HP mp3130

Portable digital projectors are generally designed according to a conventional slab format, so it's rare to find a product that breaks so completely out of the mould. The mp3130 stands upright, saving desk space and lifting the projection lens several inches higher than normal.

There are immediate advantages to this design, not least the small footprint which should make the product popular with presenters who like to work off the cuff: there's no need to clear half a desk any more, just to put the projector down. Raising the height of the lens also causes less of a keystone problem, so you don't have to stack the projector on a pile of books.

The only drawback is that an upright projector is inherently less stable than a slab-style model. For stability, the mp3130 employs a pair of extending feet that spring out wing-like from the base. This is an improvement on the hinged single-foot extender on HP's previous upright projector, the iPAQ mp3800.

As you might expect from an ultra portable, you're limited in your choice of input options. The main interface is a DVI-based M1-DA port, and HP provides a special M1-DA cable that leads to a standard VGA plug with a USB pigtail. This should be enough for most presenters, allowing them to connect to their notebook's external video port as well as take on basic mouse functions through just one cable. Below this main interface is an S-Video port and a single RCA composite video port. Audio is brought in via a mini-jack port, but there are no output or thru ports.

Despite the limited range of inputs, this is less of a cut-down projector than you might expect. It features both horizontal and vertical keystone correction, pan and zoom, switchable colour spaces and temperatures, and the necessary frequency, tracking and positioning adjustment controls. If you prefer an easy setup, you can toggle between two preset modes: Business Graphics (bright and saturated colours) and Theater (more natural colours).

It's a simple projector to set up and use, but be aware of what's realistically possible in controlling the mouse with the remote-control handset. The joystick button certainly works but it's impossible to master with any accuracy. Also note that the mp3130 isn't as quiet as some other projectors, although there's not a lot HP can do about fan noise in an ultra portable. The fan pushes hot air from around the lamp out from the front, and we were concerned that the automatic cool-down sequence after switching the lamp off is too quick, leaving the unit quite hot afterwards.

The HP mp3130's image quality is good, exhibiting no major moire issues and almost no shimmer whatsoever. Clarity degrades significantly if you step resolution down to VGA or up to SXGA+, but at least the options are there if you need them. This also makes up for the relatively small projected image size, a problem with all ultra portables. The convenience of this compact, upright projector is a real boon, but Optoma's EP725 is better value at £1,400, and delivers better image quality.

Author: Alistair Dabbs