Not all of us are AV or IT gurus — and that makes choosing the right projector a bit more complicated than many of us would like. Today projectors are brighter, lighter, and more feature-rich than ever before. And with so many projectors in the market, how does an ordinary person choose the correct one? The answer is actually a simple 1-2-3 process.

Step 1 - Understand Your Needs

It sounds so simple, but many people skip this step. Whether you are a single presenter buying for yourself or the sales manager buying for the entire sales team, it is vital that you take the time to consider how you will use the projector. Take a few minutes to answer the questions listed below — and remember to gather input from everyone who will use the projector. Your answers will help define your projector requirements.

Part I

This chart contains general questions to help you determine some of your projector requirements. Answer all questions by selecting the number that most closely reflects the truth of the statement:
1 = Not True, 3 = Somewhat True, and 5 = Very True.

1	I will travel frequently with the projector (carry).	1	2	3	4	5
2	I will ship the projector frequently.	1	2	3	4	5
3	I will give presentations with the lights on.	1	2	3	4	5
4	I will give presentations to small groups (1-10).	1	2	3	4	5
5	I will give presentations to medium groups (11-35).	1	2	3	4	5
6	I will give presentations to large groups (36-100).	1	2	3	4	5
7	I will give large venue presentations (100+).	1	2	3	4	5
8	I will give mainly PowerPoint presentations.	1	2	3	4	5
9	My presentations will include detailed graphics.	1	2	3	4	5
10	I will show video on a regular basis (VCR/DVD).	1	2	3	4	5
11	I will use sound on a regular basis.	1	2	3	4	5
12	I may want to do PC-free presentations.	1	2	3	4	5
13	I may want to network my projector.	1	2	3	4	5

Bonus Tip! You may want to print this chart and use it as a reminder of your projector requirements when you schedule an onsite demo.

Part II

Consider any special requirements you may have. For example, do you have any definite price limitations, warranty needs, or specific features?

Step 2 - Examine the General Features

Weight

Questions 1 and 2 are all about weight. Today projectors are as light as 3 pounds, and most are in the 6-12 pound range. When considering your weight "requirement", think about how often you will travel with the projector and in what capacity. For example, if you are buying projectors for a sales team who travels mostly by car, the difference between 4 and 6 pounds is probably insignificant. On the other hand, if most of the travel is done by air, the weight and footprint of a 3 pound projector probably means a great deal. Additionally, it is worth noting that most ultra-portable projectors (under 5 pounds) typically have fewer features than their slightly larger cousins. So by going smaller, you may have to compromise some of the other features you are seeking in a projector. There are, however, several ultra portable projectors, such as the Epson PowerLite 730p, that blend full-featured performance with a lightweight box.

Brightness

Questions 3-7 focus on how bright a projector needs to be in order to get the job done for you. If you will primarily present to small groups in well-lit rooms, you will probably need a projector with about 1000 ANSI lumens. However, if you will often present in large conference rooms, you will probably need a projector with at least 1500 ANSI lumens. And if you have even greater needs, there are many projectors out there with 3000+ ANSI lumens. The real key to determining how much brightness you need is establishing your common venue use.

Projector Placement

Once you determine your common venue and the necessary brightness, you may begin to consider projector placement. Where the projector is positioned has a big impact on the projected image. An image that is too small or too large for the screen does not look professional. So how do you determine the correct projector placement? Two important aspects of projector position are screen size and throw distance. See The Projector, The Screen, and the Space In Between for detailed information about how to position a projector correctly.

Resolution

Questions 8 and 9 refer to resolution, and this is a fairly easy question to answer. Resolution means the measurement of an image, given as the number of pixels high by the number of pixels wide. The more pixels, the better the image quality — it's that simple. Most projectors have 800x600 or 1024x768 resolution. Some have 1280x1024 resolution. The key in choosing a projector resolution is trying to match it to the computer with which it will be used. If the projector will be used with more than one laptop, it is best to select a projector with a resolution that matches the highest level of computer resolution. Of course, resolution is also tied to use. If you will present finely detailed graphics or intricate schematic drawings, a projector (as well as a laptop) with a higher resolution is ideal.

Multiple Inputs (Computer, Video, and Audio)

Questions 10 and 11 focus on your multimedia needs. If your presentations will contain a lot of sound or video, you need to make sure the projector has enough sound and video inputs. For example, assume you want to use a DVD player and a VCR in a single presentation. You must make sure you have two video inputs if you want the most seamless presentation. You also need multiple inputs if you plan to have multiple presenters (each with their own laptop). Of course, the projector should have good quality speakers and audio outputs so you can use external speakers or a conference room sound system. Conference room projectors, such as the Epson PowerLite 7700p, typically offer multiple video and audio inputs for media-rich presentations.

PC-Free Presenting

Question 12 refers to one of the newest innovations in projectors — the ability to present without a computer. Projectors like the Epson PowerLite 715c enable presenters to save their presentations to PC "smart cards". No more lugging along the laptop! Presenters just insert the smart card directly into the projector. See PC-Free Presenting with EasyMP™ for details about this fabulous feature.

Networking

Question 13 highlights another recent feature available on some conference room projectors — the ability to connect the projector to a network. What does this really mean? It means you can leave your laptop behind . . . you can retrieve files from your computer via the network by using the projector. Some network projectors, like the Epson PowerLite 8150i, allow you to show Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, including graphics and animation, and even surf the web with a built-in browser.

Step 3 - Schedule a Demonstration

Once you have solidified your true requirements, the next step is to contact a local projector reseller to request an onsite projector demonstration. If you have done your homework in advance, the reseller should be able to show you a range of projectors that meet your specifications. It is ideal to schedule an onsite demonstration so you test the possible projectors in the environment in which they will be used. And, just like other electronic products, a side-by-side comparison of the possible models is a great way to compare apples to apples.

With a little up-front work, some basic requirements analysis, and a full projector demonstration, you can be sure to find the projector best suited for your needs.