Is an LCD Projector Right For You?
Get the Specifics Before Buying.
A projector is a device that combines a light source, optics system, electronics and display to project an image from a computer or video device onto a wall or screen. There are hundreds of these products available in the market and they are defined by their resolution, features, and performance.
Liquid Crystal Display, or LCD, stands for liquid crystal display and can come in many forms, sizes, and resolutions. Its primary purpose is to present a digital image for viewing. A common use of LCDs is as a display on a notebook computer. Polysilicon TFT LCD is a popular technology for the top of the line LCD projectors. Monochrome Polysilicon LCDs are typically placed in each of the three color light paths inside a projector, one each for Red, Green, and Blue. This results in increased color saturation, with contrast ratios above 200:1.
  The sharpness and clarity of the picture on the screen is determined by a projector's resolution. Resolution refers to the sharpness of the image projected, as expressed in pixels (the higher, the better). Projectors come in a wide range of light output. All other things being equal, the brighter the projector, the more it costs. When it comes to "optimum brightness" the rule is simple: get the brightest one you can afford. Brightness is measured in ANSI (American National Standards Institute) lumens: the brighter the projector, the higher the ANSI lumen rating.
One benefit of LCD is that it
has historically delivered better color saturation. LCD also delivers a
somewhat sharper image than DLP at any given resolution. The difference
here is more relevant for detailed financial spreadsheet presentations
than it is for video. This is not to say that DLP is fuzzy - it isn't.
When you look at a spreadsheet projected by a DLP projector it looks
clear enough. It's just that when a DLP is placed side-by-side with an
LCD, the LCD typically looks a little bit sharper in comparison. A
third benefit of LCD is that it is more light-efficient. LCD projectors
typically produce significantly higher ANSI lumen outputs than do DLPs
with the same wattage lamp.
While video projection
has been around almost as long as traditional television, advances in
technology, such as LCD has made the video projector more compact and
less expensive. The result is that you can approximate the atmosphere of
your local movie theater right in your own home. Sales of video
projectors in 2003 were quite respectable as more manufacturers, such as
Optoma, NEC, and others made projectors in a moderate price range with
high-end features, such as HDTV resolution and better brightness and
contrast levels.
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