model has all the standard input jacks such as Video-In, Audio In and S-Video jacks. It even comes with a USB port, which enables you to control the cursor on your computer with the projector's remote control.
What other things to look for that the gorgeous looking InFocus X1 does not have? It is hard to think of what else to expect from such an affordable projector. One possible wish is perhaps the weight and bulk. The InFocus X1 is rather bulky and, at 3.1 kilogram, it is not exactly an ultra-portable device.
Some projectors allow you to mechanically shift the lens left or right, up or down, so you do not have to place them right in front of the screen. This is a very useful feature. Other more expensive projectors today come with wireless capability, so you do not have to physically connect your notebook to them. But, at least look for the features found in X1 for reference. -- Zatni Arbi
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