InFocus LP600 review

As one of the bulkier units on test, the DLP-based LP600 makes up for its 2.4kg weight by offering some decent features. For a start, it's bright at 2,000 ANSI lumens, while the M1-DA interface means you can hook up digital sources, as well as using the USB connection for PowerPoint control.

Even better, the LP600 has what InFocus terms a LitePort, which lets you plug in a USB flash drive from which a PowerPoint presentation can be shown. The projector even has slide-show options including auto advance, and you can select which transitions to apply between slides.

Another unique feature is the two-line LCD panel on the top of the unit. This provides status updates such as the startup and shutdown times remaining. As if this weren't enough, you can also buy the optional LiteShow M1-DA adaptor (about £220) to convert it into a wireless 802.11b interface.

S-Video and composite interfaces are also present, along with mini-jack audio in and out. An M1-DA cable is provided, as are composite video and RCA audio cables. A soft carry case is bundled to transport the projector around, but it isn't as protective as Dell or HP's hard foam cases.

In terms of noise, the LP600's standard mode registered 43.9dBA in our tests, while the economy mode (which drops brightness to 1,500 lumens) made fan noise more bearable at 38.6dBA.

Sadly, quality was average overall. Poor focus was the main problem; only half of the screen was pin-sharp at once. Turning the focus ring either made the top half or bottom half in focus - the other half was noticeably blurry when fine-detail images were projected.

Naturally, other images didn't show up the problem, and photos were among the best we saw. Yellows didn't have a green tint, while greys were neutral and skin tones true to life. The decent brightness made our presentation look good - our only gripe was a slight discolouration in the top-left corner.

Video clips were generally good, but pans introduced noticeable judder and the older 10-degree DLP chip meant contrast was markedly worse than newer machines. This meant grey bars on widescreen movies as well as lost detail in dark images or scenes.

At £929, the InFocus is well priced, but the two-year return-to-base warranty lags behind the 'standard' of on-site exchange. We can't see many people needing the LCD panel either, but the LitePort might prove invaluable for some. If you'll take advantage of all its extra features, the CP600 makes a solid alternative to the award winners.