NEC NP100

The NEC NP100 trails lots of other portable business projectors in terms of features, but still packs a lot of value for the buyer on a budget. Native resolution is only SVGA (800 pixels by 600 pixels), which is fine for PowerPoint presentations and the like, but can be inadequate for displaying complex graphics or spreadsheets with lots of small type. On the plus side, brightness (rated at 2,000 lumens) and portability (the projector weighs 5.3 pounds) are good. Reviewers say the NP100 produces relatively sharp text (as long as type sizes aren't too small) and color graphics, and it offers some handy practical features like auto adjustment, digital zoom and keystone correction. However, DLP rainbows are particularly visible with the NEC NP100, and some basic niceties like a carrying case and a built-in pointer in the remote are missing. If you have a little bigger budget, the Dell 2400MP (*est. $850) has XGA resolution (1,024 pixels by 768 pixels) and is better able to handle more detailed graphics.

PC Magazine has the most comprehensive and in depth review of the NEC NP100. Conclusions are well detailed and backed by the results of bench testing. Laptop magazine's report is also well done, though a bit less detailed. PC World has a short and more subjective review of the NEC NP100.