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03 November, 2008 12:11

Projectors: visual interpretation

by Ian Thomson

Sony E Series Technology changes should prompt a rethink of what is essential for buyers, but ease of use, running costs and wireless connectivity remain the main drivers.

Demand for projectors is still reasonably strong and manufacturers are offering plenty of low price projectors to help generate sales and retain market presence.

As the market has matured, so each manufacturer is developing, or has developed, a projector to suit the majority of business users. That said, what is clear on a specification level is that wireless working, screen size and new features to satisfy user demands, particularly around ease of use, remain paramount.

Despite its small size, the Pico projector chip enables tiny devices to produce sharp, high quality images in the widest colour gamut possible with the flexiblity to operate with the latest illumination technology," said Reder

According to Panasonic projector application manager Charlie Fenton, one of the main trends is a move towards adoption of widescreen projectors in line with changes in the laptop market where widescreen is becoming the popular native resolution. The Panasonic PTLW80 model, a popular widescreen projector, occupies this space.

Wireless connectivity is another important development as it lets users connect a number of different laptops into the projector at one time.

Fenton said: "The F200 projector is wireless capable and has an enormous zoom and lens shift capability, which is another development making projector use more simple.

"The optical shift of the lens on these projectors means that the user does not need to manually align the image with the screen, meaning it can be placed in a variety of locations, offering increased flexibility."

Micro projection

For 3M, the most exciting development is micro projection. These tiny handheld projectors can be connected to a laptop enabling users to share photos, video clips and business presentations anywhere, anytime.

They can also be used with a range of other digital applications such as mobiles, and digital cameras to project images from six up to 50 inches (diagonal) onto walls. The first viable micro projector to hit the market is 3M's MPro 110 micro professional projector, which breaks new ground.

3M sales and marketing manager, projection systems, Paul Gardner said: "It makes an ideal pocket companion for frequent business travellers who need to deliver impromptu sales presentations while on the road but do not want to carry bulky projection equipment around with them."

It also solves issues with team meetings in small office environments where crowding around a laptop is not practical: users can bring out the MPro and have it project onto a wall within seconds.

DLP technology

Another driver is innovation in DLP technology, where manufacturers are developing new lamp-free home theatre projectors and Pico projectors.

This trend was given a boost with Texas Instruments' latest launch of DLP projection products in September, including a range of front projection products delivering superior picture quality and brand new features and functionality.

Texas Instruments business development manager EMEA John Reder explained: "Despite its small size, the Pico projector chip enables tiny devices to produce sharp, high quality images in the widest colour gamut possible with the flexibility to operate with the latest LED illumination technology."

Networking

Technology is always developing in different ways to aid the user. Two developments that are likely to improve the user experience are BrightEra panels and network presentation, believes Sony product marketing manager Chris Hirst.

BrightEra panels allow projectors to withstand higher levels of usage without panel degradation over time, which protects the original investment.

Network projection allows distance presentation from anywhere in the world with an IP network connection.

"You could essentially deliver a presentation simultaneously to our factory in Japan and to our European colleagues over the network while video conferencing and engaging the audience," said Hirst.

Market watch

2007 saw the first year of negative growth in B2B projector sales (260,000 units in 2006 versus 247,000 in 2007), predominantly down to unsettled channel conditions, said Futuresource market analyst David Luu.

The reasons for the decline included:

A large sell-in of volume into channels at the start of the year led to high stock levels.
There are signs of recovery with 125,000 units sold in the first half of 2008, up four per cent on the first half of 2007.

The market is dominated by XGA 2000-2499 lumen products and there is little evidence of trading-up.

Price-points and eroding market value are a concern - current findings indicate approximately 60 per cent of the UK projector market is sub-£500 in average selling price.

WXGA remains a small proportion of the B2B market. Demand for this resolution is low as price premiums are affecting adoption rates.

Trends

Widescreen is one factor affecting the way projectors are being developed, as is ease of maintenance and the need to keep engineer costs to a minimum.

Panasonic projectors such as the F200 have been designed to be easy to maintain with a special auto-rolling filter, which means users do not have to regularly employ engineers to constantly clean the projector's filter.

"Such models are configured to suit: these projectors come with a full three year warranty and the rolling filter lasts for up to 6,000 hours for ease of serviceability," said Fenton.

The ability to control a projector on the LAN network is another factor in projector development.

"You can use the Panasonic control software to group your projectors and they can communicate directly as well as getting feedback from them, including which inputs they have been set up to receive, and if they need a lamp or filter changing," he added.

Graphics

Demand for widescreen projectors is growing to meet the larger screen sizes of today's laptops and to support popular video formats. Widescreen is also useful if you need to project large images.

Gardner said: "This widescreen output capability is especially useful when business presenters wish to display Excel spreadsheets and other data type applications. When combined with short throw projection technology, widescreen projectors present an even greater offering for office, conference room and boardroom environments."

As Sony moves through the mid- and high-end models, prices are still competitive, but reflect the features users often overlook such as auto set-up, auto focus, auto-keystone and automatic input searches.

Decide whether you want the projector permanently mounted or manoeuvrable. If it is the latter then a good lens shift capability is important. Ease of installation is a critical issue

Sony adds weight to its offering by providing a full three-year warranty for entry-level models, often at the same price as competitors without this option. And it is using manufacturing developments in lens and panel quality to minimise dead screen space and ensure maximum light throughput.

Hirst said: "We are also ensuring there is a focal continuity across the image from corner to corner - a vital requirement in many data driven applications."

LCD or DLP?

Panasonic uses LCD and DLP, but the main difference which sets the technologies apart is how long you want to use the projector for during the day.

LCD is more suited to short periods of use, while Panasonic's DLP projectors are warranted for 24/7 use.

From a practical perspective, a videoconferencing suite, which could be used for more than 12 hours a day with people working in different time zones, is much more tailored for a DLP application.

Sony focuses on 3LCD technology as it manufactures the panels used in the technology. The advantages of 3LCD technology are the reproduction of natural and accurate colour imagery, and brightness across the colour range. The features it delivers are suitable for applications ranging from entry presentation to high-end installation.

DLP picture technology from Texas Instruments creates lifelike images. With millions of tiny mirrors on a tiny chip, DLP reflects light to create a digital image on the screen that is precise and clear. Many DLP projectors offer BrilliantColor, with its advanced multi-colour processing which creates 200 trillion colours and uses up to six-colour processing for higher colour brightness and truer colours. It also has a filter-free design that saves maintenance time and costly filters.

Reder claims that DLP provides superior picture quality with native contrast ratio, no ‘pixelisation' effect and great colours, as well as picture reliability without colour decay.

"BrilliantColor can enable up to a 50 per cent increase in mid tones and expands the colour palette beyond red/green/blue (RGB) to include yellow, white, magenta and cyan for more realistic and lifelike colour reproduction," said Reder.

Buying advice

Wireless checklist

For all its ubiquity wireless is a technology that needs careful consideration. Potential users need to consider the following issues:

How important is connectivity including wireless capability?

Will you need multiple laptop users to communicate with the projector or is it for a more simple training use with a single presentation input?

Connectivity also depends on what you are using with the projector.

If you have a lot of visitors coming in with laptops then wireless is important.

By way of difference, Sony projectors use wireless in a different non peer-to-peer way.

By connecting wirelessly to your network you can connect to the attached projector - corporate IT networks are much more developed and both the range and stability of connection is improved alongside the benefit of remote access to the projector for long distance presentation. Depending upon how you plan to use a projector there are many issues to consider before buying a new model.

Flexibility is a major issue if a company has changing presentation requirements according to different rooms.

"With the introduction of modular systems these organisations have the ability to tailor projection systems according to their specific needs and budgets," said Gardner.

The elements that you need to look at include the level of brightness in the room environment - this affects both your choice of projector and where you are going to position it in relation to the screen.

The resolution quality also needs to be matched to the content and the application.

Screen size is another factor to consider as you need to ensure the projector is matched closely to the size of the image it needs to project.

Decide whether you want the projector permanently mounted or manoeuvrable. If it is the latter then a good lens shift capability is important. Ease of installation is a critical issue.

"If users are looking for an installation projector, questions such as what sources you will be plugging into the projector and what you are presenting should be front of mind," said Hirst.

"This may help resolution and input connectivity. Sony's higher resolution projectors at SXGA resolution are perfect for detailed CAD drawings and are also bright enough to project in even the most modern of glass-fronted offices."

Once you have chosen a projector, it is equally important to think about what you are going to project on to and the size of screen required. The latter is dependent on audience numbers.

For overall value, look for a three-year swap out warranty, which some manufacturers do offer.

Hirst said: "This means if anything becomes faulty a new unit would be sent for you to swap your faulty unit without incurrence of any logistical cost. Sony offers this on a pan-European basis with a technical helpdesk for business users, which also helps alleviate any competency issues."

Finally, projector buyers should watch out for the costs and time incurred when cleaning filters.

Reder said: "As projectors are used, dust becomes trapped in the filter and has to be cleaned. Most projector filters require cleaning every 100 to 300 hours (one to three months) and replacement of the filter is often recommended at each lamp replacement (2,000 to 3,000 hours)."

As DLP projectors do not have filters, as opposed to other technologies which require filters to keep dust out, this eliminates periodic maintenance, cleaning and replacement.

The decision to upgrade or purchase a new projector depends upon numerous factors, not least the cost. This is no mean feat with technological advances being made continually.