Looking to buy an LCD or DLP projector, but don’t know where to begin in your buying decision? We have compiled a list of common first-buyer questions that are geared to steering you in the right direction and help you find the right presentation projector for your needs. LCD and DLP technology offer different benefits. Depending on how portable you want your LCD or DLP projector to be, there are a variety of options concerning the size of presentation projectors. How bright your projector should be is determined by the setting that you are going to be using it in.  Brightness is measured in ANSI lumens (or just lumens), and the more lumens produced by the projector, the brighter the projected image will be. Many projectors will accept higher or lower resolutions by expanding or contracting the image to its native (standard) resolution, but what you sacrifice in this flexibility is image quality.

Looking to buy an LCD or DLP projector, but don’t know where to begin in your buying decision? We have compiled a list of common first-buyer questions that are geared to steering you in the right direction and help you find the right presentation projector for your needs. LCD and DLP technology offer different benefits. LCD projectors typically offer better color accuracy, and DLP projectors have higher contrast ratios for deeper blacks and richer colors.
You may not require all of these bells and whistles, but keep them in mind when choosing the right projector for you.

Size

Depending on how portable you want your LCD or DLP projector to be, there are a variety of options concerning the size of presentation projectors. For the on-the-go presenter, weight and ease of set-up is extremely important. Ultra-portable projectors (range from around 1000-2500 lumens in brightness. Low or lights-off presentations are generally considered less desirable, as they allow for less visual interaction with the audience. There are varieties of projectors that are geared toward portability and generally weigh approximately 7 lbs or less. There are even travel projector cases available to accommodate a projector and a laptop for ultimate mobility for “road warriors.” Wireless presentation projectors add to ultimate portability and versatility.

For presenters that may only need to transport a projector on occasion, desktop models are available and generally possess more features and increased brightness for a better quality presentation. Desktop projectors can range in weight from 7 lbs to approximately 14 lbs. If transporting the projector is not necessary, stationary presentation projectors are the ideal solution. This type of projector can range in weight from 15 lbs to 50 lbs and possess a range of features depending on how it will be used. They can easily be mounted to the ceiling for a space-saving design and a professional appearance. Many offer specific features geared towards the type of environment they are going to be used in, whether small conference rooms or larger venues, such as increased brightness, contrast ratios, and larger image sizes.

Brightness

How bright your projector should be is determined by the setting that you are going to be using it in.  Brightness is measured in ANSI lumens (or just lumens), and the more lumens produced by the projector, the brighter the projected image will be. Similarly, the brighter the room that you will be presenting in, the brighter the lamp you will need to produce a quality image. Audience size is also a factor, in that a larger audience will require a larger image for viewing, and a larger image will require a higher light output. s the higher the lumen rating goes up so does the cost to purchase. Take for an example a 4000 lumen projector will cost more then a 3000 lumen projector.

There are many points of consideration related to projector lumens required depending on the application. An HDTV projector lumens used for home theater purposes will require a different brightness level then one used for business purposes.

Here is a simple guide for determining which brightness is appropriate for your individual needs:

Resolution

Typically, the best resolution to have for your projector is the same as the resolution of the computer or laptop that you are going to be running applications from. Matching these two resolutions will ensure the best quality image possible. Many projectors will accept higher or lower resolutions by expanding or contracting the image to its native (standard) resolution, but what you sacrifice in this flexibility is image quality. Of course almost all computers out there are now at least XGA resolution, so for clean, clear, crisp small text and graphics you should be looking to get an XGA projector, and these now start from about $1400 although you may be able do better on some closeouts, or "factory refurbished" projectors.

Maybe you need an XGA resolution projector for business travel. Simply select "XGA" resolution to instantly view all XGA projectors, and then continue to narrow your list further by selecting a weight acceptable to you for travel, and then select the brightness that will provide the versatility you require. Another drawback to SVGA resolution projectors is that more and more laptops are even higher than XGA resolution, or they are widescreen - which also means even higher resolution. As a result, even XGA projectors may have to "work hard" to do a good job, and SVGA models if they work at the higher resolutions at all, may produce really difficult to read small type and objects, and even large "Powerpoint" type presentations may be noticeably degraded. Many SVGA projectors will have great difficulty in handling these newer resolution computers.

Here is a simple guide for determining which resolution best suites your presentation needs:

Contrast ratio

The contrast ratio is the ratio between black and white areas of the image.  Ambient room lighting will generally impact the contrast ratio by making blacks appear less black, so if you plan on presenting in situations where there will be excess ambient light, it is suggested to go with a business presentation projector that has a contrast ratio of 400:1 with a higher lumen output.  400:1 contrast ratio is usually sufficient for computer graphics and data, but if you plan to use your business projector for higher quality images and video, it is recommended to have a presentation projector with a contrast ratio of at least 1000:1.

Also consider

There are added features that are worth considering before you buy a projector. Of course, depending upon what you will be using the projector for, determines whether some of these additional features apply. Try using a home theater projector if you can. The business projectors are not meant for movies. They are meant for slide shows and a small movie clip.

Some features to consider include wireless projectors if you are looking for something easy to use and looking to get rid of the clutter associated with wires. Keystone correction allows you to correct an image that isn’t completely square with ease. Network capability would allow you to control the presentation projector from a remote location.

Just like current computer offerings, projectors are now typically plug-and-play and come with essential hardware options like a remote mouse, a laser pointer, or other accoutrements to simplify the life of a presenter. Portable projectors also typically ship with a standard carrying case included.
Another added benefit: many business and presentation projectors are HDTV compatible, enabling them to tap into more presentation sources. What's more, you can always test-drive an HDTV compatible business projector for some home theater fun!