Finding the Right Screen Projectors
The right screen projectors can provide for a great presentation, while the wrong one can leave your presentation dimly lit and difficult to read. While you may think shopping for screen projectors is relatively simple, there are actually a gamut of options out there when it comes to screen projectors. Screen projectors vary greatly from one to the next depending on your brightness, image quality, format, and mobility needs. As such, prices for screen projectors tend to vary greatly as well, going as cheap as a couple of hundred dollars all the way up to auditorium systems that can cost hundreds of thousands.
Your needs are likely much simpler than that, but all the same, it's important to know some basics about the screen projectors market before you dive in and buy the wrong thing. First of all, ask yourself how much you'll be traveling with this projector. If you're on the move a lot, you will want something that isn't going to kill your back and can be easily packed. The mobile screen projectors market has grown tremendously in the past couple of years, with prices falling and features improving.
The so called "ultralight" screen projectors of today can weigh in as light as three pounds. Of course, the lighter you want to go, the more you're going to pay. Find a happy medium between weight and price, as the lightest screen projectors tend to command a premium that isn't necessarily worth what you pay. When shopping for something in the ultralight category, be sure it also has the features that you need to make your presentations successfully. The main thing to be concerned about when you look at an ultralight is the strength of the bulb used. Too small a bulb will render your presentation invisible. Look for bulb strengths of at least 1000 lumens to ensure that you can make your presentations in different light levels.
If you don't find yourself traveling too much, then you may want to consider investing in a conference room projector. Conference room screen projectors will provide plenty of brightness and usually have a wide range of features to suit your needs. Although not nearly as mobile as an ultralight, they can usually be transported via some kind of cart or other solution.
For serious projection needs there is the fixed installation category. Fixed installation screen projectors may run you thousands of dollars, but they provide the ultimate in brightness, resolution, and image quality. If you need a permanent solution for a large auditorium or hall, then fixed installation screen projectors are probably the best solution. Because they are so expensive, however, you can often lease or rent these systems.
Although brightness may be perhaps the most important feature to look at, there are several other key factors that will determine the quality of your presentations. The resolution of the projector, or how many pixels it can display, is an important factor. Getting a projector that has a native resolution that matches what your laptop is running in will improve image quality significantly. Although modern screen projectors can change resolutions dynamically, they work best when in their native resolution.
Resolutions usually range from 800x600 (SVGA) to 1024x768 (XGA). There are screen projectors out there running at higher resolutions, but they tend to be very expensive. The resolution you need depends largely on what you'll be displaying. If you're going to show mostly text, then you can settle comfortably on a lower resolution. For presentations that are going to have images and video, however, it may be best to spend more on a higher resolution projector.
When you buy a projector, it may be a good idea to take a look at the terms and conditions of the warranty. Screen projectors can be an expensive investment and they can of course break. If you are going to be traveling with your projector, you'll probably want to purchase any extended warranty that is offered. Realize, also, that projector bulbs do burn out and they are expensive.
Take the time to consider your options and your needs. If there is anyone available to speak with be sure to ask questions if you are unsure about a feature.
