The ultraportable data projector is slowly gaining a new name – the pico projector. The Sharp Notevision XR-1S (£1286 inc. VAT) is the first machine we have seen to use the term, which refers to units that offer high performance in a small design.

Just as in the computer market, where companies are moving away from emphasising the speed of the processor, so projector manufacturers are now offering similar advice about their products. It’s no longer necessary to simply opt for the highest lamp size. Instead users should consider how and where it will be used. The XR-1S has an 1200 ANSI lumens rating, making it more than suitable for home use, even more so when scaled down into the 900 ANSI lumen eco-mode. However, weighing a more than portable 1.4kg, the XR-1S is aimed at the mobile user who is looking for a versatile unit. The use of DLP technology allows for a smaller chassis size, but with the use of a Carl Ziess lens, performance is outstanding at a range up to and including eight metres.

The styling of the XR-1S is compact and neat with the chassis protecting the lens. Its design means that the potential for damage when in transit is reduced. Sharp has introduced several features to make setting up and using the projector easier. Ranging from LED lights that signify which feature is being used, to a FAQ file in the menu system that offers tips on how to get the most from the unit. With four pre-set modes, ranging from presentations, where the brightness is heightened and the colour wheel reduced to offer a brighter image in an office setting, to a cinema mode, which reduces the brightness but offers a larger range of grey and black shades, the XR-1S offers something for every need. The use of automatic keystone correction monitors the image and can reshape it within three seconds.

As can be expected from an ultraportable data projector, connections are kept to a minimum – the XR-1S is fitted with 15-pin D-sub component port, video, S-video and audio ports. While a 0.5-watt speaker is included, the quality isn’t sufficient for presentations, which should be controlled through the laptop or external speakers.

The Sharp Notevision XR-1S is an excellent data projector. Many of the features of this unit are comparable to larger, and more expensive, projectors, so there inclusion in what can be considered an entry-level priced unit is a bonus that many buyers will appreciate.

RATING 9
PRICE £1095/£1286 (EX/INC. VAT)
BRIGHTNESS 1200 ANSI lumens
CONTRAST 1500:1
TECHNOLOGY DLP
NATIVE RESOLUTION 800 x 600 pixels
THROW RANGE 1 - 8.4m
LENS – FOCUS Manual
LENS – ZOOM Manual
DIMENSIONS (WXHXD) 247 x 69 x 122mm
WEIGHT 1.4kg
CONTACT 0800 262958
www.sharp.co.uk/projectors