Projectors Tips for Classrooms

These days as technology continues to expand and projectors become cheaper, many classrooms and auditoriums are starting to buy projectors for educational purposes. Projectors are ideal to have in the classroom as they are the most versatile when compared to chalk boards and white boards. Because most schools constantly find themselves on a tight budget or short on funds, we'd like to give you a few tips to give you're projector the best bang for your dollar.

First off, for use in a classroom you are going to need a bright, high-contrast projector that everybody in the room is going to see. The typical ANSI lumens recommended for a K-12 classroom is 800-1500, for universities and auditoriums you would want something around 2000-2500 lumens. When looking for the ideal contrast ratio needed for your classroom, it all depends on what you will be using your projector for. A contrast ratio of 500:1 is plenty if you are simply displaying text documents, power point presentations, or other static image data. However if you are going to be displaying video content, you are going to want something with a much higher contrast ratio.

The next thing you are going to want to consider for your projector is the resolution. Obviously it would be a waste of money to buy a full 1080p projector for use in a classroom, but just what is a good resolution? The typical SVGA (800x600) resolution is perfect for nearly all K-12 classrooms and will save you money when compared to buying higher resolution XGA or SXGA projectors. Also buying higher resolution projectors will less light output for the same price.

You should also consider the weight of the projector you are looking to buy. Some projectors weigh as little as 5 pounds, and while extremely convenient these come at an additional price. For classroom use, unless you plan to constantly move your projector, a heavier and bulkier projector will work just as well and can be less expensive. Selecting a projector that weighs about 20 lbs will give you reasonable portability and will save you money compared to the much lighter designs.

You should also pay attention to the bulb life of the projector you are looking at buying. Projector bulbs can cost upwards of $200 to replace and most projectors have a bulb life of about 3,000 hours. It may also be beneficial to run your projector in economy mode to preserve bulb life.

Short term Projector Rentals are also great for classroom-like settings where you are traveling to give a presentation in a conference room or auditorium.

Extend Bulb Life

Today’s projectors burn out after about 2000 hours of use and with an average bulb price being $350 don’t you think that you should try and get all 2000 hours out of your bulb. Well here is some easy tips to remember when using your projector to extend your project bulb life.

• Operate your projector in a clean dust-free environment.

• Keep your projectors air filter clean. Make sure to clean your projectors air intake filter ever three to six months. This varies on the amount of dust in your room.

• Keep the exhaust vent at least 2 feet away from any object. If your exhaust intake does not have adequate clearance, you risk the chance of your projector overheating.

• When replacing the bulb or handling the bulb do not use your naked hands/fingers, use gloves. Even the slightest bit of oil on the bulb can cause it to blow due to a hotspot forming on the bulb.

• Use “Lamp Economy Mode” whenever possible. If you use this feature you can see as high as a 50% increase in lamp life with only a 20% reduction in brightness.

• Do not unplug your projector until your projector has cooled off for 5 minutes. Hot Bulbs are very fragile and the vibration caused by movement can break the lamps filament.

• Once your projector goes off, do not turn it back on for at least an hour. A bulb must be stone cold when you start it, or the projector will send to much voltage early in the heat-up cycle, and you will drastically shorten the bulb life.

• Do not shake or jostle your projector. Projectors are sensitive to these types of movements, especially when the projector is on.

• Do not turn a projector on in cold weather. If it is 40 degrees or below, your projector lamp will have a tendency to explode if you turn it on immediately. Same goes for hot temperatures. Never leave your projector in a car on a hot or cold day!

Sports Bar and Restaurant Projector Tips

Sports bars and restaurants have always been a place where people go to relax and enjoy a sports game live on a big screen. Big screen bring excitement to local bars and apart from other establishments who have several small screens where many people have to strain their eyes just to see.

One of the best options to bring the big screen to a sports bar today is a projector. Projectors are sleek, lightweight, easy to install, and project stunning native 1080p high definition video. Here are some easy and quick tips to help install a new projector in your bar or restaurant.


Projector Resolution

There is not a whole lot of options as far as aspect ratio's. You can choose between the cost effective 4:3 resolution projector or the high quality 1080p widescreen 16:9 HD projector. When you are choosing for projects like this we recommend never going any lower than an XGA 1024x768 standard 4:3 resolution. At this level you are looking at a decent picture at an extreme low cost. If you go any smaller resolution will start to produce a grainy image.

For people looking for top quality, you will want a HD 1920x1080p resolution projector. These kinds of projectors create truly a stunning image. Prices are also going down on HD projectors due to the market becoming very competitive.

Projector Brightness

One of the most important things to consider in your primary viewing areas is the amount of lighting that is in that area. A good thing to look at when looking for a place to put your projector is a place that had controlled lighting. Controlled lighting will save you money and space. If you are capable of dimming your viewing area when you want to project an image, you won't have to purchase a super bright projector which will cost more and be larger in size.

When thinking of screen size make sure to properly light it with the correct amount of lumens. For screens smaller than 80 inches diagonal, 1000-2000 lumens is recommended. For screens that are 80-120 inches diagonal, 2000-35000 would be adequate, and 120 inches + would need a projector that has 3500 or more lumens. Of course you would need to take in consideration the ambient light of the room, which is why a controllable light source makes things so much easier.

Smoking Rooms

If your business if going to allow smoking indoors make sure to pay special attention to what type of projector you are buying because some manufacturers may not honor the warranty in a smoky environment as sometimes smoke may cause damage to the system. Your best choice is to buy a DLP projector as they are more resistant to smoke damage.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a white projector screen can sometimes become stained from constant smoke exposure which can then distort the color of your projected image. Your best bet is to either project on a grey screen or on a wall if possible.

You Should Ignore Projector Contrast Specs

Now you may be asking yourself just why you should ignore the contrast specifications when looking at projectors. Well the answer is quite simple. They don't tell very much if anything at all about what kind of picture you should expect to see on the screen, and they say even less about how one model will compare to another. While vendors aren't posting distorted or false specs to try to make the projector seem better, its just that the contrast ratio is the least informative spec on the sheet.

Why Are Projector Contrast Ratios Worthless?

• First and foremost, contrast ratios for projectors are not measured on the same basis and are influenced largely by many unstated variables. One of the most significant factors to consider are the projectors operational differences. Some projectors have dynamic irises that open and close to adapt to the amount of light that needs to be projected depending on a given scene. Others have color wheels with white segments that are turned off when dark colors are displayed and other projectors don't have any of these features. Because of this there is little to no basis of comparison between projectors.
  
  
• There is another equally if not more important factor to consider that is often ignored on the projector spec sheet, and its known as gray scale. Imagine if you will you had a project that produces the highest contrast ratio on the market. Imagine it produced the darkest and deepest black you've ever seen and some of the most brilliant whites. Sounds nice doesn't it? Now imagine that this projector couldn't distinguish between subtle shades of gray. It would surely produce a horrible picture that you would have never expected by just looking at the contrast ratio.
  
  
• When manufacturers measure contrast ratios for their machines they use special dark rooms with no ambient light to measure the contrast ratio. Unless you have a totally black room your own perception of contrast will not be nearly the same. Any amount of light that reflects in your room will cause the contrast ratio to drop in your projector. This light may come from light reflected from the projector screen, ambient light in the room such as windows that let in light, or light leaks from the projectors vents.
  
  
• Another important factor to consider is the lumen output of the projector itself which will have an impact on how you perceive the contrast ratios. If you've got ambient light in your room one of the easiest ways to help solve this problem is to use a projector with higher lumen output. This is because light in the room defines the minimum black level, while lumen output from the projector determines the brightness of the highlights. In many situations it is often the projectors lumen output responsible for the range between the black and white on the screen and not the contrast ratio. However, there is a limit to how many lumens you should use. Using an extremely bright projector in a dark room will undoubtedly strain your eyes and give you a headache. Rapid transition from dark scenes to bright scenes that can often be distracting and painful.
  

Should I Get a Screen for My Projector?

The quick answer is that most projectors are perfectly fine and produce a satisfying image on a plain white wall. However, those who want the best possible looking image will opt for a screen. In this HD driven market, high definition projectors are becoming cheaper and giving the consumer a few more dollars to ensure that their projector is producing the best image possible. But the question remains. Just how much will the image benefit from getting a screen?

Originally screens were developed to reflect more light from the projector and increase the brightness of the image. Today, projectors that are less than 1000 lumens are no longer being developed for business purposes and are even less common in home theater projectors. Currently white matte screens are the most popular type of screen keeping a bright, clear, and all around easy to see picture which works extremely well with already bright machines.

In home theater systems, gray screens have become all the rave because they improve contrast ratios providing deeper blacks, brighter whites, and richer colors. These screens also work extremely well in rooms where there is a small amount of ambient light as they will reflect less glare. Gray screens also minimize the appearance of the spaces in between pixels, which are black, and occur in both LCD and DLP projectors.

While there is no significant price difference between a gray screen or a white matte screen, they are both designed for completely different environments, room configurations, and projectors. When considering the two, it may be best to consult a projector expert who can help determine which screen would most benefit you.

Top five home theater projectors

A recent C-net article showed the top ten home theater projectors out on the market today. Even though you have to turn off the lights for these, you get in turn a 100-inch or larger television set any where in your house you decide to set it up. These projectors might not be cheap, but they come with the full 1080p quality of any HD television.


Sony VPL-VW200
Rating 8.7 Excellent
Price $10,420 - $15,000

This 1080p projector delivers one of the best pictures of any projectors on the market today.This projector is as good as it is going to get, but comes with a hefty price tag.

Sharp XV-Z2000
Rating 8.3 Excellent
Price $6,879 - $8,000

Sharp's XV-Z2000 is a top performer amoung 1080p projectors, and combine that with its sleek design makes this a great buy.

Marantz VP11S1
Rating 8.0 Excellent
Price $8,000

The Marantz VP11S1 produces a very sharp and defined picture. The projector shows an accurate color decoding and comes with an excellent feature package.

Sony VPL-VW100
Rating 8.0 Excellent
Price $4,000 - $5,000

The VPL-VW100 is one of the lowest priced 1080p projectors on the market . The project can reproduce deep black levels and comes with numerous picture tweaking options.

BenQ W10000
Rating 8.0 Excellent
Price $3,729

The BenQ-W10000 comes with a great lamp meaning larger screen sizes. It also comes with a solid feature package and a overall crisp and clean image.

A home theater projector is a great buy for someone who wants to get that movie theater feel at there house. These projectors come with great quality, but at a high price. I would love to see projectors like this come down to a more reasonable price someday. If you are looking to buy a projector like these above I would recommend doing a little more research, visit some forums, google a little about them, and just find one that is right for you.

best of luck
Mike

Samsung Showcases New Micro Projector

Samsung has taken the next step in innovative mobile technology and has created the MBP Micro Projector. This little gadget projects a 10 ansi lumen beam and comes in a box measuring 2.8x2.8x2.1 inches, about the size of a cigarette pack, and produces an image that can reach up to 50" in size.

The MPB 100 has an approximate battery life of 3 hours and can run the length of a movie before needing to be recharged. These Micro Projectors have already become available in South Korea and the model is expected to reach Europe and the United States soon with a $200-$300 price tag.

Heres a video to see the Samsung MBP Micro Projector in action.

New Projector Technologies

New Projector Technologies are Now Available For Use In Projector Rentals

• DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu Ray players are currently being integrated straight into traditional LCD projectors. These technologies are now available and widely used during conventions, tradeshows, conferences and events for their enhanced picture quality and overall ability to attract large audiences.
  


• New Wireless Projectors are using 802.11g Technology which allow a computer user to wirelessly connect to PDA's, laptops, and computers, and display information from these computers onto a video or projector screen. This technology also has the ability to connect with one PC to many Projectors, and many computers to one projector offering a wide variety of display and presentation techniques.
  


• Large Venue Projectors are now available for cases when large audiences and venue sizes demand the most powerful projectors on the market. When displaying an image to a large audiences, on average it is recommended that a projector display 4500 to 25000 Lumens, depending on the magnitude, scale, and setting of your presentation.
  

If interested, all of these technologies listed above are also available in a Projector Rental.

High Definition Projectors - 1080p

Projectors are now following the latest trends of High Definition Media and many HD projectors are now available to the consumer at prices previously unheard of. High Definition projectors feature a resolution of 1920x1080 and all bring with it Full High Definition 1080p meaning they will look amazing when compared to a standard 800x600 SVGA projector.

When looking to buy a high definition projector, there are many various performance features and characteristics you should consider.

The first and most important aspect of a projector that everyone will notice the instant you power it up is the Sharpness and Clarity of High Definition Images. Something that must be taken into consideration is that it will be hard to compare image quality unless the source is from a 1080p format such as HD DVD, Blu-ray, or other equivalent. If a standard non-HD image is used for comparison, it will be nearly impossible to tell the difference between HD projectors. A HD projector that cannot fully handle a HD image will have an apparent softness, and the image will have a slightly blurry or cloudy look to it as well as display digital noise.

Other characteristics of a projector that should be considered before purchase is the Contrast Ratio, Lumen Output, Deinterlacing, Black Level, Zoom lens, Lens shift, Connectivity and Compatibility, Audible fan noise, warranty, and of course the price.

By taking all of these 1080p High Definition Projector Tips into consideration, and determining which features are most important to you, then you will will be completely satisfied with whatever purchase you decide to make.

---

Looking for a Projector Rental for your next event? Then call 800-736-8772 today.

3 Projector Rental Tips

There are a few things to keep in mind when renting a projector.

The most important thing to remember when renting a projector is that you need to match the brightness of your projector with the size of your room and audience. The brightness of a projector is measured in lumens as described in an earlier post. Most projectors range from about 1000 lumens to 5000 lumens. A 1000 lumen projector is very practical for giving presentations in some ambient light. A 5000 lumen projector would be used for large events like conventions and trade shows where there may be up to a thousand people viewing.

Another important thing to keep in mind is the portability of your projector. The more lumens your projector has, the less portable it is. High lumen projectors are often larger and weigh more leading to less portability.

The last thing to think about when renting your projector is whether to get a LCD projector or a DLP projector. In general, you will be making a decision between full motion video and static data. If you are presenting video with your projector then DLP is the way to go. If you are presenting a powerpoint or detailed spreadsheets, then LCD should be your pick.

Interested in renting a projector? Check out our DLP Projector Rental page or our LCD Projector Rental page.

Wireless Projectors - The Future is Here

A few decades ago there's little doubt that a wireless video projector had never been envisioned. Now that wireless projectors are here, there can be little doubt that this is the standard that all future portable projectors will need to live up to.

Wireless projectors work using 802.11 technology. IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for wireless local area network (WLAN) communication, usually referred to as just 802.11, or perhaps more commonly known as "Wi-Fi". Some other common Wi-Fi enabled devices include PCs, game consoles, cell phones, MP3 players and PDAs.

In the case of wireless projectors however, they are most commonly used in conjunction with a laptop, used to control and send the media the projector is to display. The obvious benefit of this duo is the portability and the ease of setup. The combined weight of a laptop and an Ultraportable Wireless Projector is less than 20 pounds, so it's as easy as carrying them in the door, setting them down, and turning on your laptop to begin with a presentation. The future is here, and it works without wires.

Final Four Projector Rentals

The Final Four is rapidly approaching, the semifinalists facing off this Saturday night; North Carlina will play Kansas, and Memphis will play UCLA. The victor of each game will compete against one another Monday, April 7th in San Antonio for the title of best college basketball team in the United States.

What better way to enjoy the game than an Ultra-Portable Projector Rental from RentOurProjectors.com? Invite your friends over, procure some drinks, chips, and dip, and kick back to watch the game in true bigscreen format.

RentOurProjectors.com stocks a full variety of projectors: Large Venue Projectors, Wireless Projectors, DLP Projectors, LCD Projectors, and DVD Projectors. Call today at 877-422-1907 to book your rush delivery Final Four Projector Rental.

5 Projector Usage Tips

Here are a few tips to help keep your projector running at its best.

1. Have your equipment powered down before connecting any cables. A signal cable carries a current while powered on and a sudden difference in electrical current can potentially burn out the projector lamp or cause other damage to projector components.

2. Use economy mode whenever possible. If your using a projector that has over 2000 lumens (a term used to describe the brightness of the projector), it usually has some sort of economy mode. If the event does not require full projector brightness use this mode to extend lamp life. Economy mode will lower the amount of lumens to save power and lengthen lamp life.

3. Avoid moving the projector as much as possible while it is powered on. The lamp, along with various other projector components, are sensitive to shakes or bumps. Any significant trauma could damage the projector and or lamp.

4. Do not unplug the projector after powering down. The cooling fan will continue to run in order to cool the lamp after shutting down the projector. It is recommended to keep it plugged in for at least another 3 minutes, doing otherwise could shorten the lamp's life or even damage the lamp.

5. Clean your projector. Dust is the bane of projectors when allowed to collect in the filter or on the lens. A microfiber cloth works well for cleaning the lens. If dust collects on the filter it will block the filter and decrease air flow which can affect the projector's cooling and can shorten lamp life.

You will have noticed in these tips that we pay special attention to preserving the life of the lamp. The reason for this is because the lamp is the most crucial part of the projector, and as such, is the most expensive component to replace. Projector costs have gone down significantly in the past few years, but replacement lamps have not. Lamps can cost up to $400 so you can see why it might be important to conserve as much lamp life as possible.

How SVGA, XGA, SXGA and UXGA Differ

A common question many people ask when looking for projectors is "What is SVGA, XGA, SXGA and UXGA" and "Which kind should I get". The type of projector you will be looking to buy depends on what you will need to do with your projector. In making this kind of decision its good to know the differences between each type so you can make the best choice.

In short these abbreviations are the main standards of resolution. A resolution is the number of pixels that the projector will be capable of displaying. Pixels are essentially small squares that make up an image, and the more pixels you have, the sharper and less blocky the image will be when viewing.

The following is the Standard Resolution of each type.

• SVGA - Resolution: 800 * 600 - Total Pixels: 480,000
• XGA - Resolution: 1024 * 768 - Total Pixels: 768,000
• SXGA - Resolution: 1280 * 1024 - Total Pixels: 1,311,000
• UXGA - Resolution: 1600 * 1200 - Total PIxels: 1,920,000

When buying a projector not only is important to note the resolution as this will affect the overall quality of the picture, but you must also make sure that your computer will be compatible with the projector.

For example, if your computer is trying to send information to a projector that is XGA, and your projector has a SVGA resolution then this could cause some problems. You will still see an image but you will not get the clearest picture because of compatibility issues.