InFocus LP420

Although the LP420 will compress 1,024 x 768 resolution and expand from 640 x 480, it doesn't do it very well. Small text is rendered almost illegible, so if you want to project something like a spreadsheet or Word document you'd be better off sticking with the projector's native 800 « 600 resolution. In this respect, the NEC MultiSync 810 is still the best I've seen.

Running costs shouldn't be underestimated. Replacements for the 270W metal halide bulb will cost you £365 and last around 1,000 hours each. That's 36.5p per hour, which is considerably more than the NEC, for example, which at the time of writing cost 13p per hour.

In the Infocus LP420, Texas Instruments' DLP technology has come of age. Running costs aside, the LP420 is fairly realistically priced and is the first truly portable digital presentation system we've seen. And you don't have to sacrifice price or quality to get it.

Author: Jonathan Bray