HP mp3222

The HP mp3222 is the first DLP projector we've seen to contain a fifth colour in the colour wheel. As well as red, green, blue and white, the addition of yellow leads to a broader colour gamut.

While we saw some colour separation in the more challenging areas of our tests, it was notably absent in general use, partly due to the increased rotation speed necessary to blend the extra filter. With no zoom, pixels were bright and well defined, reproducing 12pt black text clearly. PowerPoint presentations scored highly, with little colour banding, and a good contrast ratio ensured that dark colours were defined and distinguishable onscreen. The lamp has an ANSI rating of 2,000 lumens, making the image bright enough for most meeting rooms.

It's also small and light at 1.8kg, and comes complete with a carry case. All the usual connections are evident: S-Video, composite video and D-SUB VGA-in are all present, as is an audio-in for those wanting to take advantage of the machine's 1W speaker.

Those who give presentations for a living will attest to the value of being able to step away from their projector while speaking. Screen-adjustment controls are present - a nice touch, but the rest of the mp3222's remote control seriously hampers flexibility. The four-way D-pad on the remote can control the mouse, but leaves the pointer moving either painfully slowly or zipping uncontrollably across the screen.

On the plus side, the mp3222 is reasonably priced. At less than £2,000, competition comes from the likes of Panasonic's PT-LC76E, which is £100 cheaper but has a duller lamp and is heavier, and the IBM iLM300, which costs £150 more and is slightly lighter, but also has a duller bulb.

If you can stand the flimsy remote, the HP produces fine-quality images and video. The price puts the mp3222 well into the mainstream of portable projectors, and it should prove a good companion.

Author: Dave Stevenson