PROJECTOR DISPLAYS
These are some of the following specifications that may make your decision in what projector is right for you
1. Brightness (Ansi Lumens):
Projectors come in a wide range of light output. All other things being equal, the brighter the projector, the more it costs. When it comes to "optimum brightness" the rule is simple: Get the brightest projector you can afford.
Brightness is measured in ANSI (American National Standards Institute) lumens: the brighter the projector, the higher the ANSI lumen rating.
In today's market, projectors can be grouped by ANSI lumen output as follows:
Less than 1000 lumens – these are the lowest light-output projectors available today, and they are typically the least expensive. If you are on a tight budget, there are a number of products in this category that may be perfect for your needs. Keep in mind that the low light output means that you will want to make your presentations in a dark or dimly lit room so that the image on the screen is not washed out by ambient room light.
1000 to 2000 lumens – this lumen range is a step up in performance and price. There are many SVGA and XGA products in this class to choose from. These machines are suitable for normal business conference room, classroom use and for home theater use. Presentations should be done with the room lighting reduced somewhat for best screen viewing, although a totally dark or dimly lit room is usually not necessary.
2000 to 3000 lumens – this represents the high-performance range of the portable and semi-portable projectors. Products in this class are suitable for large conference rooms, Large classrooms and Really lit Home theater. They offer more flexibility in terms of ambient room light, since the image is bright enough that a reasonable amount of room light can be tolerated without washing out the image. They also offer more flexibility in terms of audience size since they can illuminate a larger screen without much loss of image quality.
3000 lumens and up – the ultra-bright projectors are in several performance classes unto themselves, ranging from 3000 up to 12000 lumens or more. Prices of these products also cover a wide range depending on other performance characteristics. They are used in a variety of large venue applications, including board rooms, conference rooms, training rooms, auditoriums, churches, concerts, nightclubs, and so forth.
2. Resolution:
The sharpness and clarity of the picture on the screen is determined by a projector's resolution. Resolution is simply the number of pixels (or "picture elements") the projector uses to create the image. The more pixels it uses, the "higher" the resolution. Resolution is usually quoted in two numbers, such as "800 x 600," where the first number refers to the number of pixels from side to side across the screen, and the second number refers to the number of pixels vertically from top to bottom.
True Resolution/Native Resolution - When speaking of a projector's resolution, it is common to refer to "true" or "native" resolution. If a projector's native resolution is 800 x 600, that means that the actual number of physical pixels on the display device is 800 x 600.
Advantage of Higher Resolution - High resolution projectors are able to show more picture details than low resolution projectors. Also, since there are more pixels used to make the image, each individual pixel is smaller, so the pixels themselves become less visible on the screen. However, you will pay more for higher resolution.
Advantage of Lower Resolution - Lower resolution projectors are much less expensive, and they can produce images that are just as bright and attractive as higher resolution machines. Unless you really have a need to display fine details, lower resolution products will be your best bet from a cost perspective.
Resolution options: Your basic choices for native, or true resolution are the following:
SVGA, or "800 x 600" – This is a very popular resolution today, because of their attractive prices and great images.
WVGA, or "854 x 480 " – WVGA projectors are cool. Get yours today!
XGA, or "1024 x 768" - XGA projectors are generally more expensive, and are an equally popular resolution format to SVGA. They have gotten more popular as XGA resolution computers have become more plentiful.
SXGA, or "1280 x 1024" – SXGA products are high resolution, and notably more expensive than XGA. These products are targeted for high end personal computer users and low end workstation users. They are used primarily for command and control, engineering and CAD/CAM applications where acute resolution of small details is important.
WXGA, or "1280 x 720" – WXGA products offer high definition resolution and are HDTV compatible. These projectors will become more popular as the popularity of HDTV grows.
UXGA, or "1600 x 1200" – UXGA is for very high resolution workstation applications that are detail or information intensive. These are expensive projectors that support a broad range of computer equipment. Relatively few products on the market have this native resolution.
3. Weight & Portability:
Another consideration in selecting the ideal projector is its weight. If you are on the road a lot, you may want the lightest, most portable machine available.
If you travel some, but want a bit more performance and are willing to carry a heavier unit to get it, take a close look at the projectors in the 5 to 10 pound weight range. As a class, these very portable projectors are brighter and more fully featured than the sub-5 pounders.
If you don't intend to travel with the projector, but still want the ability to move it around the office, from classroom to classroom, or to take it home on weekends, there are many excellent products in the 10 to 20 pound range that should be considered.
Finally, if you are going to use the projector in a specific place and have no need to move it around, weight is not an issue. So you should ignore it and make your selection on other cost and performance factors.
4. All other factors:
Once you have your short list of products, you can narrow it further by checking the manufacturer's specifications and thinking about the following items:
Zoom lens : If you are using your projector for mobile applications, a zoom lens can be very handy. It gives you the ability to set the projector at a convenient location, and adjust the projected image size. Without a zoom lens, the only way to adjust the picture size is move the projector forward or back. A note of caution though--many of the micro-portables have zoom lenses with limited range. A unit with a zoom factor of 1.2x will only let you adjust picture size by 20%. You can often move the projector a foot or two either way and accomplish the same adjustment. Nevertheless, if you have a fixed screen size you are trying to fill, even a limited range zoom will make it easier to fine tune the image size to the screen.
Contrast: Contrast is the ratio between the brightest and darkest areas of the image. Contrast ratios should be high (400:1 or higher) to get the best video image or the most legible computer/graphics image. Room light substantially impacts contrast ratios. If you intend to use your projector with the lights on, consider projectors with very high contrast ratios.
Rear Projection Capability: If you want to set up your projector to shoot from behind a screen, it needs to have the ability to reverse the image so that it looks right on the screen. Most projectors have this feature today, but if you need it, you can eliminate any projector that doesn't have this capability from your short list.
Video Format Compatibility: The standard video formats are NTSC, PAL, and SECAM. Many projectors accept all three, but if you'll be playing video from Europe, pay special attention to whether the projector you're considering can accept PAL and SECAM formats.
HDTV: If you wish to have access to HDTV 1080i, 720p and so on to get Progressive scanning and the best possible picture.
Video Signal Standards: Most video devices accept composite and S-video as two types of signal transmission. Almost all projectors will accept both inputs. However, there is a new standard known as component video. Some of the new DVD players offer a component video output signal in addition to composite and S-video. You will also be able to get component video signals from some satellite systems. Televisions and projectors that are equipped to handle the component video signal will produce a superior video image than those which cannot. If you are interested in optimizing video performance and you have a video source that offers component video output, check to see which of the projectors on your list are capable of accepting a component video signal. The spec sheet may say component video, or alternatively (Y, R-Y, B-Y) or YPbPr.
Ceiling Mountable: If you want to mount your projector on the ceiling, it will need the capability to project the image upside down. The large majority of projectors will do this today, but verify that this feature exists. Also, you must verify that a ceiling mount exists as an option for this product.
Universal Power Supply: Universal power supply means the projector will automatically detect different voltage levels, such as 110 volts in the United States or 220 volts in Europe, and adapt easily to them both. If you plan to travel with your projector in countries with different power systems, this is a must.
Multiple Computer Ports: If you want to connect multiple computers or video sources to the projector simultaneously, you will need multiple input jacks to accommodate this. For example, you may want to connect a notebook computer and a desktop computer to support two consecutive presentations, or two different presenters. If your projector only has one computer source, you'll have to unplug the notebook and plug in the desktop between speakers. Check to make sure the projector has enough connections to support your typical use.
Data Signal Ports: Most importantly, make sure the projector you choose supports the computers you intend to use now and in the near future. This is a significant investment and the pace of change in the computer industry should be a consideration. PC and PC compatiables are nearly always supported with a direct connection, but Macintosh may be a separate connector or require an adaptor. If you are using a workstation, check that the models you intend to use are supported in the manner you intend to use them and if adaptors are needed, know whether they are included or an additional cost item.
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