The Incredible Shrinking Projectors
Philips's ultracompact XGA projector weighs less than 3 pounds but costs a hefty $6000.Richard Jantz, special to PCWorld.com
It seems it was only yesterday that projectors weighing less than 5 pounds were the talk of the town--at least, among on-the-go business travelers who deliver presentations all over the world. But thanks to Texas Instruments and its latest generation of Digital Light Processing microchip technology, manufacturers have broken the 3-pound weight barrier in ultraportable projectors. DLP uses a small-scale reflective system with thousands of tiny mirrors to project the image. The competing data projector technology, LCD, requires larger panels, prisms, and mirrors.
Philips Consumer Electronics and Plus Corporation are the first companies to introduce new projectors that weigh under 3 pounds and use TI's latest DLP subsystem. The two companies codeveloped a series of substantially similar products: The Philips UGO Series offers the UGO X-Lite and the UGO S-Lite, and the identically designed Plus U3 Series consists of the Plus U3-1080 and the Plus U3-880. The UGO X-Lite and Plus U3-1080 offer a native XGA (1024-by-768) resolution, while the UGO S-Lite and Plus U3-880 feature SVGA (800-by-600) resolution.
The Philips and Plus projectors share similar price tags as well. The XGA models are both listed at $6999, with a street price of $5899, and the SVGA models cost about $2000 less. For this review, I tested a shipping version of the Philips UGO X-Lite, and I found it delightful to use. However, aside from its compact design and easy portability, the X-Lite's features are relatively modest, and some mobile presenters may still prefer a more powerful unit as their traveling roadshow companion.
A Munchkin Projector
The UGO X-Lite projector redefines the term "ultraportable." Roughly the size of a small box of cereal, this 2.86-pound unit measures a scant 10.9 by 1.89 by 6.96 inches. Even with a soft carrying case, cables, and a remote control--all of which are included--the UGO X-Lite's traveling weight is barely 5 pounds, making it the lightest projector I've tested.
Like the UGO S-Lite and both of the Plus U3 projectors, the X-Lite can deliver 800 ANSI lumens of brightness, which is enough light to project presentations in front of small groups ranging from 2 to 20 people. (ANSI lumens is an industry standard rating that describes relative brightness.) To deliver those 800 ANSI lumens, the X-Lite uses a 130-watt UHP lamp with a projected usable life of 1000 hours, which is fairly standard among projectors in its class. (Bulbs are typically replaced when they reach about half their initial brightness.) However, replacement lamps cost a whopping $650, compared to the usual $400 to $500 for similar lamps in other projectors.
Like most other XGA projectors, the X-Lite can resize and project images ranging from VGA (640-by-480) to SXGA (1280-by-1024) resolution without any major distortion. Unlike some portables that have dual VGA computer connectors, the X-Lite has only one VGA input, so you can hook up only one notebook at a time. The X-Lite also accepts input signals from all major video formats (NTSC, PAL, or SECAM), and includes an RCA connector for composite video, as well as an S-Video connector.
The X-Lite provides a single stereo minijack connector for adding sound to your presentation or video. However, because the X-Lite's internal sound is limited to a single 0.5-watt speaker, the volume is minimal, and the sound isn't particularly impressive. If audio quality is important to you, you'll probably want to carry some external amplified speakers to plug in to your PC's audio output.
The bundled remote control provides most of the usual features that you'd expect, such as input source selection, menu access, and volume. It also includes handy buttons for digital keystone (for correcting image distortion), digital zoom, and digital freeze, as well as cursor controls for manipulating the mouse pointer on a connected computer (via a PS/2 or Universal Serial Bus port). Unfortunately, the X-Lite lacks a built-in laser pointer.
Smooth Operator
I tested the X-Lite with a Pentium III-500 notebook. At distances of 3 to 15 feet, I projected PowerPoint presentations, digital photos, and other test images on a 50-inch screen and on a highly reflective white wall. I also used the X-Lite to project video images and play sound, by hooking it up to a TV tuner and an S-VHS VCR. Overall, the X-Lite performed reasonably well, showing smooth color and suitable contrast. However, I found the projector's overall brightness to be somewhat less than what I desire in a portable projector.
Consider, for example, that the 800-ANSI-lumen X-Lite delivers enough brightness for small groups with the projector positioned at up to 22 feet from the screen. Yet there are brighter, 1000-ANSI-lumen units available for as much as $1000 less that can project from up to 45 feet away, and can be used for larger audiences. However, those units weigh about twice as much. If travelling weight is your top concern, you won't find a lighter projector than the UGO X-Lite.