Desktop and Large Venue Projectors

Projection for fixed installation

If you plan to mount your projector on the wall or ceiling, or keep it on a wheeled cart, size and weight may be less of an issue (or no issue at all). Looking at heavier projector models widens your selection and increases your chance of getting all the features you want at an affordable price.

You may prefer a small to mid-size projector for the classroom or small meeting room - if you do have to move it, a machine that weighs less than ten pounds is far easier to pick up and carry. It’s also likely to cost you less and offer more features than an ultra portable model. You’ll find that desktop projection offer the widest range of choices, and many mid-size multimedia projectors can do double-duty as a PowerPoint projector and a home theater system.

Projectors that weigh from ten up to 25 pounds may not travel as well, but they can produce more light and often come with the full range of features, including network connectivity and interchangeable lenses. The higher lumen output (2500 to 7000 ANSI lumens) of the bigger and heavier projectors - still comparatively small compared to yesterday’s technology - means they’re a good choice for large meeting rooms and halls or bright rooms.

Wired networking

Some projectors can be attached to your computer network, offering a range of extra control and presentation options (though not necessarily all on the same machine). In the most basic sense, a network-friendly projector allows you to control the projector’s standard functions - setting the color controls, switching between sources, turning it on and off - from an external device, like a computer.

More recently, a few projectors have been released than can establish a connection with your local area network (LAN) much like your printer or scanner. The network projector gets its own unique IP address, enabling remote communication and control. What does that mean for you? You can turn the machine on and off remotely, receive maintenance alerts from the machine, and do remote troubleshooting, for example. If you’re a presenter, you can upload your presentation on the network and access it (and anything else on the network) directly from the projector.

There are other benefits to a network projector as well, including security features and direct tech support, but the feature isn’t widely available yet. Of course, it’s only a matter of time before network capability becomes a fairly standard option.