Projector Types

Making the decision to buy a projector is sometimes academic; literally so as the need for students to see the work of the teacher often times trumps all else in the group-learning theory of education practiced in public schools all over the United States. Sometimes though, the projector type matters for other reasons; you’ll want to make sure that your reasons are the right ones when selecting your projector type.

LCD or DLP?

There are a few things you need to get out of the way in selecting your projector type. First among these is format; are you operating in LCD or DLP? Before making this decision you need to understand what the formats distinctions are.

Standard LCD

LCD stands for liquid crystal display. These projectors are built with one panel of LCD glass which controls the three primary colors in the projector. Standard LCS is going the way of the Dodo as the other two types of projector gain more popularity.

Polysilicon LCD

Thought to be of higher quality than your standard LCD projector, the polysilicon LCD uses three panels which allow greater color mixture, thereby giving the color greater depth and texture.

DLP

DLP (digital light processing) is a type of projector which uses a single chip with thousands of tiny mirrors. The mirrors take the lamps light in and cast it out through the lens. If you’re using a DLP system you are using a system composed of hundreds of thousands of mirrors which take light from the lamp and take that light from the lens to the screen. This is a technology which is also known as DMD (digital mirror device). As the technology becomes easier, faster, better the DLP technology has become more common.

Once you’ve decided on the nature of your projection you need to figure your projector type. There are three broad categories unto which your projector may fall.

Ultra light (personal)

Designed for the road traveler, these lightweight projectors just keep getting smaller and slimmer. Typically weighing under ten pounds and as little as five pounds, ultra light projectors are created specifically for the mobile business world. Cables, remote controls, cases, and other items can add to the total weight so be sure to take all functions into account.

Conference Room

Conference room projectors are brighter and more adaptable to a larger room than the ultra light projectors. Many different models with different features for different price points are available. Conference room projectors, as their name indicates, are pretty well situated to stay in a room at best to move from room to room.

Fixed instillation

These are the best and usually biggest, most expensive, most impressive types of projectors, mounted in a permanent spot in an auditorium. Fixed instillation projectors are given mounting in ideal spots so they give the best picture.