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CNET editors' review
CNET Editors' ChoiceMay 06-
CNET editors' rating:
stars
Excellent
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 05/12/2006
- Updated on: 05/26/2006
- Released on: 05/09/2006
Like other Dell projectors, the 2400MP is gray and black with rounded corners. The case houses Texas Instrument's latest Digital Light Processing (DLP) imaging engine, which projects images at an XGA native resolution. The projector weighs a hefty 5.5 pounds and measures 4 by 10.8 by 8.3 inches, which is a bit taller and wider than the similarly equipped HP mp3320. The 2400MP's size allows for some mobility, but it's better suited to traveling short distances; the 4-pound Epson PowerLite 765c is a better choice if portability is your top priority. Dell does include a large padded carrying case that easily accommodates the projector and has plenty of room for accessories.
The 2400MP's focus ring surrounds the lens, and the zoom control is mounted on top of the projector, which makes adjustments convenient. The 1.2X zoom capability is a smidge short of the 1.6X offered by the Toshiba TDP-T95U, and as you zoom in and out, the 2400MP loses focus, which makes adjusting the image slightly more labor intensive. Other adjustability options, such as automatic vertical keystone correction, works like a charm, and remarkably, the projector also has horizontal keystone correction--a feature we've seen only on much more expensive projectors. The Dell 2400MP can project sharp, clean images ranging in size from 2.2 to 25 feet (diagonal) and accommodates 4:3 as well as 16:9 DVD formats.
The brightly lit buttons and large icons on the 2400MP's control panel make navigating the onscreen menu (OSM) a breeze. The included remote has all of the functionality of the control panel, as well as large page-up and page-down buttons for running through the slide presentations; unfortunately, it lacks a laser pointer. The intuitive OSM runs along the bottom of the screen so that you can make adjustments while viewing the image unobstructed. The back of the Dell 2400MP offers an abundance of connectivity options, including jacks for VGA-in and VGA-out, composite and S-Video, audio, four-pin USB, and RS-232. Dell includes cables for all of these connections and adds one for component video.
We put the 2400MP through its paces and found it to be the top gun in the budget projector class. It projected 3,208 ANSI lumens--25 percent more than the HP mp3320. In fact, the 2400mp matched the brightness levels of much more expensive (and much larger) network projectors, such as the Sony VPL-PX41. Even in low-power Eco mode, the Dell 2400MP pumped out 2,765 lumens--more than most budget projectors in full-power mode. At all times, type looked sharp, well formed, and very readable. Presenters who like to work with the lights on will love the 2400MP's 665:1 contrast ratio, which is outdone only by the much more expensive Dell 5100MP. However, the Dell 2400MP has a few minor flaws: its 65 percent brightness uniformity is only average, we noticed a slight flicker in parts of the grayscale, and the color palette leaned toward yellow.
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Where to buy
Dell 2400MP DLP Projector:
$19.95
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$19.95 | Yes |
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