Best Business Projectors

Best portable digital projectors

While an SVGA digital projector can be an acceptable choice for many office applications, reviewers say that an XGA business projector offers much more flexibility and performance. Now that there is almost no price difference between projectors that use these resolutions, most consumers opt for XGA projectors.

The Dell 2400MP (*Est. $850) is a DLP projector with an XGA resolution of 1,024 pixels by 768 pixels. It receives lots of positive notices. Part of that is longevity, as the projector has been available for years. While many reviews are now older, this office projector still has lots going for it.

Brightness, which was best in class when the Dell 2400MP was first introduced, remains excellent by current standards. Rated at 3,000 lumens by Dell, ProjectorReviews.com measures actual brightness at a still impressive 2,350 lumens. ProjectorReviews.com also says the Dell 2400MP has excellent color handling abilities and very sharp images.

Peter Putman at HDTVExpert.com, a site more given to looking at high-end home-entertainment gear than business-class projectors, is also impressed, though he does note that buyers should not expect high-quality video performance from a projector designed to handle business graphics. That said, Laptop magazine says that the Dell 2400MP's color and brightness was better than similar projectors reviewed at the time, and "worthy of your DVD collection."

The Dell 2400MP ships with a carrying case and "every cable you could need," according to Laptop magazine. However, Laptop magazine editors do echo some of the complaints of other reviewers. At 5.5 pounds, the 2400MP is a bit heavy, especially compared to some newer options. The only other complaint some reviewers have is that the 2400MP takes a full two minutes to cool down.

The newer Toshiba TDP-PX10U (*Est. $700) has also received some nice notices. In a recent round-up of the best business class projectors, PC Magazine gives the TDP-XP10U a high recommendation. The DLP-based TDP-PX10U offers native XGA (1,024 pixels by 768 pixels) resolution, a 389:1 contrast ratio and a brightness of 1,587 lumens.

Although the Toshiba TDP-PX10U isn't the brightest projector available, PC Magazine does cite some other noteworthy positives. Portability is one, and the projector measures just 2.6 inches by 8.3 inches by 6.5 inches and weighs just 2.9 pounds. The projector comes with a small carrying case and PC Magazine's editors note that it can easily be thrown into a brief case or large purse

Another plus is that the Toshiba TDP-XP10U comes with a surprisingly good audio system. PC Magazine says, "It's one of the few projectors with a built-in audio system that's actually loud enough to be heard from more than 1 or 2 feet away."

There are some negatives, of course. Editors at CNet.com and PC Magazine say that the Toshiba TDP-PX10U doesn't do a great job with video. Like the Dell 2400MP, the Toshiba TDP-PX10U also takes a couple of minutes to power down.

The Optoma EP727 (*Est. $700) is another consideration at this price point. The DLP projector earns an Editors' Choice award at Laptop magazine for its strong performance and rich feature line-up at an attractive price. The projector boasts XGA resolution. Laptop magazine measures brightness at 1,466 lumens versus 2,200 as advertised, but that's still plenty bright enough for most uses. At five pounds, weight should be acceptable for most business travelers though; once again, there are lighter options. Some flaws are found. The remote is powerful but confusing, and the lack of a composite video (RCA-style) input is surprising. Yellows are criticized, but that's said to be typical of all DLP projectors.

The NEC NP41 (*Est. $1,000) is a little pricier than the models above, but also earns some positive recognition. This DLP projector has XGA resolution and good brightness (2,000 lumens). A two-year warranty is another plus. Laptop magazine likes the quick warm up and cool down times, and the quiet operation. The remote is only so-so, and the included complement of connecting cables is limited compared to some other projectors. Auto-focusing is a nice feature, and reports say that it works well.

The dropping cost of XGA projectors has driven many SVGA models out of the marketplace, but a few hang on and some are reasonable options for those on the tightest of budgets. One example is the NEC NP100 (*Est. $500). While the SVGA resolution (800 pixels by 600 pixels) is unimpressive, the brightness (2,000 lumens) and weight (5.3 pounds) make it a decent choice for a travelling professional.

Editors at PC World say that the NEC NP100 has sharp text, well-rendered color graphics, and some handy practical features like controls for auto adjustment, digital zoom and keystone correction. Editors at PC Magazine are also impressed with the NEC NP100, concluding, "If you're on a tight budget and need a projector for typical presentations, the NP100 should be on your list of possibilities."

However, at this price point come some inevitable drawbacks and omissions. PC Magazine notes that there is a somewhat obvious rainbow effect. Additionally, video performance is sub-par and the built-in audio is so weak as to be nearly useless. Editors at PC World are disappointed that the projector's remote lacks a built in pointer and that mouse support is missing, which makes changing slides inconvenient. You'll also have to spring extra for a carrying case as one is not included.

At the other end of the pricing spectrum, short-throw projectors are gaining some fans among reviewers and users. These are both heavier and pricier than the business projectors discussed thus far, but they have a unique ability of their own -- they can be placed very close to the screen and still produce an impressive image.

Among short-throw projectors, we've seen the best reviews for the Hitachi CP-A100 (*Est. $2,000) and the Sanyo PLC-XL50 (*Est. $2,900). Both are DLP projectors that can display an 80-inch diagonal XGA image at a distance of just a few inches. The biggest negative -- aside from the fact that they are relatively costly -- is weight. The Hitachi CP-A100 weighs 12.8 pounds and the Sanyo PLC-XL50 weighs 16.8 pounds, making them more transportable than portable. Still, if you place high value on ultra-short throw capabilities and do not mind carrying around the extra weight, these projectors could be a good option. Both receive great reviews.