Here is some good news for the professional Nintendo Wii players. Optoma has heard their prayers and launched the Optoma Game Time GT 360, which can easily be connected to the Nintendo Wii for a much better gaming experience. Forget those flat screen TVs. This beats all those.

Connecting the Nintendo Wii to the GT 360, gives a bigger and brighter picture on a plain white wall or screen for the player to enjoy not only the game, but to also appreciate the graphic images, which is full of color. This makes the game more pleasurable to watch and participate in. Brightness is rated at 2500 lumens which is perfect for those who like to have light so that they can see their hand controls and their competitors. Lighting can be controlled according to the players preference. Since the image is HUGE, players may have to stand a bit behind the projector so as to avoid shadow image. The recommended distance is about 6 feet between the lens and the wall.

The DLP technology does not allow the “ghost image” to linger on, when the image changes. When a menu bar is pulled down for a selection, it immediately disappears after the selection has been made.

The GT 360 has 2 inbuilt stereo speakers which give out excellent sound output at 5 watts. It has ports for a VGA, s-Video and extra audios for RCA jacks. The Nintendo Wii system can be connected to the composite port or the YPbPr video port. The system weights slightly over 6 lbs and pairing it with the portable Nintendo Wii, makes it a wonderful (and ultimate) mobile gaming platform. What more do you need? You can take it on a vacation. Optoma provides a backpack along with the system, which can hold both the game and the projector along with all the cables. Optoma seems to have thought of everything. Now, if they could have packed a solar powered portable generator ….

This system can be enjoyed by all gamers; it isn’t restricted to Nintendo Wii players only. It is priced under $600, a reasonable price. Adding a Wii to it should bring the totals price to less than $800, a small price to pay for the ultimate gaming experience. By the way, you can also use the GT 360 with an HDTV, in case the Wii overheats.

The optoma GT 700 and 720 are two other projectors in this series

Technorati Tags: DLP Projectors, game, Wii

Vivitek has recently launched the D510. This projector is unique in that, it can be used both for business presentations and home theaters. It is small, light (less than 5 lbs) and portable which makes it easy to cart it around for mobile presentation. The price is expected to be less than $500.

With the projector using DLP technology and supporting a SVGA interface, presentation of documents and videos will be more 3-dimensional: pictures look great and document with their spreadsheets look absolutely realistic. The system gives their viewers two choices for color output: the Movie Mode or sRGB mode. Both these modes offer different color presentation depending on the environment, ambient brightness and picture display.

The projector supports VGA, S-Video and HDMI connections which allows multiple sources to be connected to the projector without interchanging the wires. The presence of an HDMI port in an inexpensive projector is highly attractive, since they are usually seen only on expensive systems. It also has a special 3-Dimensional display viewing due to its SVGA resolution. The projector has two 1 watt mono speakers. Audible fan noise is minimal.

The Lamp life is rated at 3000 hours in the normal mode and 4000 hours in the Eco mode. Brightness measured in the sRGB mode is about 1800 lumens which is ideal for text and spreadsheet presentation. In the Movie mode, it is measured at 1250 lumens, thereby giving more emphasis on color-sensitive presentation.

Maintenance on the D510 is minimal, occasional vacuuming of the air vents. Warranty on the D510 is for 1 year only, less than expected but for the price you pay for the projector, it is reasonable. Like all projectors in this price range, there are trade offs. But despite these, the D510 has already made its mark in the projector market.

You can get a good deal on the D510 here. Other portable, lightweight projectors like the Casio XJ-A235U are also worth evaluating.

Technorati Tags: business projectors, DLP, home theater projectors, movies, SVGA, vivitek

Casio makes all sorts of gadgets, ranging from watches and calculators to cash registers. They have entered the projector market with their XJ series of projectors. In this series, the Casio XJ-A235U DLP Projector is one of their more recent products. The projector weighs about 5 lbs only and has a sleek, slim body (thickness of 1.7”). It is one of the lightest projectors in this series by Casio. A special feature of this projector is the zooming lens The 2X zooming lenses can be adjusted to optimize the image to any room size, making the presentation easy on the viewers’ eyes.

Unlike most projectors which have their lamps either based on lasers or LEDs, Casio has created their lamps from a combination of 3 elements: laser, fluorescent and LED, thereby creating their mercury-free hybrid lamp as the projector’s light source. Brightness is amazing, and the warranty on the lamp life is 3 years (approx 20,000hours). The light life is now ten times longer than those Casio projectors based on mercury lamps. This is very economical, since the user will not have to worry about replacing the lamp frequently. It takes the system about 8 seconds to bring the brightness to its maximum level.

In general, color presentation is superior and makes the images pleasant to view. This projector has easy modes for startup and shutdown procedures. Compatible to many video systems and PC. Accessories like the power-cord, RGB signal cable, video cable, projector’s carry case and its remote control are all given when purchased. Launching of this unique system is set for May 2010.

Also check out the Vivitek d510 which will give this projector a run for the money.

Technorati Tags: business projectors, dlp. LED

Epson has introduced its interactive Epson BrightLink 450WI ceiling projector which, in many ways, is better than a Smart Board. The projector can be setup in any classroom or conference hall environment and is a snap to install and configure. All it needs is an even flat surface and it is set to go. Diagonal measurements give its viewers many options to choose from; ranging from standard 59” to 96”, which provides flexibility in screen viewing performance.

Since the projector is designed to be installed close to the wall, it eliminates the problem of shadowing. It doesn’t matter what the color of the wall is, so long as it’s flat. It can also be viewed on a whiteboard or a black school board, if available.

The most interesting part of this projector is its interactive pen. Use it like you would use your mouse on the PC, to open a file or software, play games, to highlight or underline main points during a presentation. It comes with its own web friendly software.

The projector is compatible with computers, videos and HDTV. It also has its own USB port and its speakers are rated at 10W Mono. Extra speakers can be attached to the system too. Brightness is rated at 2500 lumens and it has a lamp life of 3500 hours in the Eco mode, and 2500 hours in its normal mode. Two pens are supplied with this projector. Warranty is 2 years but can be extended by an extra year by joining Epson’s Brighter Future program. The Epson BrightLink 450WI is a serious contender in the classroom environment.

You can find additional reviews of projectors here.

Technorati Tags: classroom, conference halls, education, Projectors

The Sharp PG-D2710X is a recently released projector which is ready for 3-D. The projector is extremely light and portable and meant for classrooms and conference room presentation. Sharp has designed a very light (about 6 lbs) portable projector that can be easily transported between conference venues or classroom.

For its size, it can project brightness to a maximum of 2,350 ANSI lumens and minimum of 1,445 lumens. Brightness is automatically reduced between 1,605 to 790 lumens in a game mode. In combination with the Color Management, the projector can display a crisp clear image of a movie, presentation of text documents or game graphic images. The projector allows users to adjust the color display according to their preference of viewing.

The projector can be connected to video systems of NTSC, PAL, and SECAM only. Having a mini USB port makes it easier for text or picture display. With its RS-232 and RJ-45 connectors, users can connect their PC to the system for web usage. Having a mono-inbuilt speakers, audio output is only sufficient for a small group presentation. However, the system also has an audio mini-jack outlet for its users to attach extra speakers or amplifiers for better audio output.

The lamp life is rated at 2000 hours if used on its full brightness. However, the lamp life hours can be extended to 4000 hours if switched over into the Eco-mode. But it should be noted that 29% of the screen brightness will be lost.

The projector is priced at $750 and comes with a 3 year warranty attached, though the lamp is only covered for 90 days. The DLP chip in the projector has been sealed so that no air-filters are needed. Vacuuming is recommended occasionally so as to keep dust away from restricting the airflow.

Lightweight and portable, 3-D projection, 3 year warranty, crisp clear image display with adjustable color output, what more can a user ask in a projector which can be used either in a conference or classroom.

Also checkout these postings on projectors in this category.

Technorati Tags: 3D, business projectors, DLP, education projectors

In previous postings, we have been reviewing projectors for home theaters. We are going to shift gears and focus on a new breed of very small, portable projectors known as “Pico” Projectors. These projectors are ultra portable and can be used for presentations on the go with very little infrastructure. In this posting we will review the 3M Pocket Projector MPro150. This is a projector that, in some ways, is focused on the business markets.

As the name implies, it is actually pocket-sized and extremely light weight. With the brightness rated at 15 lumens, the image production is clear with good color presentation. If you are going to use Word or Power Point for your presentation, it can show the pictures well, but may hinder the document presentation at the corners. This is a trade off that you will have to make.

3M has designed this projector with two speakers rated at 0.5 watts each. Audio output is loud enough for an audience of about 5 people sitting fairly close. During video presentations, the audio output can be heard if the room is quiet and not so large and wide. If you decide to use its headsets or added speakers, output is greater and higher volume. An added feature to this tiny projector is that, you can use it as your MP3 player too. To help on minimizing on the battery drainage, the LEDs turn off automatically, when not in use.

The projector has multiple power sources; An USB cable plugged into a PC which requires 5 to 6 hours to fully charge (assuming the projector is running); the AC power outlet, with the projector turned off, will take about 3 hours. A fully charged projector can run for about 2 hours. The supplied power adapter allows the users to plug it into 110-240V supplies.

Other features of this MPro150 projector are that it can store up to 1 GB information on its inbuilt memory card. It also has a memory slot supporting 2GB MicroSD cards for extra memory.

The 3M Pocket Projector MPro150 is an attractive piece at a competitive price (in the ballpark of other pico projectors). It is small and extremely portable, is easy to use, has built in speakers and easily adaptable to any source of power supply. This is a projector that allows for presentations in environments that normally would not be able to support them (portability and power issues). Invest in one and reap the benefits for your business.

Technorati Tags: 3m, LED projectors, pico, portable projectors

Sony has finally launched its Sony BRAVIA VPL HW15 1080P Projector. It’s a sequel to its HW10, but with some advantages over its predecessor in pricing and functions. It looks very similar to the HW10, which can get one perplexed.

The first thing that comes to our minds about Sony products is the color output quality. This special Sony product definitely delivers images with excellent color display with its HD 1080p, contrast rated at 60,000:1; and its lumens at 1000 ANSI. The most important benefit is the color performance with pixel free images. This is something which customers will be delighted to find out; an image without pixel visibility. This is largely due to the LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) technology that is implemented. Even when the images are enlarged, pixel visibility is completely zero.

Its iris lens has a default setting on the auto mode, but can be disabled and adjusted manually. The contrast can be turned on or off, depending on your preference of lighting and brightness. With the combination of is Advance Iris lens 3 and contrast rate, the black level is amazingly bright and crisp clear, especially when the picture displays a night or dark scene.

The HW15 can be mounted on a coffee table or the ceiling. Its manual zoom lens (both vertical and horizontal lens shift) can easily be positioned according to the placement of the system. However, it must be noted that both the lenses can not be used at the same time. If for example the horizontal lens is used, the image will be displayed in that mode, and less of vertical.

As projectors go today, it has multiple input and output options but no speakers (which should not be a big deal since they the home theater systems they are integrated with usually take care of that). Fan noise is inaudible which is good for silent screening. The projector weighs about 22 lbs and cannot be considered as portable (but then again how often do you really cart around a projector that is the heart of your home theater?)

In conclusion, for the price, the Sony HW15 is worth serious consideration, especially with the Pixel free image and inaudible fan noise. Once you own it, you can take the advantage of watching your favorite programs or sports or even play your best video game with a pleasant viewing.

Technorati Tags: 1080P, Bravia, Home Theater, LCosS, Projectors, sony

With the usage of BrilliantColors technology from Texas Instruments, the Vivitek H1082 projector is another impressive Home theater projector in the 1080p market. Specially designed for a high performance output, the projector is worth serious consideration.

Along with its sharp images, which is being provided with the aid of BrilliantColors technology, brightness is at 1800 lumens and the contrasting ratio being at 4000:1 displaying the image with perfect coloring, thereby making the picture viewing pleasant to the eyes. Easy computer and video compatibility; PC and Macintosh computers can be easily connected and different formats of videos (NTSC, PAL, SECAM, HDTV, and EDTV) makes it convenient for various users to make their selection.

Since the weight of this impressive projector weights approx 7.8lbs (3.5kg), its serves the purpose for the user to travel around with it. Customers will be delighted to hear that, when they travel with it, they won’t have to take any extra speakers with themselves, since the H1082 already has an inbuilt speaker. Accessories attached with this projector are: wireless remote, owner’s manual, power cod, HDMI and the component cables. Vivitek is offering customers a 1 year warranty and a 90-day Lamp warranty on this home theatre projector. However, the lamp life is set to approx 3000 hours.

With all these and some of the best reviews received on the Vivitek H1082, it wouldn’t be right to ignore all the comments. Taking all these considerations into mind, it’s worth a watch. After-all, we need projectors that are easy to adapt to our systems and to also display an amazing picture output.

You can also read more about other Vivitek’s ground breaking home theater projector, H1080FD here. Check out the following link for competitive deals on Vivitek Home Theater Projectors.

Technorati Tags: 1080P, h1082, home theater projectors, vivitek

Infocus recently received the 2009 Good Design award for their IN5500 projector series. Under this projector series are the IN5502, IN5504, IN5532 and IN5534 projectors which have been designed by Danny Han, the senior industrial designer of Infocus.

Easy connectivity makes it quick and simple for the user to understand. They can be attached to analog components, latest computers and also to the HD videos. With its wireless and inbuilt networking, it allows the user to have full control of the projector management. The projector management includes the network administrators to have control of the IN5500 series. Using ProjectorNet 3.0 software allows to conserve the lamp life by timing the On/Off controls, scheduling the maintenance and control over the anti-theft alarms. Computer images can be projected super fast without haggling over cables by usage of the DisplayLink control.

With these on hand, plus some more added features like its built-in high performance optic lens give these projectors an impressive picture image. The automatic sensor gives the picture display a crisp appearance and portraits the perfect view even on surfaces which are uneven. With its interchangeable lenses, images can be viewed from short to long throw and the screen can be split for multiple viewing which is perfect in scenarios for video conferencing, presentations and even classroom teachings. Brightness display of the IN5500 series ranges from 5000 ANSI lumens to 7000 lumens.

Overall, the IN5500 series can be blended in any environment with its multiple skin colors. Its special Blue Iris will glow or beep when the projector has been switched on/off. From a price point, it’s affordable and provides a 5 years warranty. The IN5500 series is definitely worth the 2009 Good Design award.

Check out the other InFocus projector reviews here and you can always find a good deal on them at Amazon.

Technorati Tags: Home Theater, IN5500, infocus projector, ProjectorNet

Optoma released the HD8200 model in Feb 2009. Incorporating the Texas Instruments 1080 DLP DMD chipsets, along with their PureMotion technology, this amazing home theatre projector box has recently made its impact in the market.

Optoma HD8200 has a high ANSI 680:1 measurement giving it a completely unique outlook. With its Brilliant Color Technology, along with the native contrast application, it offers its viewers a truly crystal clear picture. With its 6x wheel color, it doesn’t necessarily display an over bright color view, but an image which is sharp, clear and seems true to life. The PW9800 co-processor (pixelworks) and DNX Motion Engine technology helps to make the high digital video run smoothly with a non-noisy iris lens. Something unique about this projector is the presence of an extra removable remote at the back of the unit box. This serves as a backup remote incase the primary remote is misplaced.

The projector has a 220 Watt lamp which generates less heat in the room thereby creating nominal fan noise. It has two HDMI v1.3 with Deep Color, DVI w/HDCP, VGA, S-Video, Composite Video, Component Video, RS-232, +12V Trigger  ports allowing one to connect a multitude of sources. It’s compatible with the PC and Macintosh (supports multiple formats ranging from VGA to UXGA) and also all video formats (NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and HDTV).

The Optoma HD8200 has a street price of about $3,600. Its 3 year warranty is better than the industry average. The projector is not exactly light and weighs close to 17 lbs. Generally we seek to see a picture which displays a sharp and clear image, making the viewing pleasurable to our eyes. Too much brightness isn’t a necessity but having a projector which runs smoothly, without us fearing about it getting over heated, is what we need in our homes.

Technorati Tags: DLP, hd8200, home theater projectors, optomo