FYI... some may not get this, it's sort of interesting.
Rick
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FROM: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
SUBJECT: T.H.E. Focus for October 6, 2003
October 6, 2003
This week's feature:
Picking a Digital Projector
By Robert O'Dell, Ph.D. ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Chief Technologist, T.H.E. Journal
Digital projectors are becoming more commonplace in education as lower cost units become available and the need to project digital images from computers and various digital sources increases. This issue of T.H.E. Focus will examine what features are important in an educational environment. Further, we will provide links to articles showcasing a variety of uses that have been featured in T.H.E. Journal in recent years. It is important to keep up with this field, as we will see, there are upgrades to equipment and new equipment being released frequently.
Choosing a digital projector can be a daunting task, because there are so many manufacturers and different models. Of the dozens of specifications that each projector model takes, there are only a few that are truly critical for educational use. This article will discuss what features are essential and which are not, including:
- Resolution
- Color Depth
- Brightness
- Keystone Correction
- Projection Distance & Zoom
- Inputs
- Sound
- Lamp Cost & Life
- Display Technology - LCD vs. DLP
- Remote Control
- Weight
- Cost
Resolution
A digital projector's resolution is equivalent to the resolution on a computer. The numbers refer to the number of pixels across and down the screen, while the name is the commonly used reference for a specific resolution. Resolutions supported by digital projectors are:
- 640 x 480 (VGA)
- 800 x 600 (SVGA)
- 1,024 x 780 (XGA)
- 1,280 x 1,024 (SXGA)
SVGA is probably the most common resolution in education on both Mac and PCs, though we are increasingly seeing XGA being used. If you are buying a projector it would be good to try for one that supports XGA resolution to reduce the likelihood that the unit will become obsolete quickly. Also, you can expect to pay more if your application requires SXGA resolution, which is widely supported on newer machines. But, being able to support SXGA is really optional, especially if you need to keep the cost down, because it is not necessarily what is commonly being used.
One important factor is the "sync" or refresh rate, especially if you plan on using Macs. Without getting into a technical discussion of sync, suffice it to say that the computer and projector must be able to send and receive signals at the same sync for proper operation. If you are connecting to a PC, chances are there is no problem and the projector and computer will sync without an issue. However, if you're connecting to a Mac, there is the potential that additional set up will be needed. It is a good idea to find out what MHz your Mac is expecting to sync at for a specific resolution and then be sure the projector you are interested in will support that.
To read the rest of the article visit T.H.E. Focus at www.thejournal.com/thefoc us/feature.cfm
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Rick Maehl, Supv. Media Production
Rick Maehl, Supv. Media Production
Prairie Lakes AEA 8
Media Services
PO Box 1399, 330 Ave M
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
PH: 515-574-5577, FAX: 515-574-5567
PO Box 1399, 330 Ave M
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
PH: 515-574-5577, FAX: 515-574-5567
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
