InFocus IN3106 review

With the majority of laptops now boasting widescreen TFTs - even business models - it makes sense for your boardroom projector to display at the same aspect ratio. Thus, the InFocus IN3106 displays a native 1,280 x 800, at a decent 3,000 lumen brightness. Neither of these, surprisingly, is the headline feature: the IN3106 aims to simplify projector setup by including support for DisplayLink technology.

It's remarkably simple. Just plug one end of the USB cable into your laptop, slot the mini-USB end into the projector, the driver automatically installs itself and that's it. Video and audio are transmitted with zero fuss, which reduces the cable clutter for laptops that don't have HDMI output. We thought it might be restricted to slow-moving presentations, but were surprised to find HD video was displayed with only the tiniest amount of slowdown in crowded scenes.

The IN3106 does come with an HDMI port too, though, as well as two VGA inputs and a corresponding loopthrough output for monitor connection. S-Video and composite complete the video ports, and there is a pair of 3W speakers for adding a bit of life to those dull slide marathons. They're far louder than any laptop speakers, and do a pretty good job of producing a well-rounded, full sound.

As you'd expect from a projector costing close to £800, the display quality is excellent. The automatic keystone-correction worked flawlessly, focus control was precise and responsive, and we had no desire to alter the colours or brightness from their default settings. A low-power mode is offered, lifting the lifespan of the lamp from 3,000 to 4,000 hours, and it made so little difference to the overall brightness that we left it on throughout our tests. The internal fan is certainly audible - and slightly whiny - under normal use, but this eco-mode allows it to slow right down to a barely noticeable hum.

The projector itself is fairly chunky, but it manages to keep some sense of style - the touch-sensitive control panel is hidden on the top of the body, glowing into life when needed. The remote is standard fare, and the OSD menu is intuitive and comprehensive.

The only real complaint we have about the InFocus IN3106 is the price, but if that gets us 720p video running smoothly over USB, with flawless colours and the brightness for both well-lit offices and dark rooms, then we wouldn't be averse to paying it. A superb projector.

Author: David Bayon