Small Wonders: Portable Projectors Get Light, Bright, and Slight
We looked at three of the latest and lightest, but they come with hefty price tags.Richard Jantz
It's a rare presenter who breaks a sweat carrying a portable projector into a meeting these days. The newest models barely exceed 3 pounds, so a full pot of coffee is likely to be heavier. Even better, these units demand few of the image-quality compromises typical of their predecessors.
We looked at three of the latest: Compaq's MP2800, NEC's MultiSync LT150, and Optoma's EzPro 718. All use the latest version of Texas Instruments' Digital Light Processing technology, the space-saving alternative to LCD projection. These units also use lighter case construction, more-efficient ventilation, and brighter miniature lamp systems to up the ante on brightness and image quality in a small, light package.
The drawback? You'll pay a sizable premium for these sleek models. Presenters who aren't constantly on the road might prefer to lug around a few extra pounds if that means saving hundreds of dollars. For example, you can find Lightware's L-1020 Plus, a 13.5-pound LCD projector rated at 800 ANSI lumens, for as little as $2995--a good $1300 less than the cheapest of these ultralights.
Light and Easy
The three units we looked at all weigh from 3 to 5 pounds (without their included carrying case, cables, and remote control), deliver at least 800 ANSI lumens of brightness, and provide 1024 by 768 resolution--equal to the usual native resolution of the large-screen notebook PCs they've been designed to accompany.
The two smallest units--the Compaq and the NEC--project readable images at up to approximately 32 and 22 feet, respectively. This makes them more than adequate for most small-group presentations. In comparison, the heftier Optoma's whopping 1100 lumens can project larger images at distances of nearly 40 feet, making it the superior choice for use in larger rooms.
All three projectors have durable magnesium casing, which is stronger than plastic and lighter than aluminum--materials used in older cases. The tower-style MP2800 and EzPro 718 both sit vertically, which their vendors say allows for cooler operation by increasing air circulation and heat dissipation. The MP2800 also features a detachable audiovisual module for sound and video inputs. The module includes an unusually powerful 6-watt built-in speaker (most projectors offer only anemic 1-watt speakers), but you can leave it at home if your presentations don't require multimedia effects. The horizontally oriented LT150, on the other hand, is the first projector in its weight class that lets you run simple presentations from a CompactFlash card (not included), so you can leave your notebook at home.
All three projectors were easy to set up and use with a 500-MHz Pentium III notebook. In my tests projecting PowerPoint presentations, digital photos, and test patterns onto a 50-inch portable tabletop screen and a highly reflective white wall, all three produced sharp, bright images with good contrast and color fidelity. They managed equally good results when projecting video from a TV tuner and an S-VHS VCR, for the growing group of presenters who take projectors home for after-hours movie viewing. Adjusting projected images was a snap via top-panel buttons or remote controls that come with each of these units.
Each projector has its strong points. The Compaq's sleek modular design and superior multimedia hardware may justify its premium price, while the NEC's CompactFlash slot and svelte profile may enhance its value to users who can otherwise dispense with a notebook. And for presenters who don't mind toting a couple of extra pounds, the Optoma's brightness and competitive price make it a worthy alternative.
Projectors by the Numbers (chart)
| Model | Street price | Weight/ traveling weight (pounds)1 | Brightness (ANSI lumens2) | Projected lamp life (hours/replacement cost) |
| Compaq MP2800 | $4999 | 3.4/6.5 | 900 | 1000/$439 |
| NEC MultiSync LT150 | $4795 | 3.3/5.5 | 800 | 1000/$475 |
| Optoma EzPro 718 | $4295 | 5.0/8.0 | 1100 | 1500/$595 |