Product Reviews

Epson's EMP-61 is designed specifically for use in the classroom. As such it offers several features designed to help teachers get on with teaching, rather than fiddling with settings.

First is the simple menu system, which also offers a help button for solving problems without needing a manual - a good job since it's on CD only. Second is the handy automatic keystone correction, which detects the projector's angle and adjusts the image. Third are security features including password protection.

Switching from high-brightness (2,000 lumens) to low-brightness mode

You won't need a long throw distance as the EMP-61 can project a 1.5m image from 1.8m away. Six colour modes are on offer: dynamic, theatre (for video clips), living room, presentation, sRGB and blackboard (for dark screens).

The LCD technology means that image quality is noticeably lacking in contrast and generally inferior to the latest DLP projectors. But, even in sunny conditions, the high-brightness mode should leave the image clear enough for easy viewing. Should the 800x600 resolution not be enough, Epson also offers the EMP-81 with a 1,024x768 resolution.

Its price may seem high, but this includes a soft carry case and a three-year onsite next-business-day warranty. There's even a spare lamp in the box, and it's simple to replace. A pull-out filter also makes maintenance even simpler.

With a wide range of connections for PCs, videos and DVD players, the Epson is a good choice for the classroom.