When making use of PowerPoint in your presentation, it is very important to first choose the right projector for the presentation. There are hundreds of projectors in the market nowadays, and the new buyer lies in a dilemma on which projector to buy! So it is better to use these tips to select the right projector for your needs.



First thing to check is the resolution of the projector. The resolution is actually the number of horizontal and vertical pixels there are in the image. The more pixels there are, the more closely packed they are together, to provide a smoother appearance to the image. The most common configurations are named VGA, and XGA, which is most common in laptops. The most common resolutions for CAD, GIS and other graphic applications are SXGA while UXGA is for large format graphics. The best way to make a choice for a projector is to buy one that matches the number of screen pixels on the laptop that will be driving the computer.

Check for the luminosity of the projector. Luminosity is the amount of light that is projected on the screen, i.e., the brightness. It is measured through an international unit, lumens. The higher the luminosity, the brighter and more visible is the projected image; while the greater the distance between the projector and the screen, the more lumens that is required for a clear image. If most of your will be made while on the road, it is better to buy a small and lightweight projector that weighs between 6 and 10 pounds. There are also another smaller version of projector called ultra portables available that weighs between 2 and 6 pounds. When travelling, remember to get a good, sturdy case to keep the projector safe.

When buying the projector, make sure that it has connectors that are compatible with the laptop you plan to use. Check the VGA, S-Video, RCA and the number of pins on the interface cables. If required, all this information is found on the ?full specifications? part of the projector information. There are two main projection technologies of projectors: LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and DLP (Digital Light Processing). Most of the projectors are of either technology. Recently, there has been a new projector technology called LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon) that is emerging as an alternative to DLP and LCD. LCD is the oldest and most widely used technology of the three. However, DLP is a new technology that has made great strides in five years to challenge the LCD market. LCOS is the newest technology to surface in the projector industry and is considered a hybrid between LCD and DLP technology.

When buying a projector, make sure to get a good warranty on the projector. There are several types of warranties available. The repair or replace warranty is the best warranty offered by most manufactories. If the projector is not working, the company sends over technicians to fix it. However, if it cannot be fixed, then the manufacturer replaces the projector with a new one. The return to base warranty is a warranty where if the data projector is not working, it is returned to the manufacturer. He repairs it in 2 to 3 weeks, or perhaps longer, depending on the availability of spares. The swap out warranty is a good, but rare warranty. Here a technician determines the problem of the projector over the phone, wherein you send it to the manufacturer to fix it. In return, they send you a loaner projector to be used till yours is being repaired. The loaner projector is usually supplied the next day, which has to be returned on receipt of your repaired projector. The dead on arrival warranty is warranty projector manufacturers give to protect you if the new projector does not work on its first usage. Then the manufacturer replaces the projector with a new model projector. Most lamp warranties of projectors last from 30 days to 6 months. If you are going to frequently use the projector, then it is better to buy a projector with a good lamp warranty.

You could consider buying a wireless projector as it makes your workspace tidier, less confusing and the signal loss through cabling is not a problem. Wireless projectors allow you to switch between multiple PC servers easily and better mobility in the room without the fear of tripping over wires! The room in which the presentation is to be made too is vital for deciding on the right projector to give a clearly projected image. Larger rooms needs projectors with more lumens to reach the screen with enough brightness. The lighting in the room too is important. Consider how much light the audience will need, i.e. if they will only be listening to the presentation or be taking notes too.