Multimedia Projectors
Whether it's a PowerPoint  presentation for the company CEO or a slide show of your toddler's first steps for your in-laws, nothing helps your visuals like a portable multimedia projector. Keep in mind: these are not your father's old at-home projectors. They are far more technologically advanced and as a result, far more expensive.
Despite improving technology, there are still stationary and desktop models being produced but the majority of the market is made up of lightweight versions weighing 10 pounds or less. Desktop models tend to weigh around 30 pounds. There are a wide range of projectors available from $600 and up. Follow the links below to find out more about the different types of projectors on the market.
The ABCs of Multimedia Projectors- Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) vs Digital Light Processing (DLP): What's the difference?
- Presentations are best with a multimedia LCD projector.
- For home usage either an LCD or DLP will work just fine.
- DLP projectors are lighter in weight and have crisper images.
- LCD Projectors
- Standard : A light shines through a red, green and blue tube that is polarized by several digital displays.
- Polysilicon : Advanced technology for smoother video.
- Want the techie breakdown? Click here.
- DLP Projectors
- Project the picture by breaking it up into thousands of tiny pictures and creating the crispest image possible.
- Want the nitty gritty details of how it all works? Click here.
- For Home Theater use, also consider these features
- Zoom: Allows you to blowup images for enhanced review.
- Picture-in-Picture: Allows you to see several video source images at once.
- Cinema Mode: Increases the richness of the color and lowers the fan noise.
- Ceiling Mounts: Keeps the projector out of the way (plan for some extra wiring work).
Technical Specs- Platform Compatibility: You need to make sure that the projector will be compatible with the computer operating system that you will be using, whether it be on a Mac, PC or television.
- Resolution: Measured in horizontal by vertical dots per square inch (dpi).
- 1024 x 768 is fairly standard and will set you back around $700 or more.
- 1920 x 1080 is top of the line and very expensive.
- Required if you want to play High Definition TV (HDTV).
- Brightness: Measured in ANSI (American National Standard Institute) lumens - this is the amount of light that a projector outputs. It determines how dark the surrounding conditions must be so that you can see the projected image. 3000 lumes or more allow you to see the projection even in a room with sunlight.
- Light Source Life: This is where you can see how long the bulb will last. Depending on the technology some will last longer than others. On average, expect a bulb to last from 2000 to 3000 hours.
- Contrast: Measures the ratio of black and white contrast.
- The higher the contrast, the richer and more detailed your images will be.
- 1:1000 to 1:2499 contrast ratio is standard.
- You'll want a higher contrast if you're working with seriously detailed images.
- Image Aspect Ratio: Most often 4:3 and 16:9 (widescreen)
- Noise: The background hum that is created by a projector is measured in decibels (dB). Most run at around 30 dB or so. For an ultra quiet model, try the Sanyo PLV-Z2 ($1000) or Optoma H79.
Other things to consider- Weight: If your machine is heavy, make sure it is supported.
- Most machines are 2 to 10 pounds.
- Hanging it on a wall? Make sure it's mounted properly.
- Traveling with it? Pick a light model and purchase a carrying case.
- Ease of Installation: How hard will it be to install where you want it? Don't get something more complicated than you are capable.
- Cords: Some projectors are cordless. A good option, but make sure your other platforms can support it.
- Startup Speed: Many projectors will note how long they take to boot up. As expected, the faster projectors are more expensive. But most models are pretty fast.
- Focus Ease: Digital displays will focus very easily, but some may have extra special abilities to focus even better.
Projector Options by Category
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For Home Theater |
Ultra Portable |
Office/Conference Room |
Wireless Projectors |
Related Products
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