As business picks up and meetings come back, planners must once again think about the best ways for speakers to present their messages to attendees. And regardless of where a presentation will take place -- in a voluminous ballroom, a cozy breakout room, or on the trade show floor -- there's a dizzying array of display and projection technologies to choose from.
With data projectors, one of the key metrics for evaluating their effectiveness is brightness, measured in lumens. So while a projector that can muster 500 to 1,000 lumens may be fine for a small conference room, you'll need a device that can generate at least 2,000, and perhaps more than 5,000, lumens to accommodate a large room.
The growth in Digital Light Processing (DLP) projectors has shaken up the projector industry. While the majority of data projectors are still based on LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, DLPs deliver more lumens per pound of weight, enabling a whole new class of lightweight projectors. The latest to hit the market is the Mitsubishi XD200 ColorView (2,000 lumens, 6.6 pounds, $6,995), designed for color-critical applications that use logos, graphics, photos, and video.
Les Goldberg, chief executive of LMG Inc., an Orlando-based provider of staging and presentation services (www.lmg.net), notes that "DLP images are more film-like, with the same color edge to edge. LCD-based projectors tend to be more contrasty, and often have bad pixels -- little white dots in the center of your image."
Getting the Picture
For a small meeting or less formal presentation, there's a new category of subportable (under 3 pounds) and microportable (3 to 6.6 pounds) projectors. For example, the INFOCUS LP130 ($6,499 through www.projector central.com) pumps out 1,100 lumens and can display up to 16.7 million colors at 1,024 by 768 resolution, yet weighs only 2.9 pounds and measures 2 by 6.25 by 8.25 inches. On the other hand, you'll need a 12,000-lumen unit to create a bright 15-by-20-foot image on a ballroom wall. Examples: Digital Projection's LIGHTNING 22sx (11,000 lumens; $109,995), and the Panasonic PT-D9600U (12,000 lumens; $127,500). Rental cost: about $4,000 per day.
Flat-screen LCD monitors and plasma displays are becoming increasingly popular on the trade show floor. Currently, the largest LCD flat panel monitor is 28 inches; flat displays 30 inches and over are plasma. Although plasma monitors are expensive to rent ($600 to $1,000 a day), their compact form is ideal.
Goldberg adds that more folks are trying wide-screen applications, using 10 projectors at once to create an enormous but clear image. At a recent show for Vivendi Entertainment, LMG created a 20-by-60-foot image, which contained video clips, Powerpoint graphics, background wallpaper, and more, all controlled with sequencing software. The catch: You'll need a $500,000 budget to do it.
Two last tips for finding the right projection unit: First, ask your vendor for inexpensive, mid-range, and high-end options for your needs. Second, don't be penny wise and pound foolish, if by skimping on the technology you diminish your attendees' ability to hear or see the message.
Extra Bytes
Power Treo
The hit of November's COMDEX show was Handspring's Treo. It's quite versatile, combining cell phone capability (for GSM networks), Palm OS organizer (with Date Book Plus, PhoneBook, To-Do List, and Memo Pad), e-mail, SMS text messaging, and wireless Web. Treo, which looks like a slightly wider, flatter cell phone, will soon come in versions sporting a built-in keyboard and have pen-based input. One model, the Treo 180, is $399 with service activation. www.handspring.com