Watch for Data Projector Prices to Drop

LAS VEGAS--A data projector priced under a grand? It's a notion that sounds as fanciful as a sub-$500 PC did a decade ago. But PCs have hit that price point, and with entry-level DLP projectors now costing well under $2000, the $999 projector could appear in 2003 or sooner, say analysts and projector vendors here at Infocomm.

More than 500 exhibitors and some 20,000 attendees are expected at the premier trade show for the display and audio-visual systems industry, continuing through Friday.

"There's no question that within a year and a half or so there will be sub-$1000 projectors," says Bob Hana, vice president and general manager of NEC Solutions' Visual Systems Division.

Then, we'll see more models sold in general office supply stores--and many more units sold for home use, he says.

Sweta Dash, director of LCD and projection research at i-Suppli/Stanford Resources, also expects to see sub-$1000 projectors, "most probably in one year."

"But just because it is $999 doesn't mean people will be buying it," she cautions.

A $999 projector, she says, might have SVGA (800-by-600) resolution and 1000 ANSI lumens brightness, sufficient for a small meeting room. However, it likely wouldn't be as lightweight as more expensive portable projectors.

Models Announced

High-end products were the focus of the Infocomm announcements.

Leading projector vendor InFocus announced at the show the LP70, a 2.4-pound projector that fits in the palm of the hand and delivers 1100 ANSI lumens of brightness and XGA (1024-by-768) resolution. Its estimated street price at its scheduled September ship date will be $3199, InFocus says. It's an example of the higher price that a full-featured, lightweight model fetches.

InFocus Chairman and Chief Executive John Harker says he's sure a $999 projector is possible, but won't be pinned down on when InFocus might ship one at that price.

"Everyone is saying, 'Let's get to $999,'" he said. "But I want to make money doing it. . . . It's going to be a while."

Some vendors are already edging close. BenQ (formerly Acer) recently announced a limited-time offer of a 5-pound Acer 7763P projector with SVGA resolution and an 800-ANSI lumens lamp priced at $1288.

NEC's projector announcements at Infocomm focus on new features, including ImageXpress technology that lets presenters hook up notebook PCs using wired Ethernet or 802.11b wireless networks. NEC also introduced its 3D Reform technology, which supports vertical, horizontal, and diagonal keystone correction, giving users greater flexibility in placing their projectors.

Home Theater Focus

Another trend at the show is the growing interest in projectors and flat-panel displays for home theater use. NEC's Hana believes 20 percent of NEC plasma displays and 10 percent of projectors already are going into homes.

BenQ announced both cinema-style digital projectors and LCD TVs. New are the the $4500 HT 480W and the $5900 HT 720W digital projectors, scheduled to ship this month. The 15-inch HX 1551 LCD TV is priced at $1295 and the 20.1-inch HS 2051, at $2000. The LCD TVs are also expected to ship in June, according to Benq.

Boxlight's Studio Experience home theater division is showing its Cinema 17SF projector, featuring XGA resolution and 1000 ANSI lumens. And InFocus says it plans later this year to introduce new home entertainment projectors as follow-ups to its expensive but high-quality LS110 home theater projector, released last year.

Consumers are increasingly interested in alternatives to traditional CRT TVs such as data projectors and rear-projection TVs, according to a joint research project by Quixel Research and market research firm TFCInfo.

This interest has been increased by the advent of digital entertainment technologies including DVD, video games, and digital video recording devices such as Replay and TiVo, says Tamaryn Pratt, a Quixel Research director. She reported the findings with Paul Martin, editor-in-chief for the market research firm TFCInfo.

The survey of more than 500 consumers showed that price remains a barrier, but also that many buyers have misconceptions about the technologies. For example, many consumers did not realize that rear-projection TVs are much thinner than the bulky models of several years ago, Pratt says.

Martin believes an educational campaign by front projector vendors might help sales. For example, customers need not be concerned about a dog walking in front of a projector and obscuring the image, he notes, adding, "They don't know about ceiling mounts."