---   CONFERENCE ROOM PROJECTORS   ---


Information about Conference Room Projectors
 -- Jim Gelder, Projectorian.com


When you're making a presentation in a conference room, you want your audience to focus on the information you are presenting, and not on watching you fiddle with a projector.


As such, you want a projector that is easy and intuitive to use, and that presents clear images. There are several considerations when selecting a conference room projector.


First, examine the nature of your presentations. If you want your audience to be able to take notes or refer to written material, you will want the lights to be on, and you will therefore want a conference room projector that produces enough light to allow for this. A low lumen rated projector may cost less, but you will have to project your image in a darkened room if your unit has a rating of anything less than 1,200 lumens.


The two main types of conference room projectors are DLP and LCD, and each have their relative advantages. DLP units can be much lighter and more portable, and they handle color exceptionally well. They also do very well in presentations that must be made with the room light on. LCD projectors are less expensive, but do present clear images.


For video presentations however, DLP technology is superior. Portability is often an issue in conference room projectors, since it may be necessary to move them from room to room. Lightweight projectors can be found that are less than five pounds, which still have many advanced features and good quality images.


A good conference room projector will allow for multiple presenters. At least, it should have multiple inputs to allow for two or more computers to be hooked up to it simultaneously. A wireless configuration will also allow for easy switching between presenters. In many cases, it is advantageous to have a networked projector.


These are perfect for conference rooms in large companies, since it makes it possible for anyone to log into the projector to know its status and scheduling information. Networked computers are usually smarter as well, and some contain embedded processors with attached keyboards.


When choosing your conference room projector, you may also wish to consider factors such as resolution and brightness, based on its intended use. A low-end SVGA projector will cost the least amount of money, and will be good for basic Powerpoint presentations, but you will need a projector with a higher resolution for more detailed graphics.


Also take into account the size of your conference room and the degree of ambient lighting when making your decision. A projector with a higher lumen rating would be more appropriate for a larger room.





If you want to know what the top brands of conference room projectors are, you may want to check out this top 15 list. Brett Larson over at Macworld recently had a "Projector Pageant" and announced his results, complete with comparison charts as well.