Need your recommendations for a video projector to use with my laptop (ThinkPad T30). I know very little about these except that it would be increasinly handy to have one to travel with for presentations. Criteria include:

1) Decent brightness/readibilty for rooms with up to ~50 folks.

2) The "more portable" the better.

3) Sub $2000 would be best.

Any ideas? Or any education you can give me?

I haven't used them personally, but have heard nothing but good things about the Dells

Chuck,

I'm assuming that you want this for presentations - PowerPoint and the like - and not video, right? If that's the case, you don't need to spend anywhere near $2000.

A decent DLP projector with XGA resolution will give you a big and very bright image (don't have to darken the room completely) and be acceptable with video (though not videophile quality). Right now you can buy very compact projectors based on TI's first-generation single-chip DLP engines for next to nothing compared to their prices a year or two ago.

For example, two models I am familiar with and would recommend:

BenQ DX550 1200 lumens (very bright), XGA, about the size of a thick hardcover book, $999 at TigerDirect.

Compaq MP1600 - this is an older model but available very cheap as a b-stock (refurbished) buy also at TigerDirect. Same 1st-gen DLP engine as the BenQ, but smaller with lower light output (600 lumens). This is enough brightness to do a 9' image in a moderately dark room. This projector is tiny, and weighs about 4 lbs. $599 also at TigerDirect.

Whatever you do, don't be caught up in "lumen wars" - both of these projectors are plenty bright for your size audience. Also remember that high-output replacement lamps (the 1400-2000 lumen models) will set you back half again the cost of a projector. I have bought projectors from TigerDirect before and have been extremely pleased with the service.

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-alan in sitges, home of the new, improved Si-Re-Do

I second the BenQ recco. I schlepped one of those around for a few months this year, and had nothing but good luck.


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Don't feed the trolls.

For Powerpoint and the like you actually only need SVGA (scaleable), not XGA. For video there is little discernable differnce between the two. Contrast is somewhat important, but DLP has that covered.

The new Dell 2200MP is listing at $899 but could be had last week for $809 with free shipping and no taxes, one year warranty and their advanced swap service (if it has a problem they ship you a new one immediately and first). Similar spec projectors range from $1200-$1500, and it in many ways resembles the Optoma 731 (same manufacturer).

Correct.

Quote:

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">A decent DLP projector with XGA resolution will give you a big and very bright image (don't have to darken the room completely) and be acceptable with video (though not videophile quality). Right now you can buy very compact projectors based on TI's first-generation single-chip DLP engines for next to nothing compared to their prices a year or two ago.

Most helpful. I had no idea prices were so low.

Quote:

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">For example, two models I am familiar with and would recommend:

BenQ DX550 1200 lumens (very bright), XGA, about the size of a thick hardcover book, $999 at TigerDirect.

Compaq MP1600 - this is an older model but available very cheap as a b-stock (refurbished) buy also at TigerDirect. Same 1st-gen DLP engine as the BenQ, but smaller with lower light output (600 lumens). This is enough brightness to do a 9' image in a moderately dark room. This projector is tiny, and weighs about 4 lbs. $599 also at TigerDirect.

Sound quite intriguing! But I don't see anywhere on TigerDirect. heir "recertified" page brings up these:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/refurb/refurb_slc.asp?CatId=23&category=Proj ectors

I'll take a look. Thank to all.


[This message has been edited by cblaisd (edited Nov 21, 2003).]

The Compaqs appear to be sold out Chuck.

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-alan in sitges, home of the new, improved Si-Re-Do