Toshiba’s TDP-P8 is one of two (also ViewSonic) 1kg projectors using the same basic design. The TDP-P8 is less expensive but only really stands out with automatic keystone correction. But it doesn’t work by tilting the projector: it requires eight button presses to use the menu option.

This proved to be only the first of many niggles. The remote has obscurely labelled buttons like PJ Mode, while important buttons such as Menu and Image Mute are hidden under a plastic door. The OSD is also confusing, with two displays for the same settings, depending on whether you’re adjusting or browsing.

But the Toshiba provides slightly better image quality than the ViewSonic. While colours appear dull compared to the best projectors, there’s more detail in shadows and colour transitions are smoother. Instead of movie or sRGB modes, there’s TrueColor, which has a similar effect by minimising use of the colour wheel’s white segment, thereby lowering brightness but improving colour accuracy. It reduces white highlights rather than dimming the whole image too much, although we didn’t see great improvement in colour saturation.

We didn’t notice the DLP rainbow effect too much, but we could see that black-on-white text wasn’t crisp. Up close, fringing was evident, caused by the TDP-P8 not locking onto the signal properly.

Noise levels were similar to the ViewSonic: 41dBA in standard mode and 39dBA in eco mode. Replacement lamps also cost similar at $571, and last the same, 2000 hours. That means running costs are high at 29c per hour.

With the poor running costs, remote and OSD, the Toshiba is one to avoid.