DataProjectorNotes

-- BobVitale? - 17 Feb 2007

Data Projector Notes

Data Projectors Used by SOE and other Campus Groups

Make	Model	#	Used Where	Notes
Dell	2400MP	1	SOE Dean Office	Cost $1219 + tax/ship P0271360
Sharpe	XG-MB70X	4	E2-475 TIM	Sharpe was recommended by MS
Infocus	LP850 with LENS025	?	E2-508 CITRIS	long throw lens for DL classroom
HP		1	Techstaff	part of HP Grant
Infocus	??	3	BELS Labs	purchase in 2001-02
Epson	730		MS checkout pool
Epson	735c		MS checkout pool

Data Projector Definitions

DLP - Digital Light Processing A Texas Instruments Technology. Like LCD, the actual image is displayed on a chip, however, the chip used in a DLP projector is different. The chip in a DLP projector is referred to as a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device). In essence, every pixel on a DMD chip is a reflective mirror.

DLP technology is also in use in some movie theaters for feature film projection. Films are digitally converted and stored electronically, then fed into the DLP projector and projected onto the movie screen. The high resolution DLP chips made for this application render an image that is almost as good as 35 or 70mm film, without all those film scratches!

LCD - liquid crystal display
An LCD projector works by passing a powerful light source through a transparent LCD chip made up of individual pixels and projecting that image through a lens to a large screen. 3 chips are often used to provide a color image.

Limitations Of The LCD Projector

1. A LCD projector can often times exhibit what is called "the screen door effect". Since the screen is made up of individual pixels, the pixels can be visible on a large screen, thus giving the appearance of viewing the image through a "screen door".

2. When using a business-type LCD projector in a home theater setup, the image may appear too harsh with regards to brightness and contrast.

3. Since an LCD chip is made up of a panel of individual pixels, if one pixel burns out it displays an annoying black or white dot on the projected image. Individual pixels cannot be repaired, if one or more pixels burn out, the entire chip has to be replaced.

4. Since LCD chips have a finite number of pixels, signal inputs that have higher resolutions must be scaled to fit the pixel field count of the particular LCD chip. For example, a typical HDTV input format of 1080i needs a native display of 1920x1080 pixels for a one-to-one display of the HDTV image. However, if your LCD chip only has a pixel field of 1024x768, the original HDTV signal must be scaled to fit the 1024x768 pixel count on the LCD chip (in addition the image will also have to be letterboxed to reproduce the correct widescreen aspect ratio). This is where CRT projectors can excel over an LCD projector, since they are not limited by a fixed pixel field, they are more flexible at displaying various resolutions, due to being able to varibly scan the image onto the projection tube surface.

5. As mentioned earlier, the LCD light source (bulb)in an LCD projector must be replaced periodically, depending on the projector, about every 1,000 to 2,000 hours, at a cost of several hundred dollars. On the positive side of this, a new lamp basically gives you a new LCD projector, as your original brightness and contrast are restored, and most bulbs can be self-installed by the consumer.

Specfications

Name	Typical Numbers and Notes
Native Resolution	SVGA (800x600); XGA (1024x768); WXGA (1280x768) SXGA+ (1400x1050)
Aspect Ratio	16:9 -wide screen

output lumins	2000 lumens - sm rooms, 3000+ for lgr or windows; > lumens heavier/hotter
Lamp Hour	2000hrs typical spec, sometimes less for higher lumens
weight
contrast ratio	2000:1 this spec for Infocus™Depthq™ 3D Video Projector - considered high end

Mitsubishi XD450U? DLP Video Projector
The XD450U? is a DLP projector that is suitable for both home theater or multimedia display applications. Features include a 4x3 DDR DLP chip with 1024x768 native pixel resolution, 2,200:1 contrast ratio at 2,600 lumens, and a bulb life of up to 5,000 hours in low mode. In addition, inputs and outputs include DVI-HDCP input for HDTV sources, two RGB inputs and an S-Video input. The 450 also has variable audio outputs. If you are looking for a flexible projector, check out the Mitsubishi XD-450U.

Sanyo PLV-Z3 LCD Video Projector
Sanyo is the leader in video projectors utilizing LCD technology. The PLV-Z3, is a prime example of how good an inexpensive LCD projector can be. Sporting a three-chip LCD chip design, the PLV-Z3 delivers accurate color. In addition, the native resolution of the Z3 is 1280x720, which enables it to display high definition material with accurate detail and in 16x9 format. To round things off, the Z3 delivers 800 lumens with a contrast ratio of 2,000:1. This is a great value for $2,500.

Links

Model	Spec URL
Infocus™DepthQ™ 3D Video Projector	http://www.depthq.com/specifications.html

Recommendations

Links

Other review sites are projector-centric ProjectorCentral? .com and ProjectorReviews? .com. Consumer Reports has an article on digital projectors, but editors focus on entertainment applications rather than office use.

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/office/portable-digital-projectors/fullstory.html
Summary:
This reported, updated in Oct 2006, is for portable business projector systems. The report states that although many portable digital projectors may be good for home theather use, in reality these are two distinct uses with significantly different needs. This report focuses on portable digital projectors that shine brightest in the boardroom or on the road.

While some portable digital projectors are promoted as being suitable for both business applications and in a home theater, few if any projectors actually excel at both roles.

SVGA (800x600) projectors are cheaper but often don't quite provide the resolution required for today's business displays. Thus XGA (1024x768) is now recommended. Also brightness, bulb life and unit cost are important for business projectors.

excepts below--- Recommenations for

• Dell 2400MP XGA projector
• Cannon Realis SX50, SXGA+ projector

"While an SVGA projector can be an acceptable choice for many, reviewers say that an XGA business projector offers much more flexibility and performance. In addition, the cost difference between XGA and SVGA is rapidly narrowing. One example of this is the Dell 2400MP (*est. $1,100), which receives the most positive notices of any portable digital projector. Like its SVGA counterpart, the XGA 2400MP is an Editors' Choice at CNet.com, where Brian Nadel says that it "resets the bar for what you can expect from a mainstream budget projector." Editors at ProjectorReviews? .com give the Dell 2400MP a Hot Product Award on the strength of its category-leading brightness (measured at 2,350 lumens by the site; Dell claims 3,000), excellent color handling and very sharp images. Even Peter Putman at HDTVExpert.com, a site more given to looking at high-end home-entertainment gear than business-class projectors, is impressed. He notes that while buyers should not expect high-quality video performance from a projector designed to handle business graphics, the Dell 2400MP digital projector "breaks new ground in price and performance."

"LCoS is the third major technology used by business projectors, and reviewers say that it produces the highest quality images of all. However, LCoS? projectors remain relatively expensive, and only a few business-oriented models are currently available. One is the Canon Realis SX50 (*est. $3,400). The Canon has the added advantage of being one of the few native SXGA+ (1400 X 1050 pixels) projectors currently on the market. Other projectors offer 1400 X 1050 as a maximum resolution, but results fall well short of those that offer it as a native resolution. Many widescreen computer monitors and laptop screens are SXGA+, and many current graphics adapters support that resolution.

ProjectorReviews? .com's Art Feierman sums up his impression of the Canon Realis SX50 by saying, "This is a great projector." Thanks to LCoS? technology, individual pixels are invisible at distances of two feet from an eight-foot screen, and images are razor sharp, with even 8 point black text on a white background appearing flawless. PC Magazine's M. David Stone also loves the Canon Realis SX50. He notes that at a measured 1,428 lumens (Canon claims 2,500), the image is more than bright enough to handle brighter than normal lighting situations. While the 99:1 measured contrast ratio is low, the projector's rich, saturated colors kept images crisp. "

Models and Specs

Model	cost	Weight	Resolution	Zoom	Brightness	Inputs	Notes
Optoma	1800	7.0lbs	WXGA-1280 x 768 (native)	1.2	1300	1 x DVI-I - 29 pin combined DVI