HP's Versatile Projector

Home theater projectors are generally used in darkened rooms, so they don't need to put out a lot of light; color accuracy, clean images, and low fan noise matter most. Business projectors, on the other hand, need to display razor-sharp text and pump out enormous amounts of light to accommodate the conditions in the average conference room.

The most attractive aspect of the sleek-looking Mp3130 is its ability to automatically detect what it's connected to and then adjust its light output accordingly. For example, if you plug it into a notebook, it automatically switches to business graphics mode (you can also adjust the unit manually). In that situation, the projector puts out an excellent 1800 (peak) ANSI lumens, more than bright enough for the best-lit meeting room. If, however, you connect it with an S-Video cable to a DVD player, it lowers the light output to about 800 lumens for more comfortable movie viewing in a home theater setting.

In hands-on testing of a $2699 shipping model, I found the Mp3130 easy to use, with sensible controls and a good remote. The projector has XGA (1024 by 768) native resolution, but will adjust automatically to accept most notebook screen resolutions. For business use, I found the text crisp and the colors true.

As a home theater projector, the Mp3130 offers accurate and pleasing colors. The unit's fan noise--average for a business projector--is a bit loud for home use, though.

Considering its capabilities--and they are substantial--this is an excellent projector for buyers seeking a business product that they can occasionally use at home.

Mp3130

Hewlett-Packard

Great business projector that can double for home theater use.
Price when reviewed: $2699
Current prices (if available)