How to Choose a Projector

With hundreds of portable projectors on the market,road, you'll want a small, lightweight projector. Portable
the would-be buyer faces an overwhelming array ofprojectors typically weigh between 6 and 10 pounds,
features and options. The following brief guide can helpand the so-called "ultra portables" between 2 and 6
you choose the projector that's right for yourpounds. Look for a projector that includes a good,
needsThe key features to consider are thesturdy case to keep it safe when traveling.The Room:
following:Resolution:The qualities of the room are crucial to a clearly
The resolution is simply the number of pixelsprojected image. A large room requires a projector
projected onto the screen. The more pixels you have,with more lumens to reach the screen with sufficient
the more closely they are packed together, providing abrightness. Equally important is the lighting in the room
smoother appearance to your image. The resolution isitself. How dark can you make it? How much light will
specified in terms of the number of horizontal andyour audience need (for example, will they be taking
vertical pixels in the image. The most commonnotes, or simply watching the presentation passively?)
configurations have names like VGA and XGA thatBefore the audience arrives, experiment with the
serve as a shorthand way of referring to these thelighting in the room by opening and closing blinds and
pixel resolution. They are:VGA (640X480 pixels)SVGAturning on and off various sets of lights, so that you'll
(800x600 pixels) Standard.XGA (1024x768 pixels) Highknow exactly what to do when it comes time to
resolution, currenly the most common in laptops.SXGAdarken the room for your presentation.Computer
(1280x1024) The most common resolutions for CAD,connections
GIS and other special graphic applications.UXGAMake sure that your projector has connectors that
(1600x1280) Large format.are compatible with the laptop computer you plan to
The best choice is to purchase a projector thatuse with it. These are typically expressed in terms like
matches the number of screen pixels on the laptopVGA, S-Video, RCA, and sometimes by the number
computer that will be driving the projector.Luminosity:of pins on the interface cables (15-pin, etc.) This
Luminosity is the quantity of light projected onto theinformation is available in the "full specifications" part of
screen (i.e., the brightness). It is measured in terms ofthe projector information.Portable Projectors have
an international ANSI standard called lumens. Theother specifications in addition to these, such as
higher the luminosity, the brighter and more visible theContrast Ratio, Aspect Ratio, and many other
projected image. The greater the distance betweenfeatures, but the key parameters described above are
the projector and the screen, the more lumens youthe fundamentals that will help you make the right
need for a clear image. To project a distance of 20choice.Template Ready is the source for quality
feet (unless the room is very dark) typically requires apowerpoint templates and professional presentations.
projector with at least 1000 lumens.Dimensions andVisit Template Ready before you start you
weight:presentation for resources, tutorials and templates.
If most of your presentations will be made on the