HP MP3130

Over the past 12 months, HP has steadily been increasing its presence in the data projector market with a focus strongly on the mobile sector rather than the type of machine predominately used in an office environment.

The HP mp3130 (£1828 ex. VAT) is a lightweight device, weighing just 1.7kg, that has been designed as a space-saving vertical unit. In order to produce such a lightweight machine, HP has had to build the mp3130 around DLP technology, which allows for a smaller lamp package and reduction in weight. The lens of the unit is some 150mm higher than found on a typical unit, which aids in the overall throw-distance. In this case, the mp3130 has good quality images that can be cast onto a screen up to nine metres away.

In practice, we found the unit to be highly usable with the 1800 ANSI lumens output being bright in all standard office conditions.

Due to the design of DLP, the technology allows for a greater degree of contrast compared to images cast using LCD technology. With a 2000:1 contrast ratio, the images projected by the mp3130 are able to show a sharper depth of black and white areas on a projection screen – particularly effective when running multimedia packages or DVD movies.

CONNECT
With such a small unit, it is typical for connectivity to be kept to a minimum, and the mp3130 has a DVi port, S-Video, video and an audio input. While minimal in comparison to the Epson EMP-54 also reviewed in this issue, it is more than sufficient and allows for multiple sourcing. On the downside, the smaller package size of the mp3130 means that a great deal of heat is generated, which the unit must expel, making it loud and hot to run.

The HP mp3130 is a highly usable data projector designed with the semi-frequent traveller in mind. With its combination of high specifications and extended throw-distance, the mp3130 is ideally suited to those users giving presentations to up to 25 people at any one time: a pint-sized unit that can be highly recommended for both its performance and portability.

RATING: 8

PRICE: £1828/£2149 (EX/INC. VAT)
BRIGHTNESS: 1800 ANSI LUMENS
CONTRAST: 2000:1
TECHNOLOGY: DLP
NATIVE RESOLUTION: 1024 X 768 PIXELS
THROW RANGE: 1 – 9M
LENS – FOCUS: MANUAL
LENS – ZOOM: MANUAL
DIMENSIONS: 74 X 198 X 229MM
WEIGHT: 1.7KG
CONTACT: 08705 474747  WWW.HP.COM/UK