Dell Unveils Inexpensive Projector

Dell aims to reset the bar for projector pricing with its new 2300MP digital projector. By pricing the unit at $1499, the company is undercutting the competition by several hundred dollars, and offering a brighter lumens spec.

Just as Dell is known for showing aggressive pricing with its PCs, so too does it have a reputation for competitive pricing on its projectors. In PC World's recent roundup of XGA-resolution projectors weighing four pounds and under, Dell's 3300MP was the least expensive model tested. Most low-cost projectors still tend to be SVGA resolution models.

Bright Multipurpose Projector

Although it's not the lightest portable available, the new 2300MP won't weigh down business travelers too much, and it offers a higher brightness than the ultraportable 3300MP. At 4.7 pounds, this model falls in between Dell's existing offerings, the 4-pound 3300MP and the 6.1-pound 4100MP.

Given its weight and size, Dell is targeting the 2300MP at mobile sales professionals or marketing executives on road shows or marathon sales trips. However, it's also appropriate for use in small- to medium-sized conference rooms. The projector uses Texas Instruments' DLP (digital light processing) technology to project the image; this technology is growing in popularity on digital projectors, and is also often used in rear-projection televisions.

The 2300MP projects images at XGA (1024 pixels by 768 pixels) resolution and carries a brightness rating of 2300 lumens. A higher brightness rating can make a projector more versatile, as it can better project an image in a room with lots of ambient light.

Growing Projector Market

While digital projectors don't represent a huge segment of the technology market, they are very important to several types of users. Among them are business people who make a living giving PowerPoint sales presentations, educators, and graphic designers who need a way to show off their latest work. Consumers are also increasingly turning to the devices to create home theaters.

Larger PC customers often buy projectors along with notebooks or other mobile computing devices, a trend that has led companies such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Toshiba to sell projectors as part of their product lineup. Dell has been selling projectors for two years.