NEC WT600 review

The biggest inconvenience with conventional projectors is the need to keep the area clear between projector and screen. The NEC WT600 eradicates the problem by sitting almost directly under the projected image. This means no more need to leave an aisle down the middle of the room and no risk of anyone's view being obstructed.

Although the image is still produced by DLP technology, the WT600 uses aspherical mirrors instead of the usual series of multiple lenses. The image is then projected forwards and upwards at an angle of 55 degrees. The concept of throw distance is irrelevant here, because the unit sits only a foot or so from the screen. And since the image is higher than the projector itself, the unit never gets in the way. For large presentations, you'd rest the WT600 on a stool; for small rooms, you could leave the unit on the floor.

The projector isn't heavy at 5.9kg, but is quite bulky and therefore not appropriate for the presenter on the hoof. It is, however, well designed for in-house use and is fitted with sturdy handles for lugging it from room to room. The mirror arrangement is closed when not in use to avoid damage and dust.

All ports are situated on a left-hand panel, including digital DVI, analog VGA, composite RCA video and S-Video inputs. Three simultaneous stereo inputs are supported, plus one VGA and one audio out. Unusually, you get a pair of built-in stereo speakers that are loud and clear, if inevitably lacking in audio quality. The unit accepts wired remote and PC control in addition to using the infrared handset, along with two USB ports. There's even a PC Card slot, which you can use for presentations and for connecting the unit to a network, either by Ethernet or wirelessly. Obviously, these optional cards aren't included with the product.

Despite some initial reservations, we found the WT600 practical to use. Since you don't have to decide where to put the projector or arrange a total exclusion zone for stretched cabling across the room (you, your notebook and the projector are all at the front by the screen), setup takes less than a minute. Better still, you can walk up and down in front of the screen during the presentation without casting any shadows or suffering the beam of light shining in your eyes. The short throw distance makes the unit ideal for venues with restricted space such as exhibition stands, breakout meeting rooms and shop windows. And, at 32dBA, the unit is quieter than most projectors.

Screen quality is another matter. Perhaps because the projection relies so much on digital zooming, focusing, keystoning and pincushioning rather than twiddling with physical lenses, the image lacks precise definition. This is most noticeable when presenting software programs, such as in training sessions. That said, it's by no means obscure or unusable - just not as crisp as we'd have liked. Presentation slides and multimedia, on the other hand, appear fine and DVD and DV Video feeds look exceptionally good.

The other issue to consider is price. At just short of £5,000, the WT600 is up to five times more expensive than more portable projectors that can produce much bigger images.

Author: Alistair Dabbs