On The Net - Computing News

with Chris Goh

Data projectors (Part 2)

There's an overwhelming range of projectors available and the real difficulty is comparing apples with apples, because when you actually see them side by side, what looks good on paper doesn't always perform the best.

One of the most misleading comparisons used is Lumens, a measure of globe brightness - in almost all circumstances, what's written is not what's projected on the screen, although Lumens is useful if the projector is being used in bright ambient lighting.

One of the more common methods of comparison is contrast levels. DLP (Digital Light Processing) generally has a higher contrast level than LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), although newer LCD projectors are getting better.

And while I've raved about DLP, some argue it suffers from a "rainbow effect", which may cause headaches. If you think that could be a problem (it doesn't affect too many people) ask for a demonstration and sit there for a good 15 minutes to see if it bothers you.

Another thing to look at is the resolution. It's particularly important if you're primarily using a computer with the projector (excluding playing DVDs). Look for the term SVGA and XGA, which denotes the resolution. Having SVGA - the lower resolution - doesn't mean the computer won't work with the projector, but you'll have to either decrease the resolution on the PC to compensate or put up with lower-grade images.

Keystone correction is also important if you will be projecting an image at an angle, because the projector can adjust its mirrors on a wall at an angle to make it look flat. The higher the keystones, the better.

Lamp life is another important criterion. They should last for about four years. If, for example, you watch for 3-hours every night, that's around 1000 hours a year. So you want a lamp life of at least 4000 hours, which really culls the choices available.

The screen is one of the most difficult investment choices to make. Many end up using a white wall and are perfectly happy. Screens can often cost as much as a projector. Having watched things on both screens and walls, I have to say that unless you see them side by side or you're an expert, the difference is not significant to justify the additional expenditure. But a new alternative is something called Screen Goo, from Canada. For less than $200 you could paint your wall to get the same quality as screens costing thousands. I highly recommend it and the website is listed below.

Hotnews

Everyone's known Google's public listing is coming, the question is - where? The search engine heavyweight was being wooed by the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. The latter won out. When the $4 billion listing takes place later this year, it will be the biggest thing to happen to an online service since the dotcom bubble burst.

Microsoft has announced plans for an online store for users to buy its products and download them from the site. No doubt retailers will be thrilled. The interesting question is whether they'll be any cheaper 'direct' from the manufacturer (as the ads always say). Hopefully it feature a warning that you should also download the latest service packs etc. Even more intriguing is how Microsoft manages site security and the size of downloads (which can sometimes take a couple of CDs).

Microsoft developer assisting with MSN search engine has been arrested for allegedly stealing AltaVista's source code. At the moment police are not investigating Microsoft.

Samsung has released the SPH-2300 mobile phone with a 3 MegaPixel inbuilt camera with optical zoom, significantly raising the stakes in camera-phone quality.

Hotsites

http://atomfilms.shockwave.com/af/spotlight/collections/starwars/index.html

Sure it's a big URL, but Star Wars fans love it because they can watch the annual Star Wars awards, where fans parody their favourite science fiction movie.

www.goosystems.com

As mentioned earlier, Screen Goo is a great alternative to an expensive projector screen. Granted you need to use a little elbow grease to get the job done, but it'is worth it in my view. Have a look at contacts for a list of Australian distributors.

www.projectorcentral.com

If you want to do more research on projectors, this is an excellent site to begin with, offering an in-depth look at projector functions and specifications.