InfoComm 2008 projector trends....

I know I’ve mentioned how video/data projectors (and their affiliated accessories like interactive whiteboards, carts and wireless controllers) were a substantial part of InfoComm. Sorting out the choices can certainly be confusing, as prices have fallen dozens and dozens of models have flooded the market. Deciding which projector(s) to buy for your school(s) is now more like asking “Which car should I buy?” Well, that depends, and every manufacturer is going to claim they’re the best. Of course I can’t endorse any technology or manufacturer over another… but I’ll describe what I learned about the current projector field.

Starting from the top down, the main two choices are of the chip manufacturer: 3LCD or DLP. 3LCD (or LCD, Liquid Crystal Display) has ruled the roost as the dominant projector technology for some time, and is made by Seiko Epson. It uses 3 LCD chips (as you might’ve guessed) to increase the millions of colors that can be represented on the screen. DLP (Digital Light Processing) was invented in 1987 by everyone’s favorite calculator maker, Texas Instruments, and for some time was too expensive for most consumers, but used primarily in high end applications. Today, however, single-chip DLP (they also make much more expensive 3 chip models that, by all accounts, have probably the most superior pictures on the market) are about the same price as 3LCD, so DLP has roared ahead in market share, though LCD still has a slight majority. And when things get this close, competition heats up.

Each manufacturer spent their entire InfoComm presentations not just touting their unique features, but mercilessly attacking the competition. I felt like a terrified Tokyo resident looking up at Godzilla and King Kong going at it.

DLP concentrated on their claims of low total cost of ownership, since DLP chips don’t need a dust filter, as LCD does. LCD boasted of their superior color reproduction. DLP pointed out that the contrast ratio between black and white is better with their chips, and claimed that their new BrilliantColor technology now makes their colors equal to the competition. LCD said their dust filters helps their bulbs stay brighter longer. DLP claimed their projectors never experienced a burned-in image, as LCD is prone to. And back and forth it went.

I found myself in a little darkroom taking in a 40 minute presentation of 3D engineering schematics illustrating projector color depth comparisons, and wondering “Can’t I just watch a movie and see which one looks better?” Just don’t ask me which one you should get. At the very least, having two affordable choices is a great thing, and the intense arms race will no doubt continue to benefit consumers and increase the quality and number of features available.

On the horizon: LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) has long occupied the superior-image-but-too-expensive-for-everyone slot that DLP once held. Canon showed off their new REALiS models which use LCoS chips, a similar technology to LCD but which have eliminated the “screen door effect” that can occur. Canon is jumping at the chance to use this third chipset because they can manufacture LCoS chips themselves, and build their own projectors from start to finish without any outsourcing. Their new model is also WUXGA (that’s a whopping 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, essentially the highest level now on the market), and several other manufacturers had their own new WUXGA models on display. Resolution that high looked honestly, truly striking.

Also on the horizon: tired of changing bulbs when they burn out every 2,000 hours or so? LEDs will probably replace bulbs someday in your household lights, car headlights, as well as in your projector. They literally never need replacing (well, technically, they last a few hundred thousand hours). Another advantage: they are super tiny. Projectors continue to get smaller; Casio and Epson showed off their impressively slim models about the size of a textbook. But, LED models could get even smaller. And so, the Optoma Pico (pictured) debuted at the DLP booth. Billed as the world’ first handheld projector, it’s coming to market worldwide in 2009. It weighs just four ounces, and while the resolution, picture size and brightness don’t rival full size models, it’s obviously built for maximum portability. In a dark room, hook up an iPod to it and you get a respectable picture about double the size of a laptop screen. And when your presentation is finished, just put everything in your pocket and walk out of that dark room, confident that you got that school budget increase because your projector was 1/10 the size of everyone else's. At any rate, it’s a really fascinating demonstration of the probable future of the industry, and was one of my favorite products at InfoComm 2008.

Back from InfoComm!

Well it was a very busy few days in Las Vegas... not even enough time to post a blog! I will be getting things together and sorting through the mountain of press releases I received here in the next few days.

As expected, projectors were everywhere. You may be unaware that the projector industry arms race between the two main chip technologies, 3LCD and DLP, has been going on for years. The race has intensified to a fever pitch, however, and that was on full display at InfoComm. Each chip manufacturer spent about an hour with me describing the OBVIOUS reasons why their technology was superior.

The future of projectors looks... ahem, bright. More details about LCoS chips, LEDs instead of lamps, and models so small I put one in my shirt pocket, in my next post...

When 2 dimensions just aren't enough....

Norwegian projector company projectiondesign is a cutting edge, high end video projector company. In a crowded market, they are basically the Lamborghini, the Bentley, the Ferrari of projector manufacturers. You aren't going to find anything they make at your local Staples. But of course, as with the auto industry, checking out their newest technology is like looking into the future for the average consumer, since the coolest new developments are likely to eventually trickle down to, well down to the budget of the average school district. Remember when power steering, brakes and windows were exclusively options on luxury cars? Or when video projectors were a mind boggling new technology? This is cutting edge stuff that you may eventually see in your own district.

Projectiondesign has loved to debut mind blowing new models at InfoComm, and they are claiming this year will be "their most spectacular booth ever." They might say that every year, but hey, it still has me excited. The company will unveil their new F80, the industry's first 3-chip (Texas Instrument's DLP chips) WUXGA resolution (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) model (the standard XGA resolution, common in most models today, displays a puny 1024 x 768 pixels, by comparison), promising unbelievable picture clarity.

And in another groundbreaking debut, projectiondesign will show off their new F10 AS3D, the "3D" referring to, well, 3D. It is described as the first "portable high-resolution active 3D stereoscopic model" on the market. Imagine the possibilities of projecting 3D images for classroom projects, lessons, or movies! Pricing is unavailable, though you can guess at this point, as they say, "if you have to ask, you can't afford it!" At the very least, it should make for one cool demonstration!

   

Projectors grow smaller… and will be huge at InfoComm

Of the many dozens of buzz-generating press releases I’ve been getting about next week’s InfoComm, a huge percentage of them are announcing new video projectors. Most manufacturers emphasize their model’s educational applications, a red-hot market as more districts can now afford the ever more affordable newest projectors.

Epson's new EX90, released in May, is a great example of the new generation: XGA resolution, 3LCD technology, and extremely bright for most applications at 2,600 lumens, yet its lamps last 50 percent longer and use less energy than past models. It also supports HDTV, and at just six pounds, is extremely portable. (Oddly, numerous models are all described as weighing exactly six pounds. Have we reached the lightest weight possible?) And at just $899, the EX90 has a considerably lower price point for the segment. Numerous other manufacturers have their own competitors, many of which will be debuting at the show.

More projector updates, including some directly from my So-Cool-It-Will-Blow-Your-Mind File (real examples include: models the size of a textbook, screens made of smoke, and 3D video!) as they become available…

Introductions and InfoComm 2008

First, introductions: my name is Kurt Dyrli, I'm thrilled to be the new Products Editor for DA, and this is my very first entry on Product Posts. I've been a longtime contributing writer for the magazine, covering everything from new technologies to school supply shortages. You may have also seen my district Web site reviews every month.

My job as Products Editor is to report on new products and books in every issue of DA, and to maintain this blog as a site where administrators can stay informed on the latest products and technology trends in K12 education. One of the ways I'll keep up is to attend and report from cutting edge technology and education conferences, my first being the upcoming A/V technology extravaganza InfoComm in Las Vegas, June 18-20. Over 32,000 attendees will ogle and swoon over the 10,000+ products on display. DA's sister publication, University Business, is producing our company's higher education conference taking place simultaneously and right next door, EduComm. I'll be stopping by the DA booth at InfoComm, and the UB booth in EduComm, periodically when in between appointments, if you'd like to connect. No one said it wouldn't be a busy job! Or, you can email me here at the magazine, at kdyrli@edmediagroup.com. I'm very much looking forward to it!