Finding the Perfect Computer Projector for Your Power Point Presentation

If you need to purchase a power point projector for an upcoming presentation or deadline, time is of the essence and with all the technical jargon and options, this task can really seem overwhelming. We hope this article will meet your needs for some simple and basic information to help in your power point projector search. When searching for your presentation projector, you will often come across the basic terms you learn about in this article, but now you will have the understanding to make a solid decision. 

When an image is projected, it is made up of a quantity of dots of light called pixels. Your laptop or video source determines the resolution and if you are going to upgrade soon, you may wish to pick an LCD projector with a high resolution. 

Resolutions generally come in 3 basic flavors, going from past to present they include VGA (640×480), SVGA (800×600) and XGA (1,024×768). XGA is currently very prominent with new projectors, however with presentation graphics an SVGA resolution may suffice. One can even venture into the really high end resolutions such as SXGA and UXGA, (1,280 x 1,024) and (1600 x 1200) respectively. This ultra high-end resolution comes with a high price tag.  Someone who is multi lingual, may be fluent in several languages yet they are most fluent in their native language which is often their first language. It’s the same way for projectors regarding resolution. Many projectors can operate at several resolutions but they are optimized to operate at their native resolution. 

Measured in Lumens, brightness is a very important specification to consider in your projector search, especially when looking for a portable projector to make presentations on the go in often less than ideal locations.  Lumens refers to the intensity of the generated light, so if you are going to be using the projector for a large audience or in a sunny room, the higher the lumens should be. If you plan on making your presentation in a fully or semi lit room or just a huge venue for a large audience, you will need a very bright high lumen projector, something on the order of 4000 lumens or more.  With a small audience and a very dark room, you could get by with just 1,000 lumens. The term ANSI lumens refers to a uniform standard of measuring lumens. 

The term “throw distance” is also a common one in projector speak, it simply means the distance that is the optimal placement for a projector from the screen.  Projectors that reside significantly further than 15 feet away from the screen  typically have long throw or large throw lenses. For power point projector presentations, short throw projectors can be advantageous because you can place them at the front of the room near the screen (behind the presenter) and make your presentation without any obtrusive shadows on the screen or distracting projector lamps glaring at you.

Connectivity is very important when interfacing your computer to a projector. Making sure that you have compatibility is important to someone who does power point projector presentations. Be sure that the resolution of both the projector and your laptop are compatible, ideally the same. Most of the time this is not an issue. None the less, be sure that regardless what kind of projector you purchase that it has all the cords and other port attachments that you’ll need.  

When you look at a variety of projectors with your needs in mind, you can make an informed decision. For instance, eBay can be a great source for deals on both new and refurbished projectors. Armed with the basic knowledge, you are ready to go and find a great deal on the perfect power point projector for your needs.