There are thousands of projector models on the market today. Not all projectors are created to accomplish the same goal. Before shopping for a projector, you need to know what you are planning to use it for. What you want from a business projector and what you want from a gaming projector are going to be completely different things. The truth is that a gaming or a cinema projector can work in the business environment. However, they are not specifically tailored for it.
Another thing you need to consider is the spacing. If you are giving a presentation in a small room, you are going to be working with limited space. A regular projector won’t suffice. This is where ultra short throw projectors can compensate by allowing you to projector a wider image at a shorter distance.
In this guide we’re going to get into the nitty gritty of all the different components of projector technical considerations.
What to Look for in Native Resolution.
Native resolution describes the number of pixels a projector uses to create an image. The higher the number of pixels, the higher the resolution. When you purchase a projector, you will see that the resolution is usually quoted in two numbers, such as 1920 x 1200. The first number tells you how many pixels are going to be across the screen horizontally. The second number tells you the number of pixels from the bottom to the top.
In a business environment, how high of a resolution do you need? This depends on what you are going to be projecting. The higher the resolution, the more complex picture detail will be seen. The higher the resolution, the more accurate the image detail will be and the less visible the pixels themselves will be. However, higher resolution projectors do cost more.
Lower resolution projectors that have a sufficiently high lumen count are able to present attractive images. If you are going to be primarily displaying PowerPoint images with text or non-complicated imagery, then from a cost perspective, a lower-cost projector with lower resolution will be exactly what you need.
The standard for projector resolution is 1080P. This may be right for you if you are showing large financial spreadsheets or if you business is a design firm that uses your projector to display detailed architectural schematics. A 1080P projector may also be a good idea if you intend on using your projector in your business as well as at home in your home theater.
Determining the Brightness Level.
The brightness of the image created by your projector is measured in ANSI lumens. The brighter the projector’s image, the higher the lumen rating. Right now, you can purchase an inexpensive projector that has 1500 lm. This is considered to be on the low end of the spectrum. A projector with this lumen rating may provide a decent image in a dark room. However, if you are using your projector in an office environment where there will be a lot of ambient light, this projector will likely be too dull. On the other side of the spectrum, there are projectors that offer 5000 lm ratings.
If you are projecting images in a relatively small room with little ambient light, a projector this powerful would be overwhelming. It could negatively affect the eyes of the individuals viewing your presentation. When selecting a business projector based on lumen rating, you need to consider the subject matter you are going to display and the amount of light in the room.
There are two factors that are going to determine how bright the projected image appears. One that we have discussed is the lumen rating of the projector. The other is the reflectivity of the screen. A screen’s reflectivity is referred to as its gain. Some screens are designed to reflect light back to the center viewing position, whereas others will focus light away from the center out to the edge of the viewing position. Knowing the gain rating of your screen is going to help you when selecting the right business projector.
Having a Variety of Inputs.
This is where you are going to see the biggest difference between a projector for business and a projector for home use. A projector that’s designed for gaming or for cinema is going to have inputs specifically designed for media devices. So your home theater projector may have two or three HDMI inputs. It may have multiple display ports and a variety of audio inputs. However, it may lack USB inputs, VGA inputs, SD card inputs, or other inputs specifically designed to connect computers or storage devices.
Conversely, a business projector is going to have inputs that a person carrying around data in a storage device is going to need. So you may just have one HDMI input but multiple VGA inputs or USB inputs. Business projectors are usually Wi-Fi compatible and will usually allow you to cast information from your telephone to the projector.
Size.
Here again, we are going to see a difference between a gaming or a cinema projector and one that’s used for business. When a person uses a projector in their home, it’s usually stationary. This means that the projector can be a little bit heavier and a little bit larger because the homeowner is not going to move it.
However, most business projectors are designed to be small and lightweight. It is not uncommon for a professional to go to a business presentation and have their own projector with them. Some business projectors come with built in batteries that allow individuals to use it for a couple of hours, even if there is no available power outlet. This is a feature that is not commonly seen in projectors used for home theaters.
A business projector may have a speaker, but since most business presentations do not rely on sound, the speaker is going to be of poor quality. Conversely, there are some nice gaming projectors that have qualities speakers designed to enhance gaming performance.
In this short guide, we have just scratched the surface of the features you will want to consider when selecting a projector for business/professional use. What factors do you consider when choosing a projector for business? Let us know in the comments section below.
