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Finding
the right projector is easier than you might think. There
are hundreds of projectors currently on the market, but you
can use Find Projectors to find the best solutions for you
by answering four simple questions:
What resolution
should it be?
Does weight
matter?
How bright
should it be?
How much will it cost?
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| RESOLUTION: |
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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: |
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1.
SVGA, or "800 x 600" - This is a very popular
resolution today, because of their attractive prices and great
images.
2. XGA, or "1,024 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.
3. SXGA, or "1,280 x 1,024" - 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.
4. UXGA, or "1,600 x 1,200" - 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.
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Which
resolution is right for you?
One of the key factors in choosing the right resolution is
your typical application. Do you have a need for very accurate
display of small visual details, or not?
If your primary use of the system is for "Powerpoint"
style graphics, pie charts, graphs, and general business presentation,
you don't need to pay extra for high resolution equipment.
SVGA resolution is perfect for this kind of work, and the
best solution for the money.
On the other hand, if you are often presenting materials like
Excel spreadsheets with a lot of numeric data on the screen,
you will probably be happier with XGA resolution. This format
is able to produce a clearer and more legible image of small
numbers and other data.
Finally, if you are projecting engineering drawings or other
images of a highly detailed and technical nature, you will
probably need a very high resolution SXGA projector to produce
an acceptable image for your purposes.
Matching your computer to your projector.
Keep in mind that the best resolution for your projector is
the resolution of the computer you intend to use with it.
If you typically use a notebook computer with SVGA resolution,
you will want a projector with the same native SVGA resolution
in order to get the sharpest and cleanest image. Similarly,
if you normally use a computer with XGA output, you will get
the best picture from a projector that has XGA as its native
resolution.
Most of the projectors on the market today are capable of
projecting input signals other than their native resolutions.
For example, you can usually hook up an XGA computer to an
SVGA projector. The projector will automatically convert the
incoming 1,024 x 768 signal to its native 800 x 600 output.
However, there is always a loss of sharpness and detail in
the process, so you will end up with a picture that is not
quite as sharp as if the incoming signal had been the same
format as the projector's native resolution.
This loss of sharpness also happens if you plug an SVGA computer
into a higher-resolution XGA projector. You will usually get
a decent image, but the conversion from the 800 x 600 input
to a 1,024 x 768 output will produce some fuzziness that you
may not appreciate after having spent the money for an XGA
projector.
The projector's process of converting a different input format
to its native output format is called "scaling."
Some projectors are very good at scaling, so the resulting
image fuzziness is relatively minor, and the image is very
adequate no matter what the source. The quality of scaling
varies widely among projectors and like all technology, it
is constantly being improved. If scaling is an important consideration,
be sure you see it demonstrated as you would use it. |
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| WEIGHT: |
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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 4 to
6 kilo weight range. As a class, these very portable projectors
are brighter and more fully featured than the machines which
are sub 3kg.
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 4-7 kg 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. |
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| BRIGHTNESS: |
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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.
Things to Consider When Choosing
Brightness:
There are four primary considerations when choosing your
projector's brightness:
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1.
How many people will typically be in the room? This
determines the size of the projected image that is required
for easy viewing by everyone present. As the number of people
in the room increases, the image must increase and this diminishes
the apparent brightness of the projector as the light is spread
over a larger area.
2. How much light is in the room? A dark room will
provide the best image regardless of projector brightness;
however, most meetings require some lighting for note taking
and eye contact. A room where the lights cannot be turned
off or dimmed from within the room or direct sunlight strikes
the projected image will require a bright projector.
3. What kind of projection screen is available? This
can have a profound effect on the image brightness and quality.
Most projection screens today provide significant light reflection
making even a relatively low brightness projector look good
in the proper setting. If the room lacks a projection screen,
as is sometimes common in a mobile sales presentation, you
will wish you had a high brightness projector as a wall is
a poor reflector of light.
4. What is your application? Applications such as training
and workgroups will demand more brightness because of the
need to see and read detail. These applications also require
more room light for note taking and communication. Applications
that use presentation graphics or video are visually less
demanding and are more likely to be show in a darkened room.
If the projector will be mobile either within a building or
travelling, consider your most demanding setting. |
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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: |
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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 and classroom 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 and
classrooms. 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. |
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All
the prices are exclusive of VAT and Delivery
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We
accept payments from the following cards  - - - - -
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Purple
Cat Ltd
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Unit 5B, RCM Business Centre - Dewsbury Road
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Ossett
- West Yorkshire - WF5 9ND - UK
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Tel:
0845 260 8500 - Fax: 0845 260 8501
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(Tel: 01924 278464) - (Fax: 01924 416808) |
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