InFocus LP400

How well a projector handles different resolutions is another aspect of its performance. To project 640 x 480 or 1,024 x 768 resolution images the LP400, like all 800 x 600 projectors, needs to expand/compress the information. In compressing 1,024 x 768, the LP400, like the Sony before, can only provide an untidy image with jagged fonts. If you need the detail of XGA resolution, you'll be better off with a dedicated 1,024 x 768-capable projector. Fortunately, for those wishing to display old 640 x 480 multimedia presentations - for the purposes of training, for example - it does a much better job.

A final qualm I have about the LP400 is its build quality. The bundled shoulder bag provides good protection and coped easily with a trip on the London Underground, but the projector's plastic fascia feels fragile, especially when compared with the Sony's sturdy metal casing. Another worry was the VGA connector's design: on the model we were supplied it was difficult to connect the cable to the projector, and once in place a slight movement would dislodge it.

In terms of running costs, the LP400 is relatively expensive. The £350 metal halide bulb has an estimated 1,000-hour life, working out at 35p per hour compared to the Sony's 13.7p. But despite its temptingly low £2,300 price tag, when it comes to the crunch the loud fan, along with all the other little problems, are too much for a wholehearted recommendation.

Author: Tim Danton