Columnists

Geek Speak… Projection TV/Monitors

Issue 3.17

Flat panel TVs are getting bigger and less expensive. This was reflected in the Christmas specials recently when I saw 50 inch and bigger TVs that cost under $400. That is amazing considering that two years ago, 40 inch TVs were a deal at $600. You can still spend a lot. A recent look at Best Buy and Costco saw the new Ultra, 4K and curved screens at prices around $1500 and higher depending on size, picture quality, etc.

These higher-end screens have extraordinary picture quality, sharpness and color depth. Some offer 3D viewing as well and all those things are fun and wonderful to have if you can afford them. For those of us that have less pressing demands for sharpness and quality, there is another option. My wife and I both do presentations to groups, occasionally fairly large ones. I have often carried my 32 inch or 40 inch flat panel tv to these events so I can display pictures, powerpoint presentations or videos as part of that experience. I have been watching for an option I could afford that would do the job without the heavy and bulky equipment.

Projection TVs have been around for a long time. Typically with recent price drops you can get a very nice projector for under $1000. The bulbs usually last about 3000-5000 hours and many offer a lower brightness setting that will extend bulb life. Replacement bulbs are usually in the $150-$300 range. Prices vary depending on the brightness (lumens) that range from 1000 to 4000, resolution (usually 1280×800  up to 1920×1080) and how many types of aspect ratios (4:3, 16:10 etc.) and inputs (VGA, WVGA, HDMI, DVI, S-Video, etc.) that the projector supports. Commercial projectors can run in the thousands of dollars but most people are happy with the ones mentioned here.

A relatively new option has gained popularity recently. These are smaller mini or pico projectors. They most often use LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology which is less expensive and can be miniaturized. Some of these units can be carried in a large pocket or in your laptop bag. The display is much dimmer than the big units (usually from 100-1500 lumens), but are very usable in dark or low light rooms. LEDs usually last around 15,000 to 30,000 hours so replacement is usually not necessary. I do recommend getting a projection screen as this gives you a better picture than putting up a sheet or showing it on a wall.

There are limitations. You won’t get the same clarity and brightness. The picture may be somewhat fuzzy if you make it larger than 70-100 inches. Many of these units do not support wide screen technology so commercial movies might lose a little of the side of the picture. Upper level units do support the 16:10 aspect and high end resolution, so do your homework before buying. The positive on these are the ease of transport (because of how small they are) and the price. I have seen them as low as $50 and very nice ones are available under $200.  I recently purchased one that was well under $100 and it works well with my laptop.

As always, take time to evaluate and read reviews on these projectors. Make sure the manufacturer and seller are reputable and will back their products. Be sure it will actually meet your needs for the type of display you want (movies, presentations, slide shows, etc.),  and (I know, this is not specifically a computer article, but…) always remember to have a backup of anything important.

Shaun McCausland has worked in the computer industry for over 33 years, 26 years of it locally with Bits ‘N’ Bytes and Musicomp and currently works as a computer consultant. If you have questions you can reach him at 435-668-7118 or shaun@musicomp.net.

 

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