Before You Buy a Portable Projector

It’s important to consider the brightness levels that the projector provides. Brightness levels are measured in ANSI lumens. For small rooms 1000 to 1100 lumens is the minimum and these work in darkness or moderate light. For large rooms such as large conference rooms, small auditoriums with more ambient light, 1500 lumens or more is required. Mobile projectors with higher lumens rating are best for mobile workers as it gives them the ability to use the projector in a wider variety of settings.

It's important to note you should check what connection options are available with portable projectors. As with anything, the more connections options you have available - the better. Cables which you should have are a VGA cable, composite video cable, S-Video cable and M1-A connection. the M1-A connection combines a DVI connector with USB. Ethernet and USB ports on the portable projector should also be considered.

Portable projectors that include CompactFlash slots are very beneficial for mobile workers. The inclusion of a CompactFlash slot enables you to either run a presentation from a CF card or a wireless connectivity to the projector with an 802.11 CF card. Some portable projectors are available with multi flash memory readers which of course provides the widest range of options and benefits to mobile workers.

Remote controls enable you to control and make adjustments to a presentation from a distance. Some portable projectors may also have remotes which can control the mouse on a PC or laptop. These may require an additional cable connection to work. Whenever possible try the remotes before making your purchase to ensure ease of use and how responsive the controls are. The smaller and more compact a remote is does not always mean it will work the best.

Always check the dimensions and weight of portable projectors as there are cases where the term "portable" is used but the actual projector including cables and other accessories can weigh in excess of 7lbs. The ideal portable projectors should weigh less than 4lbs and be compact to fit in a laptop carrying case securely. Take your laptop case with you when looking at portable projectors and try packing them with your other gear. Ensure that you can fit all your mobile gear safely and securely.