>From the AV Co-op point of reference. 1) Proxima / InFocus originally very good projectors, but have fallen way behind. 2-3 years ago the picture quality was poor compared to the other units we evaluated.
2)The last few years we have felt that LCD projectors had better color, but our Fall shoot-out we saw a few DLP projectors that were very good. Optima has added more colors to their color wheel and where in the past DLP could not show a bright yellow, they can now. 3) Optoma projectors do not need or have filters. The DLP engine is a sealed unit and dust is not supposed to effect the unit. 4) Lamp Life. It is pretty common that all projectors have either a 3000 hr lamp life or a 4000 hr lamp life. The only exception I have seen was 3 years ago Phillips (I think) offered a 6000 hr lamp life. All projectors have an Economode where the lamp brightness is reduced to save lamp life. 5) Until projectors have integrated "N" wireless don't expect to show video. I have a wireless projector and have went wireless a few times, but I ended up switching to a VGA cable to present. Some of the newer projectors I think have better software and will probably work well with any content except video. 6) Look at the projectors on the AV Co-op. Twice a year we bring in all the projectors that were bid. We have a "Shoot Out" of all the projectors in each class. The shoot-out process includes static pictures, computer applications, DVD video through s-video connection as well as HD video performance currently using analog VGA. Projectors in each category are awarded by performance, cost, and features. 7) Standardization: I wish this could be simpler, but unfortunately Data Projectors have been advancing at a rate far faster than the computer industry. Take Proxima for example, in the beginning Proxima/InFocus was one of the best performing projectors on the shoot-out, then became some of the worst peforming. Most companies today are refreshing or replacing projectors every year, sometimes sooner. Unfortunately the best way to standardise is to purchase all of your projectors at the same time. From an operations standpoint though use of the Aver-Key Video Processor for the projector input does make the end-user experience consistent even if you have different projectors. Also "Networked" projectors are coming down in price. The benefits of the "Networked" projectors include a software application that an administrator can see the status of all the projectors at once. Is the unit on or off, Lamp Hrs and such. Also you have the ability to power on or off any or all the projectors remotely, or even change the video inputs. Network features so far to my knowledge are vendor specific so if you want the Networked projectors you need to stay with one vendor. Our next Projector Shoot-out is March 3rd in Marshalltown. Anyone is welcome to attend and view our Shoot-Out process as well as see for your self how different models perform. Let me know if you want to attend and I will get you directions. ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Henn, Layne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:49:48 -0600 >We are trying to standardize on a projector to put in classrooms. > >* I have gotten opinions from some teachers around our district, >but for the most part, they aren't picky, they just want the bulbs to >last forever. > >* It seems to me that 2 video inputs is a very nice feature, for >switching between computer and doc. cam or other source. > >* A VGA video input is nice as well as Svideo (although I've >never seen it used) for DVD/VCR or video cameras > >* What other features do you folks look at when purchasing >projectors? For the most part, they won't be mounted. Is there a >specific brand that bulbs are more reasonable on? > >* Is anyone using wireless connections to projectors >successfully? We have a few, but the wireless network (internet) >connection is given up when connecting to the wireless proj. Teachers >don't like that. > >* As always, price is a factor, but it seems that most of these >manufacturers are making money on the bulbs, warranties and not the >projector itself. > > > > Layne A. Henn > > 712.224.7423 > > <http://www.siouxcityschools.org/> > > > > > --- [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus on the server aea8.k12.ia.us] --------------------------------------------------------- Archived messages from this list can be found at: http://www.mail-archive.com/info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us/ ---------------------------------------------------------
