| the audience |
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The size of your audience is important when
evaluating projectors. If your audience is small (5-10 people) you can usually use
a smaller projector. Larger audiences (100 + people) will likely require a brighter
more substantial projector. Since more brightness costs more money, understanding
your requirements from the "audience size" perspective can save you money. |
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| portability/weight |
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The weight of the projector can be an issue
if you travel. You may want to consider a projector in the ten to twelve pound range
so storage in the overhead in a plane is easier. Look for projectors with the "mobile
presenter" symbol for easy selection.
If the projector is going to be installed in a conference or training room, weight
is obviously less of an issue. With a higher-end installed projector, considerations
become image quality, brightness, and resolution. |
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| brightness |
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Brightness is measured in ANSI lumens and
most manufacturers now state brightness using this standard. The issue here is usability
in a lighted environment. You want to present to an audience that can see you. Using
a projector with enough brightness also means the audience can take notes and facilitates
interaction for more productive meetings. Some projectors now boast up to 1200 ANSI
lumens of brightness, but remember many 300 - 500 ANSI lumens are perfectly acceptable.
A major consideration with brightness is the uniformity of light distribution. You
want to evaluate if light is evenly distributed from center to the outlying areas
of the screen making for better quality image |
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| resolution |
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Your notebook computer will generally dictate
the resolution requirements of your projector. However, if you are displaying CAD/CAM
or other engineering related applications and are using a workstation, your resolution
requirements will be higher. Most projectors and notebook computers today are 800
x 600 or SVGA resolution and will compress higher resolutions at the touch of a button.
Projectors with up to 1280 x 1024 are now available for those with more demanding
applications. |
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| contrast ratio |
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Brightness isn't everything. The ratio between
the brightest and darkest areas should be high enough to make computer images legible,
sharp and realistic for video. A contrast ratio of 100:1 is a great starting point
and many projectors do much better. |
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| rear projection |
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When deciding on a projector, where it will
go is vitally important. If the projector is being placed behind a screen, you will
need a projector with rear-projection capabilities. |
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| ceiling mountability |
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If you are installing the projector in a boardroom
or conference room, the projector must have image inversion so it can be mounted
in the ceiling. |
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