technology
reseller.co.uk
PROJECTORS
23
Projecting the right image
Mark Ivens explains how resellers can help customers choose the right projector
with 3,000 lumens will project a brighter
image than one with 2,000 lumens. In a
dark room this will not be important but
in daylight conditions it could make a big
difference. In general, the bigger or brighter
the room the more lumens you should
recommend. However, if your prospect also
wants portability or mobility there will be
a trade-off between size and weight, as
smaller, lighter products don’t have such a
high lumens specification.
This is a good time to mention LEDs
and bulbs. Some projectors use LEDs as
the light source. Such projectors don’t
get so hot and don’t require such heavy,
noisy fans to cool them down, so they can
be built smaller and lighter. LEDs will last
longer than a bulb, typically 30,000 hours,
longer than the lifetime of the projector.
Bulbs will deliver a brighter image but
will need to be replaced from time to
time. If you are trying to steer a customer
towards an LED projector then the cost of
replacement bulbs will help your case.
5
What connections will your customer
require?
These days most devices can be
connected via HDMI and it is useful to have
several HDMI ports if your customer is going
to be regularly switching between TV source,
DVD player, games console or anything
else. It is also worth asking about any other
connectivity requirements, like VGA and
WiFi. Wirelessly connecting to a source
like a smartphone or tablet is a good way
of sharing on a big screen all the digital
content that people collect: photos, videos,
movie clips, training material, YouTube clips
and other web-based content.
6
Last but not least, what resolution
will your customer need?
There are a few
4k projectors available for customers with
a higher budget. Alternatively, there are
plenty of HD projectors on the market.
These days everybody wants a bigger
screen; whether at home or at work, they
want more impact, more excitement and
a more dynamic, immersive experience,
whatever they are watching. The plethora of
flat screen TVs available serve the market
well, but once they get to 65 inches or
larger, they become particularly expensive.
A good quality projector will deliver an
immersive, large screen experience that
TVs cannot match. And for mobility or
portability the projector is the only solution.
Here, in my opinion, are some
interesting projectors it’s worth taking a
closer look at:
n
Philips Screeneo 2.0
; pretty much
unique for its lounge-friendly Ultra Short-
Throw delivery of a 100” HD image from
just 44cm away from the wall.
n
Epson EB-S31
; Long Throw office
projector delivers 3,200 lumens for less
than £300.
n
ACER Predator Z650 Full HD Gaming
Projector
; a striking design and short
throw projection make it ideal for gaming
in bedrooms.
n
Philips PicoPix PPX4010
; no bigger
than a computer mouse and weighing
only 83g, yet capable of delivering a 100
lumens, 120in image. Perfect to keep with
your laptop for impromptu presentations.
n
Sony VPL-VW 4K projectors
; with four
in the range, costing from £5,849 to
£50,000, there’s something for everyone
who needs 4K resolution.
‘A picture is worth a thousand words.’
Whether presenting new ideas, a sales
pitch, a company profile or staff training
material, a few visuals can enhance the
most carefully chosen words. But what’s
the best way to deliver the image?
As ever, the art of selling is to start off
by asking the right questions. There are
several considerations for you to guide
your prospects through as you help them
find the right projector for their needs.
1
What size image do they want to
project?
Different projectors are capable
of projecting different size images.
2
How much space is available?
While
space in meeting rooms and training
rooms should not be an issue, it’s always
worth checking. Space in syndicate rooms
and living rooms can also vary widely. In
such cases your customer should consider
the focus function, a short throw or even an
ultra-short throw projector.
3
Will the projector be a fixed
installation or moved from location to
location?
Fixed on a podium or hanging
from the ceiling are popular choices but
won’t suit every application. Projectors
may need to be moved from room to
room, locked away when not in use or
even taken outside the building for mobile
presentations, sales pitches, events or
holiday homes. In these cases, size and
weight become important criteria.
Consider whether the projector will
simply need to be loaded into a car
or whether it will need to be carried
some distance, on the train or the tube.
Consider also exactly who will be carrying
it. When it comes to portability, there are
medium weight options – around 3kg for
a traditional style projector – and ‘Pico’ or
pocket projectors that weigh 350g or even
less. The Philips PPX4010, for example,
weighs an incredible 83g. Projectors this
light can be carried around at all times in
your laptop bag.
4
What sort of light conditions will be
present when the projector is in use?
In
most cases, your customer will be able to
control light conditions via light dimmers,
curtains or blinds, but cinema conditions
may not always prevail. If your customer
is carrying a projector into a variety of
scenarios they have to be prepared for
the unexpected. In these cases, the
brighter the better. Projector brightness
is measured in lumens, so a projector
These days
everybody wants
a bigger screen;
whether at
home or at work,
they want more
impact, more
excitement and
a more dynamic,
immersive
experience,
whatever they are
watching
The Philips PicoPix
PPX4010 pocket
projector.
