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How to Purchase a Multimedia Projector document sample
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Choosing The Right
Multimedia Projector For
Your Requirements
by
Stuart Nicholls
VisionX Audio Visual Pty Ltd.
Multimedia Projectors Are
Fast Becoming The Essential
Presentation Partner!
Approximately 48,000 units
will be sold by the close of the
2004 calendar year
That‟s a 27% increase on 2003
Three Main Multimedia
Projector Categories
Micro Portable
• Weigh Under 2kgs, extremely small footprint
• Usually DLP projection technology
• Brightness to 1500 lumens
• Price Range = $3000 to $4000 ex-gst
Portable/Installed
• Weigh between 2 & 5kgs, up to 3000 Lumens
• Most popular category in the education market
• Greater level of features & connectivity so they can be installed
• Price Range = $2000 to $4500 ex-gst
Fixed Installation
• Weigh over 5kgs, brightness from 2500 to 10,000 lumens
• Installed into Auditoriums, Halls & Lecture Theatres
• Price Range = $4500 to $140,000
What Can I Project Through
My Multimedia Projector?
Projectors can be connected to a broad range of products to deliver large screen presentation.
Computer & Video Sources
• Fixed PCs & Laptops via VGA leads
• DVDs, VCRs, Digital Set Top Boxes
Cameras – via composite video, s-video, DVI
or component video
Wireless! Should I Consider It?
• Currently 802.11b
• Cannot handle any motion well (Active PowerPoints)
• If presenting static PC files, then it is fine
What is Aspect Ratio?
Aspect Ratio is the relationship of the horizontal dimension to the vertical dimension. Most
projectors used in multimedia applications project an image in a true 4:3 Aspect Ratio. They
can also project images in a 16:9 Aspect Ratio, but this leaves black bars above and below the
image with only 75% of the native panel resolution used. When a native 4:3 projector projects
a 16:9 video source, 12.5% of the usual image height is lost.
Sources displayed in a 4:3 Aspect Ratio
• PC
4:3 • Current Analogue Free To Air Television
• Most analogue video sources from devices like cameras
Sources displayed in a 16:9 Aspect Ratio
16:9 • High Definition Digital Television
• DVDs
Native 16:9 projectors are typically used in Home Cinema applications whilst native 4:3
projectors are most commonly used in commercial/educational environments.
What is Lumens & How
Many Do I Need?
Luminous Flux is the total amount of light coming out of a light
source, such as a projector. The unit measure is a “Lumen”. The
higher the number of lumens shown, the brighter the projector is.
Often you will see a projectors lumens light output stated as
“ANSI Lumens”, the ANSI simply means „American National
Standards Institute‟. When this standard is shown, it let‟s the
consumer know they are purchasing a projector that truly provides
the light output stated.
0-1000 Lumens 1000-2000 Lumens 2000-3000 Lumens
These projectors need to be These projectors are used in These projectors are bright
used in dark or dimly lit boardrooms, training rooms enough to handle most
rooms with little or no and classrooms where ambient room lighting. They
ambient light so the image lighting can hopefully be are also found in larger
does not get washed out. reduced somewhat to environments with larger
Home Cinema projectors are maintain the screen image. audiences as they can
usually in this lumens range. illuminate a larger screen
without much loss of image
quality.
Resolution
Available Native Projector Resolutions
• SVGA (800 x 600 Pixels)
• XGA (1024 x 768 Pixels)
• SXGA (1280 x 1024 Pixels)
• UXGA (1600 x 1200 Pixels)
Most currently available projectors will project a resolution as high as UXGA. Naturally this is done
using compression technology and reduces the quality of the image. When purchasing your projector,
take care to ensure that the stated resolution is the native resolution. It is recommended that the
consumer purchase a projector that matches the source resolution they typically will be displaying.
Native XGA resolution projectors are currently the most popular in the market place. The
price of a projector approximately increases between $1000 and $1500 when stepping up
from an SVGA projector to an XGA projector. This difference effectively doubles when
stepping up from XGA to SXGA.
“The salesman tells me DLP is the
latest technology & it is the best!
Is this correct?”
Not necessarily! DLP & LCD Projectors have individual strengths and
weaknesses. It really depends on what application you are predominately
using your projector for.
Benefits of DLP (Digital Light Processing) Projection Technology
• Typically high contrast ratios, much higher than LCD (Truer Blacks)
• Smaller projectors due to single chip technology
• Reduced pixilation
• DLP projectors are mostly found in the Home Cinema & Micro Portable end of
the market
Benefits of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Projection Technology
• Superior colour saturation
• Sharper images, particularly on data/text
• More light efficient, LCD projectors have much higher lumens than DLP
• LCD projectors are typically found in commercial applications
Other Key Features To Consider
Lamp Life – Good multimedia projectors will have a lamp life of 2000-3000
hours with the projector having an optional „Eco mode‟ to reduce brightness
by 20% when not required. The cost of your typical multimedia projector
lamp is between $500 and $1000 inc-gst. It is important to note that several
manufacturers only cover the projector lamp with a 3 or 6 months warranty.
Low Fan Noise – High fan noise can be distracting and irritating when
presenting in smaller environments. Good projectors range between 28dB &
34dB. However, the brighter the projector, then naturally the higher the fan
noise as more cooling is required.
Image Keystone & 3D Reform – Every current projector in the market has
Keystone correction. Keystone distortion takes place when the projector is
not perpendicular to the screen. Keystone correction allows the vertical sides
to be digitally adjusted to correct a warped image. The relatively new 3D
Reform technology takes keystone correction a step further by allowing the
user to adjust the horizontal edges. This allows a presenter to place the
projector off centre, particularly useful in classroom environments.
Contrast Ratio – Is the grades or steps between pure white and pure black.
Whether purchasing a DLP or LCD projector, always look to get projectors
with higher contrast ratios. A high contrast gives truer blacks and greater
image detail.
Installing Your Multimedia
Projector
The first question always asked is “How big should my screen be and how far back does
the projector need to be?”
The most common projector screen size is 100” (
203cm x 152cm, 4:3 Aspect Ratio). To project an
image this size, most projector models will need
to be 3-4 meters back from the screen. A
projector lens throw calculator for all models can
be found at www.projectorcentral.com
Points To Consider
When Installing
• Where & what am I mounting my projector to? A standard
projector mount costs approximately $500 inc-gst.
• What level of security will I need? Do you require a simple
kensington lock or a fully enclosed security mount?
• How many PCs do I wish to connect? Will I need a switcher or
do I have enough VGA ports on my projector?
• Have I allowed for a VGA buffer? A Quest VGA 1:2 Line
Driver/Splitter costs approximately $220 inc-gst.
• Will I have external connections for video sources? If so, how
will I provide sound reinforcement? A multimedia projector
provides limited sound reinforcement, usually only a couple of
watts.
• How will I control the projector? Am I using the remote or
am I going to install some kind of integrated control solution?
A basic low cost JED T460 Projector Controller & T461 Attenuator
costs approximately $1500 ex-gst installed.
Oh! And last of all. Negotiate the best
price possible & pray you will actually
get the budget to go ahead with it all.
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