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Home::Multimedia
How to choose a projector
Author : Jose Moran
With hundreds of portable projectors on the market, the would-be
buyer faces an overwhelming array of features and options. The
following brief guide can help you choose the projector that's
right for your needs
The key features to consider are the following:
Resolution: The resolution is simply the number of pixels
projected onto the screen. The more pixels you have, the more
closely they are packed together, providing a smoother
appearance to your image. The resolution is specified in terms
of the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image.
The most common configurations have names like VGA and XGA that
serve as a shorthand way of referring to these the pixel
resolution. They are:
VGA (640X480 pixels)
SVGA (800x600 pixels) Standard.
XGA (1024x768 pixels) High resolution, currenly the most common
in laptops.
SXGA (1280x1024) The most common resolutions for CAD, GIS and
other special graphic applications.
UXGA (1600x1280) Large format. The best choice is to purchase a
projector that matches the number of screen pixels on the laptop
computer that will be driving the projector.
Luminosity: Luminosity is the quantity of light projected onto
the screen (i.e., the brightness). It is measured in terms of an
international ANSI standard called lumens. The higher the
luminosity, the brighter and more visible the projected image.
The greater the distance between the projector and the screen,
the more lumens you need for a clear image. To project a
distance of 20 feet (unless the room is very dark) typically
requires a projector with at least 1000 lumens.
Dimensions and weight: If most of your presentations will be
made on the road, you'll want a small, lightweight projector.
Portable projectors typically weigh between 6 and 10 pounds, and
the so-called "ultra portables" between 2 and 6 pounds. Look for
a projector that includes a good, sturdy case to keep it safe
when traveling.
The Room: The qualities of the room are crucial to a clearly
projected image. A large room requires a projector with more
lumens to reach the screen with sufficient brightness. Equally
important is the lighting in the room itself. How dark can you
make it? How much light will your audience need (for example,
will they be taking notes, or simply watching the presentation
passively?) Before the audience arrives, experiment with the
lighting in the room by opening and closing blinds and turning
on and off various sets of lights, so that you'll know exactly
what to do when it comes time to darken the room for your
presentation.
Computer connections Make sure that your projector has
connectors that are compatible with the laptop computer you plan
to use with it. These are typically expressed in terms like VGA,
S-Video, RCA, and sometimes by the number of pins on the
interface cables (15-pin, etc.) This information is available in
the "full specifications" part of the projector information.
Portable Projectors have other specifications in addition to
these, such as Contrast Ratio, Aspect Ratio, and many other
features, but the key parameters described above are the
fundamentals that will help you make the right choice.
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