Techwise

A three-minute guide on projectors

Budget

Besides the initial price, consider maintenance cost. Check the dealer's policies regarding returns, refunds, warranty and upgrades. Also consider the device's lamp life or the number of hours the lamp's optimal brightness can last before it fades. A replacement is expensive, costing between $500-$900. A good lamp life lasts approximately 2,000 hours.

Portability

Portability, performance and cost of an electronic device are invariably linked. Decide how often you need to move the projector around and how much you are willing to compromise on the other two factors. DLP or digital light processing projectors tend to weigh less than liquid crystal display (LCD) projectors. The smallest DLPs are under 1kg.

Resolution

The main options, in increasingly clarity, are SVGA, XGA, SXGA and UXGA. For business presentations, get XGA and above. UXGA is for very high resolution applications that are detail intensive.

Brightness

Generally, the brighter or the higher the lumens, the better, but you should also consider the size of the room and indoor lighting conditions. Projectors in the 800 to 1500 lumen range are best for moderate sized conference rooms, the 1500- to 3000-lumen are high performance units that can be used in most indoor lighting conditions, while projectors above 3000 lumens are ultra-high performance machines ideal for larger venues.