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How to buy a projector
Look at weight, brightness and resolution
By Lisa Wichmann
The projector market has exploded in the past few years, and there are now hundreds of different models to choose from. The good news is like most technology, the quality is going up while the price comes down. But that’s not all you need to know. According to research firm, Better Buys for Business (Malvern, Penn) there are three key points to consider when choosing a projector:
1) Weight. Be careful here. Models deemed “portable” can weigh up to 18 kg. As a general rule, projectors which will stay in the same room can weigh 9 kg and more. But if the projector will be toted around, consider ultra-portables, micro-portables or a “featherweight,” the lightest weighing less than l.3 kg.
2) Resolution. If the projector is far from the screen, a high resolution will be required. But high resolutions are wasted in smaller conference rooms. Projector resolutions correspond to a set of standards for PC monitors. These standards were established by the Video Electronic Standard Association (VESA). The higher the ppi count, the better the resolution:
• SVGA (800 x 600ppi) (Most common)
• XGA (1024 x 768ppi)
• SXGA (1280 x 1024ppi).
3) Luminance. The higher the lumen count established by ANSI (American National Standards Institute), the brighter the image. Many models offer 600 to 800 lumens, which used to be top of the line. Now lumen counts of more than 1,000 are becoming more common and affordable. As a general guide, go for 400 to 800 ANSI lumens for a partially darkened room. Over 800 lumens will allow presentations in a normally lighted room.
Buyers also have to choose between LCD (liquid crystal display) and DLP (digital light processing). LCD is still the most common, and offers better colour control, sharpness and better light efficiency than DLP, according to Better Buys. However, DLP devices work more efficiently than LCDs, so they can be more portable. They also produce a smoother, less pixilated image (important if the image will be blown up).
Use a screen (rather than a bare wall) to display the image. When looking at vendors, choose one who’s willing to bring several projectors to your offices to demonstrate them in the room where they’ll be used. Access the full report by clicking on “free special reports” at http://www.betterbuys.com
Bells and whistles
Not all projectors are created equal. Epson Canada Ltd.’s new models (PowerLite 745c and 740c) are the industry’s first 2500 ANSI lumens projectors with XGA resolution to break the 1.8 kg weight barrier, according to Epson. The units are small enough to be carried in a briefcase or shoulder bag, and the 745c enables wireless uploads with WiFi technology.
Hewlett-Packard bills its new mp3220 projector as the brightest under 1.8 kg unit on the market, with 2000 ANSI lumens. Its other new model, the mp3135 has a five-segment colour wheel for richer yellows and excellent colour fidelity, regardless of screen size. Add-ons include remote controls, cables and carrying cases.
The TDP-s25U projector from Toshiba Digital Products Division has a monitor output connector, allowing users to view presentations from an external display. That way, they can face their audience at all times, without having to turn back to the screen to read the slides.
The new LP600 from InFocus Corp. uses a breakthrough feature that allows users to copy files onto a USB Flash drive and plug it directly into the projector. The tool allows them to give a presentation without a computer.
Canon Canada Inc. brings new, quiet projectors to the market. The LV-7225, LV-7220 and LV-5220 models have a low, 34dB operating noise level in “silent” mode. All three models can be used effectively in almost any size room, from a living room to the length of a boardroom. os
Brighter, better, faster
Prices are coming down in the colour printing market, according to the latest product launches.
Xerox Canada unveiled what it calls the industry’s first office colour multifunction system with patented solid ink technology. The WorkCentre C2424 is 30 to 60 per cent more affordable than comparative printers, and is also twice as fast. Aimed at small- to medium-sized workgroups, the C2424 produces colour and black-and-white documents with text files, spreadsheets and presentations at 24 pages per minute (ppm). It scans at 20 images per minute and has a first colour page out time of six seconds. Unpack, install and use takes about 15 minutes, according to Xerox. Network installation of print and scan drivers is automated. Estimated retail price is $3,965.
Kyocera Mita Canada brings the FS-C8026N colour printer to the market. At 26 ppm, this full-colour workgroup printer produces crisp colour images and text up to 600 x 600 multi bit dpi resolution. It comes with standard 512 MB RAM and a standard 20 GB hard disk drive, which provides additional features such as quick copy, proof and hold, private print, job storage and virtual mailbox. Suggested retail price is $9,710.
Canon Canada Inc. launched the imageRUNNER C5800 earlier this year. The digital multifunctional printer handles high-volume black-and-white production, with occasional colour requirements. It’s ideally suited to law firms, healthcare offices and financial service providers who need a fully-configured black-and-white system to handle daily printing, yet are also looking for a cost-effective alternative to outsourcing their colour jobs. Page-per-minute is 16 colour, with a 58 ppm monochrome option. Suggested retail price is $29,300.
Lexmark Canada’s C762 colour laser printer offers 25 ppm in colour or mono. It also handles outdoor signage including realtor flyers, retail signage, instruction booklets and maps. The paper is waterproof, tear and grease resistant with a 75-lb. weight. Specifically designed for the C762 and C752, it’s available in 100-sheet packages for $100. The C762 sells for an estimated $2,599.
The OKI C5200n and C5400 digital colour printers from Oki Data Americas Inc. are cost-effective and affordable, without sacrificing quality, according to Oki. Each produces 1200 x 600 dots-per-inch in colour up to 16 pages per minute (24 ppm mono) for an estimated price of $1,348. The C5200n has a standard 400-sheet capacity that expands to 930 sheets, with memory upgrades from 32 MB to 288 MB. The C5400 offers an optional two-sided printing function and an Ethernet connectivity option.
Economy desktop printers
Economy desktop printers: cheaper and functional
Epson Canada Ltd. has two new all-purpose printers in its line-up. The C66 and C86 ink-jet printers produce text, documents and photographs, at up to 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi with variable sized droplets to ensure high quality and detail. The C66 delivers print speeds of nine ppm in colour, and 17 ppm in black, and has an estimated street price of $99. The C86 is somewhat faster, with a black ppm of 22 and 12 colour ppm. It also comes with optional networking solutions for printer sharing. Estimated price is $139.
Canon Canada’s new PIXMA MP760 photo-all-in-one printer allows users to print photos directly from slides and negatives, and includes card slots for digital printing. As a multifunctional device, it scans and copies, using a five-colour ink tank system. The integrated film adapter allows users to scan a 35mm slide or negative at up to 2400 x 4800 dpi. Advanced driver software helps to identify and remove defects caused by dust and scratches on the original. Manufacturer’s suggested list price is $540.
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