ULTRAPORTABLE DATA PROJECTORS

Data projectors are changing. No longer are they desk-bound behemoths, with complicated instructions and minimal usefulness. The modern unit is lighter than your laptop, can be connected with the addition of one cable and sources your laptop at the press of a button. What this means for the user is that anyone can set-up and control their own presentations. Long gone are the days when you need to be IT literate to turn a presentation into something special.

As with modern lightweight laptops, the ultraportable data projector is creating a niche for itself as the ideal mobile professionals tool. What has made this possible is the introduction of the latest Texas Instruments DLP processor, which uses a smaller design package than previous technologies, while at the same time offering greater brightness and contrast ratios.

In this group test we’ve gathered together five data projectors that each weigh about the same as an average bag of sugar. All of them are capable of being used in any office environment, enhancing your presentation and helping to get your message across in a professional manner.

In a similar way to buying the ideal laptop, choosing a data projector involves coming to terms with the technology and understanding how each part can influence your buying decision. If you know next to nothing about these devices, other than it makes sense to have one, then to make choosing the right machine easier, we’ve included a handy step-by-step guide to what a data projector is on page 52.

We hope to make your move to mobile projectors as pain-free and simple as possible. Whether for the office, the home or a combination of the two, we feel the right choice is here.

Acer PD321
HP sb21
InFocus LP120
Toshiba TDP-P6
ViewSonic PJ250

REVIEW CO-ORDINATOR:
Michael Browne