$999 Projector Comparison Shows Advantages Below the Surface

by Christina Lawson
Research Analyst, Projector and CE Displays

The long awaited sub-$1,000 projector arrived in early Summer with the coming of Epson's $999 S1. Since Epson's announcement just about all major projector vendors are offering their own sub-$1,000 projector. Vendors such as InFocus, NEC ( NEC's VT46 is actually $995), Sharp and Toshiba have all rolled out $999 projectors within the past two months. Dell joined the sub-$1,000 projector vendors in mid- August when it dropped the price of its 2100MP to $999 (originally priced at $1, 299). With plenty of projectors competing at this price point, customers must decipher which product offers the most value for their $999 investment

When purchasing a projector the competitive matrix below illustrates the key specifications customers use to evaluate the strength of each offering.

While Dell's 2100MP does hold the advantage in terms of weight and comes in second only to InFocus in terms of contrast ratio, and this would lead many to believe Dell's 2100MP is the best offering in the entry level projector segment, there are other measures that customers should consider before making this conclusion. Features such as ease of use, total cost of ownership, and warranty are all important, particularly in the entry level segment, which targets users on a budget and novices.

Ease of Use

Ease of use is especially critically in the entry level spectrum of the market. Customers who purchase these lower end projectors are often first time users. Novices will only adopt the new technology if it is easy to understand and use on a regular basis.

Color Coded Cables

InFocus, NEC, Sharp, and Dell have gone to considerable lengths to increase the projector's ease of use. The InFocus X1, NEC VT46, Sharp PG-B10S, and Dell's 2100MP all are designed with color coded cables that allow users to quickly coordinate inputs before a presentation. The color coded cables also allow users to quickly ensure that they haven't left any cables behind after each presentation. While Dell's 2100MP does feature color coded cables, the company's website does not make mention of this feature, which would lead customers to believe that Dell's product lacks this ease of use feature.

Automatic Set Up

Automatic setup enables the projector to automatically sync with any PC signal upon connection. This one-touch auto set up feature allows users to seamlessly begin presentations without the hassle of calibrating the projector to a notebook's resolution. Dell's 2100MP offers "no touch" automatic setup, while NEC's VT46 and Toshiba's TLP-S10u feature a one-touch auto set up function.

One-Touch Set Up

A lens capable of a variable horizontal, vertical, and diagonal shift is yet another way to make the technology easier to use. Sharp's PG-B10S offers this so-called "Alignment Control" feature, which allows users to adjust an image in a room without having to physically move the projector.

Alignment Control

Yes another way to make the projector easy to use is the addition of a variable horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lens shift. Sharp's PG-B10S offers this so-called "Alignment Control" feature, which allows users to adjust an image in a room without having to physically move the projector.

Ease of Use Competitive Advantage: Sharp

Total Cost of Ownership

While the base price of projectors has dropped below the $1,000 mark, the cost of replacement lamps is still a concern that must be addressed. Customers must be aware of the cost of these pricey replacement lamps that can run anywhere from $300 to $500. Because these consumables are so expensive, users must consider lamp life when choosing the best projector for them.

In terms of lamp life, Dell's 2100MP falls short, offering bare-bones 2,000 hours of lamp life. Meanwhile, the Epson S1, InFocus X1, and NEC VT46 offer a standard 3,000 hours of lamp life. Sharp's Notevision PG-B10S offers a standard 3,000 hour lamp life and features a "Low Power Mode," which effectively extends the projector's lamp life to 4,000 hours.

Total Cost of Ownership Competitive Advantage: Sharp

Warranty

Customers must also consider the type of warranty plan offered with each projector. Offering longer warranty terms conveys confidence in these entry level products that consumers may initially be wary of.

Dell's standard 2100MP warranty offers a mere one-year coverage at the $999 price point. Dell's one-year standard warranty does include its Advanced Exchange Service, whereby Dell will ship a replacement system or part to the user in advance of receiving the defective system or part. Advanced Exchange Service is one safeguard that the road warrior can appreciate but will not likely utilize too often. Customers may upgrade to a two-year warranty term but that means more money (an additional $60).

A two-year warranty term is the standard coverage offered by Epson, InFocus, NEC, and Toshiba. In addition to two years of standard warranty on parts and labor, Epson offers two distinct services: Epson's Road Service Program and PrivateLine. Epson's Road Service Program prvides users with a replacement projector (typically) within 24 hours and Epson's PrivateLine is a toll-free support line accessible 24x7. Sharp's warranty is the best offer in this group, entitling customers to a standard three-year parts and labor warranty. Sharp also provides two years of "ER" service (a 24-hour turnaround express repair program) as a standard service with each PG-B 10S projector.

Warranty Advantage: Sharp

Digging below the surface proves that not all $999 projectors are as competitive as they may appear at first evaluation. If customer's demand a lighter projector with a higher contrast ratio, without concern to the total cost of owning the projector, Dell's 2100MP is the strongest product in this entry level segment. However, if customers place more importance on the total cost of owning the projector, Sharp's superior warranty and lamp life positions the PG-B10S as the best product in the $999 price tag.

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