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Budget projectors have long been pigeonholed as being too dim for typical business applications, a perception that the latest crop is challenging. Not only are the new models cheaper than ever, they also deliver markedly better performance, making them increasingly more attractive for business presentations, educational purposes, and even home entertainment.
The six entry-level budget projectors here are good examples. Each has a native resolution of 800x600 pixels (SVGA) and is capable of projecting images of at least 39 inches diagonal. Currently, prices hover at about $900, and the units weigh less than most laptops. Yet the best models offer features and image quality that will shine in both the conference room and the living room. Click the images on the right to dive into our reviews of these low-cost, portable powerhouses or keep reading for a primer on projector technology.
Projector basics
Two basic types of projector technology exist: LCD, or liquid-crystal display, and DLP, or Digital Light Processing. (Some higher-end home-theater projectors use a third type of technology, called LCoS, or liquid crystal on silicon.) LCD projectors have three glass panels--red, green, and blue--each containing thousands of pixels that can be opened or closed to compose a color image. DLP, by contrast, uses a color wheel and an array of tiny mirrors, each corresponding to a single pixel, that tilt back and forth to control the amount of light hitting the lens.
For this roundup, we tested both LCD and DLP models; each type has its pros and cons. The three DLP models we tested--the BenQ PB6110, the Dell 1100MP, and the InFocus X2--had impressively high contrast ratios, averaging about 650:1. The LCD counterparts--the Hitachi Performa CP-RS55, the Sharp PG-B10S, and the Sony VPL-ES2--had an average contrast ratio of only about 175:1. DLP also has some other advantages: it doesn't suffer from the noticeable grid pattern (known as the screen-door effect) that plagues LCD projectors and doesn't require an air filter that needs periodic changing. LCD projectors are not without their pluses: they are brighter, watt for watt, and they produce more-accurate colors.
Unfortunately, you can't decide which projector to buy based solely on specs. The technology on both sides is continually improving, minimizing many of the performance differences between DLP and LCD projectors. Furthermore, many of the manufacturers' specs for brightness, contrast, and other qualities are completely unreliable. And that's why we test them.
How we tested
Of course, we rate each projector for its design, ease of use, and features such as connectors, remotes, and wireless capabilities. But for our purposes here, CNET Labs also devised a suite of quantitative performance tests, all conducted at each projector's default settings. The most important tests measured brightness in lumens and the contrast ratio, but we also measured grayscale range, image uniformity, and color fidelity. Finally, CNET Labs measured several factors that affect usability, including start-up and shutdown time.
No single projector aced all of CNET Labs' tests, but that's not surprising--these are budget models after all. Of the six, the BenQ PB6110, however, comes closest to perfection. It is a bit heavy at 6.1 pounds, but it's easy to use; produces a bright, high-contrast image; and costs only $899. The BenQ PB6110 is the clear choice in this category for all-around business and home use.
Read the CNET editor's take
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