The development that both televisions and projectors have experienced over the last decade has been surprising. In the previous ten years the image quality of both devices has improved a lot, and, besides, its price has dropped significantly, so nowadays we can find both teles and projectors at very affordable prices. And, also, if our budget is relatively low, we do not have to settle for a mediocre device. There are cheap and high-quality proposals.
If you're determined to get a last-minute TV, do not miss our definitive guide to buying a TV in 2014, but if you can buy a projector that allows you to experience similar sensations at home, They offer movie theaters, keep reading.
Before delving into the universe of the latest generation of projectors, it is worthwhile for us to pause for a moment to evaluate the advantages that TVs have, and, of course, also those offered by projection devices. After all, that we choose one or the other must be conditioned by our needs and resources (we will go deeper into these factors later on). However, it is rare to have only one projector at home, so the usual thing is that whoever decides to get one already has, at least, a television.
In these circumstances, the idea is to use one or the other depending on the content we want to enjoy at each moment and the experience in which we want to immerse ourselves. In any case, if you're going to install a new TV or a projector in your living room, it will be good to keep these characteristics in mind:
The set-up of television is more straightforward. This does not mean that a projector is more challenging to use, but it is clear that its installation is more complicated, especially if we need to install it on the roof, an operation that will require us to buy additional support. Although some TVs and some projectors come pretty well calibrated at the factory, generally if we want to get the most out of them, we will have to calibrate them ourselves. And, usually, it is more complicated to adjust a projector to the millimeter than to tune a television. It is worth taking into account.
The maintenance of television is more economical. If our TV does not give any problem, we can use it for several years without investing in it a single additional euro. However, the projectors require that we change the lamp from time to time. It is not easy to specify its duration because it depends on the model of projector, the type of light, the adjustment of the brightness that we use, the frequency of use, etc., but, as an indication, they usually last between 800 and 1,500 hours. After that time we will have to change it, and that often represents an expense that ranges between 200 and 400 euros.
The start-up of television is faster. When we want to use it, we have to press the button on the remote control and wait no more than 3 or 4 seconds. Also, a TV is virtually immune to the light present in the room. However, a projector will force us to wait longer than a TV until the lamp reaches the optimum operating temperature (usually ranging between 10 and 30 seconds). In addition, it will typically also require that we reduce the light present in the room by lowering the blinds and turning off the lights, which often prevents compatibility of viewing the contents with other activities for which it is necessary to have at least a little light (I doubt that this bothers someone, but it is not wrong to take it into account).
And we conclude this section by analyzing the cost/inch. It is not easy to specify because in the market we can currently find televisions and projectors of very different prices, but, grosso modo, the cost/inch ratio favors the teles until reaching, approximately, 46 inches. Above that size, the projectors stand out better. And, as the diagonal increases, the price of teles is shot up to reach unaffordable values for most of us, while for less than 900 euros we can do with a full HD projector range of input capable of delivering images with a maximum size of 300 inches (we are preparing a post with several models that do not exceed that cost).
Wednesday, 3 April 2019
Projector Gives Better Experience Than a TV
When selling a projector, it is necessary to take into consideration various elements, such as Resolution, Brightness (Lumens) and Contrast, among several others. The first one refers to the number of pixels available to form the image. The higher the resolution of a projector, the more pixels it has. The decision is traditionally presented in the "Width x Height" format, such as 1280 x 720 (1280 pixels wide by 720 pixels high). However, many brands refer to their equipment with the designations 720p (or HD, High Definition) or 1080p (Full HD, Full High Definition). In these cases, the number refers to the vertical resolution, while the "p" means "progressive-scan" (progressive scan or progressive scan). Other standard resolutions are SVGA (800x600 pixels) and XGA (1024x768 pixels).
Generally speaking, the higher the resolution, the more expensive the equipment. The advantages of higher resolutions (HD or Full HD) are that they can show more details in the image (assuming that the video signal has such information), and that they reduce (or eliminate) the visibility of the pixel structure. Both are very desirable in a good home theater, but not necessarily in a classroom.
The second factor is Brightness (also known as "lighting power" or "brightness"), measured in ANSI Lumens (Lumens). Your choice will depend on the application because, in case of projecting in huge screens, very bright environments or where there is a lot of distance between the projector and the surface to be expected, a model with higher brightness is required.
On the other hand, Contrast refers to the difference in brightness between the brightest and darkest parts in an image. In general, for presentations and other "traditional" business and educational applications, Contrast is rather a secondary concern, but in a Home Theater system, its role is very relevant, because a projector with high levels of contrast produces an image with deep black levels and a very defined detail of the shadows. In other words, it gives "depth" to the video images, which is not required when a Powerpoint is being presented.
With the advancement of technology, the projectors have been gaining in functionality. For example, many projectors already include the ability to project content from a flash drive or Flash memory, without requiring a PC connection. Similarly, connectivity has become a factor of great importance when choosing one of these teams.
In this sense, in the mid- and top-range projectors (especially in stationary models), Ethernet ports (RJ-45) have been popularized, allowing them to be connected and controlled from a LAN network. Currently, in addition to the "venerable" VGA, Composite Video and S-Video inputs, we can find HDMI inputs to simplify the connection without sacrificing image quality. Some can even use their USB ports for PC input.
Another aspect of the connectivity in which much progress has been made is wireless technologies. Thanks to the rise of wireless standards (such as 802.11 or Wireless USB), many projectors incorporate adapters of this type, allowing to control them from a wireless network. Others include technologies specialized in the wireless transmission of audiovisual content, such as "Wireless HDMI," which are still in the process of standardization.
Nowadays, portability is an essential attribute, especially in the business world, where you can not always take the client to a presentation. Then, to bring the introduction to the client, the manufacturers of projectors have launched a range of "ultraportable" models, also known as "pico projectors" or "handheld projectors." These projectors are compact in size (even some fit in the palm of your hand), ultra-short throw and low brightness, are designed to enhance the new generation of mobile devices (such as ultrabooks, tablets, smart-phones and cameras), providing a Quick and convenient way to present the content of these on any surface, such as walls and notebooks.
In short, when facing a project that includes the sale of a video projector, make sure you know the client's requirements well, including those elements that the user usually ignores or considers "unimportant." As we have seen, there is a projector for each project, and the business is in knowing how to identify it.
Generally speaking, the higher the resolution, the more expensive the equipment. The advantages of higher resolutions (HD or Full HD) are that they can show more details in the image (assuming that the video signal has such information), and that they reduce (or eliminate) the visibility of the pixel structure. Both are very desirable in a good home theater, but not necessarily in a classroom.
The second factor is Brightness (also known as "lighting power" or "brightness"), measured in ANSI Lumens (Lumens). Your choice will depend on the application because, in case of projecting in huge screens, very bright environments or where there is a lot of distance between the projector and the surface to be expected, a model with higher brightness is required.
On the other hand, Contrast refers to the difference in brightness between the brightest and darkest parts in an image. In general, for presentations and other "traditional" business and educational applications, Contrast is rather a secondary concern, but in a Home Theater system, its role is very relevant, because a projector with high levels of contrast produces an image with deep black levels and a very defined detail of the shadows. In other words, it gives "depth" to the video images, which is not required when a Powerpoint is being presented.
With the advancement of technology, the projectors have been gaining in functionality. For example, many projectors already include the ability to project content from a flash drive or Flash memory, without requiring a PC connection. Similarly, connectivity has become a factor of great importance when choosing one of these teams.
In this sense, in the mid- and top-range projectors (especially in stationary models), Ethernet ports (RJ-45) have been popularized, allowing them to be connected and controlled from a LAN network. Currently, in addition to the "venerable" VGA, Composite Video and S-Video inputs, we can find HDMI inputs to simplify the connection without sacrificing image quality. Some can even use their USB ports for PC input.
Another aspect of the connectivity in which much progress has been made is wireless technologies. Thanks to the rise of wireless standards (such as 802.11 or Wireless USB), many projectors incorporate adapters of this type, allowing to control them from a wireless network. Others include technologies specialized in the wireless transmission of audiovisual content, such as "Wireless HDMI," which are still in the process of standardization.
Nowadays, portability is an essential attribute, especially in the business world, where you can not always take the client to a presentation. Then, to bring the introduction to the client, the manufacturers of projectors have launched a range of "ultraportable" models, also known as "pico projectors" or "handheld projectors." These projectors are compact in size (even some fit in the palm of your hand), ultra-short throw and low brightness, are designed to enhance the new generation of mobile devices (such as ultrabooks, tablets, smart-phones and cameras), providing a Quick and convenient way to present the content of these on any surface, such as walls and notebooks.
In short, when facing a project that includes the sale of a video projector, make sure you know the client's requirements well, including those elements that the user usually ignores or considers "unimportant." As we have seen, there is a projector for each project, and the business is in knowing how to identify it.
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