How To Choose A Projector For The Office

Author Chinavasion Marketing 26.5.2015. | 18:21

We have often talked about the fun stuff you could do with a projector at home: watch movies, host game nights, upgrade bedtime story time and more (4 Unconventional Uses For A Home Projector).

But it’s not all about the fun (unfortunately).

There are three main types of projectors out there: home projectors, office projectors and portable projectors.

In the post below, we will take a detailed look at the two former categories – as both standard and portable projectors are a great fit for the working environment (depending on your specific situation).

Office Projectors

If meetings and presentations are a common thing in your company, investing in a good stationery projector makes sense. These projectors are bigger and heavier and are not meant to be moved around a lot. In return, you will get a reliable and stable device to help you project images, documents, presentations and more.

What to look for in an office projector?

Once again, it all comes down to the intended use. Office projectors are sometimes also called business or data projectors – based on the assumption that you will be mostly focused on showcasing data, such as documents, spreadsheets, presentations and so on. This is quite a different specialization from a home projector, used primarily for media purposes: movies, pictures, games, etc. This difference will also determine such factors as type of projector (LED vs. DLP), brightness, resolution, size and others.

Brightness (Lumens)

Naturally, you might assume that the brighter the projector is the better. However, that’s not always the case and it all depends on the environment.

A home projector, intended for use in a dark room with lights off and curtains drawn, the brightness of 1200 lumens will be more than enough (actually, you may even find higher levels uncomfortable for your eyes).

Office projectors, on the other hand, are mostly used in well-lit meeting rooms and conference halls. Of course, you may always ask to switch the lights off – but the intimate dimply-lit environment may not be the best choice for discussing sales strategies. That is why, the recommended brightness level for office projectors is usually in the range of 2000-3000 lumens. When considering how bright your projector should be, consider the size of the room, the lighting, the size of the image you want to project and the screen you plan to project it on.

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HD LED Projector – 3000 Lumens

 

Summing it up:

  • Look for the brightness range of 2000-3000 lumens
  • Consider room size, lighting and type of image to project.

Technology Used

There are several types of projectors available on the market these days. The two types that are typically put to commercial use are LCD and DLP projectors. So, when choosing a projector for the office, you will probably be looking at these two options.

How do they differ and what do they have in common?

DLP projectors tend to be smaller and less expensive than LCD ones and project primary colours in sequence and not simultaneously. Their smaller size allows for easier portability – you can move the device between offices and conference rooms, and the lower price makes it more affordable for small businesses. They also tend to offer better contrast and juicier colours. One typical complaint with DLP projectors is the so-called “rainbow effect”: a shift in colours that come people may see when there is movement on the screen or if they shift their gaze. It depends on your sensitivity to the effect, but those who do see it may find it annoying for long term presentations.

LCD projectors come without the “rainbow effect”, but also with a bigger size, heavier weight and a heftier price tag. Compared to DLP, they have been known to offer a sharper image and deeper black levels, but when it comes to business use, the difference in image quality may not be that visible.

Summing it up:

  •  – DLP projectors: smaller, less expensive, possible “rainbow effect”, sharp colours
  •  – LCD projectors: larger, more expensive, sharper images, deeper black levels

Resolution

If all you plan to do is show Powerpoint presentations, documents and other data and text-oriented files, a resolution of 800×600 should be well enough.

When it comes to video content, aim for HD to get the best results and invest in a 1080p device.

Summing it up:

  • Powerpoints, tables, docs – 800×600
  • Videos and imagery – 1080p (HD)

Connectivity

How do you plan to connect your projector and to what? Most devices come with VGA connectivity by default, which makes it easy to get them hooked up to computers and video equipment.

An HDMI port is also becoming a typical feature and a useful one, especially since most laptops feature the port as well. It is also a preferred connection for video sources.

A number of projectors also offer Wi-Fi connectivity – which is a simple and easy way to connect the projector to your phone or tablet and quickly showcase your data on the big screen.

Certain projectors also come with MHL-enabled HDMI ports (Mobile High Definition) which allow connection to Android devices.

Summing it up:

  • Connectivity options: VGA, HDMI, MHL, Wi-Fi

Projector For Business Travel

A special scenario may unfold when you have to embark on a business trip. It’s nice to expect that the place where you are headed will have a projector of their own, but what if they don’t? What if there is a connectivity issue? What if …? Tech glitches are not the best way to start nailing that business deal – so it’s always better to come prepared.

Portable projectors are made just for situations like these. A smaller projector doesn’t necessarily mean worse image quality. Quite a number of portable projectors come with 1080p, like in the example below.

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Mini DLP Projector – 1080p

 

Of course, a smaller projector may not have as many lumens or projects the same image size as a standard one. What makes them useful is their size, portability, compatibility with various platforms (Android and IOS) as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities.


Take a look at our wholesale projector section here.

 

Author Chinavasion Marketing 26.5.2015. | 18:21
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