Photograph: Marc SimonConsumer electronics giant Casio enters the increasingly crowded projector market with its new XJ-350 model for travel. This bright, well-designed product will suit both home and business users.
I tested a shipping version with everything from PowerPoint presentations and digital photos to DVD movies and broadcast TV--and I found plenty to like. Although the 3.9-pound, $2299 XJ-350 is slightly heavier than the ultraportable 2.2-pound models PC World recently tested for the July Top 100 Spotlight article, "Small, Svelte Digital Projectors," it boasts additional features that will make the extra weight worth enduring for some users.
The most impressive feature of this native XGA resolution (1024 by 768) projector is a powerful 2X optical zoom lens that enables it to display larger images than models with fixed-focus lenses can. The XJ-350 can project a sizable 4.5-foot-diagonal image at just 5 feet from the screen, and a huge 7-foot-diagonal image at a distance of 8 feet.
The XJ-350's brightness rating of 2200 ANSI lumens (an industry-standard measure) makes it brighter than most lightweight projectors, which generally top out at roughly 1800 ANSI lumens. As a result, it's ideal for delivering colorful presentations with vibrant graphics and sharp text, either with the lights on in a small room or with the lights off in a larger room or small auditorium. These same capabilities (plus a low-noise mode) also make the unit a solid choice for home theater viewing (although picky users will want to get Casio's $49 optional component-video cable).
The XJ-350's remote has no laser pointer, and its built-in speaker is weak, but these are about the only drawbacks.
Medium-priced among projectors that weigh less than 4 pounds, the XJ-350 is suitable for both the conference room and the living room, and its strong illumination and powerful zoom lens make it quite a compelling option.
Powerful projector is a great buy for both business presentations and home theater use.
Price when reviewed: $2299
Current prices (if available)
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