Smallest Projectors Now Down to 2 Pounds

Plus's introduction last year of the first 3-pound digital projector was a milestone in miniaturizing these devices. Now the company has done it again, shaving a third off the weight of last year's model.

Weighing just 2 pounds, the Plus Lightware Series V-807 is about the size of a large paperback, measuring a compact 5.6 by 7 by 1.8 inches (width by depth by height). Add a lightweight laptop, and you have a complete presentation system that you can easily tote in a single carrying case. And this munchkin won't break your budget: The V-807's suggested retail price is $2295.

DLP Saves Bulk

Like Plus's previous lightweight projectors, the V-807 uses Texas Instruments' Digital Light Processing single-chip technology, which generally produces brighter and crisper images than competing LCD systems, which typically require larger and heavier cases. The V-807 provides a native SVGA (800 by 600) resolution and delivers light output rated at 700 ANSI lumens--bright enough for small-group presentations in a dimly lit room, but not for large groups or auditoriums. The rated lamp life is 1000 hours, which is typical for small projectors like this.

Naturally, manufacturing such a small projector requires making some sacrifices. The V-807's controls and input options are kept to a bare minimum. For example, instead of a separate power switch (always a convenience for turning the projector completely on or off), you get just a button for switching the unit from the standby low-power mode to the full-power mode. The unit offers only a mono speaker and only one input each for video, sound, and computer--there's no extra computer port for hooking up a second PC or external monitor. And you get no USB or serial port for a mouse.

Trade-Offs: Not Too Painful

The single video input supports all three types of video sources--composite, S-Video, and component video--but obviously you can attach only one at a time. Plus also keeps the unit's weight down by using a fixed-focus lens rather than a larger and heavier zoom lens. Absent a zoom, you must set up the projector at a specific distance to fill the screen, a potential inconvenience in homes or other locations where finding a portable stand or moving the projector might be difficult.

But despite its limitations, the preproduction version of the V-807 I tested performed well. At a short distance of 7 feet from the screen, the unit displayed 60-inch-diagonal images that were both crisp and colorful, whether the image was a PowerPoint presentation, a digital photograph, or a test pattern (for alignment, color saturation, scaled fonts, and so on). I was particularly impressed by the projector's quiet fan, and the fact that the unit didn't overheat, even after I used it to watch a 2-hour DVD movie.

The V-807 also seemed reasonably well constructed, but (as with any lightweight piece of electronics) you would be wise to treat this projector as delicate, fragile equipment.

The V-807 uses a digital video interface (DVI, a standard also used by some LCD monitors) for its PC connection, but since the majority of PCs don't support DVI connectivity, it also includes a DVI-to-VGA adapter. An infrared remote control, assorted cables, and a soft carrying case are in the bundle as well.

If you're in the market for a highly transportable projector to use for personal presentations ranging from small-group talks to one-on-one shows presented in office cubicles, the Plus Lightware Series V-807 is an excellent choice. Later this year, Plus also plans to release the V-1080, an XGA (1024-by-768) version of the projector (also rated at 700 ANSI lumens), at an estimated price of $3000.

SUMMARY

Plus Lightware Series V-807 (Preproduction unit, not rated) $2295 List