Whenever PC Authority reviews a data projector, we try it out with DVDs and games, and we test entertainment projectors with PCs just to see how they handle applications other than those they’re specifically designed for. We do this because projectors usually come with S-Video and RGB video connections and it’s a sure bet that the projector in a company’s boardroom isn’t just being used for business.
With this cross-pollination in mind, InFocus recently launched the X1, a multi-use projector designed for both business and pleasure with features that are good for both applications.
The X1 is a DLP projector, with 1,000 ANSI lumens and a projection size of 0.8 to 6.5m. Its most amazing specification is its staggering 2,000:1 contrast ratio, which is three-to-five times the usual levels found in a projector. This gives you a huge amount of leeway when you’re projecting even in very bright rooms. Unlike other 1,000 ANSI lumens projectors whose image would be hard to see with bright lights on or sunlight hitting the wall, we found that the contrast could be used to offset the brightness, resulting in a sharper, if slightly washed out, image.
In normal conditions it lets you toggle between data and video projection with a great deal of image configurability. Under the hood is a colour wheel consisting of red, green, blue and white segments. The white segment is left ‘on’ when the projector is used for presentations, but is not used when watching video. The net effect is that this increases the brightness for data, and the colours for video.
While this model straddles the data/entertainment line quite successfully, its maximum native SVGA resolution of 800 x 600 may leave a lot to be desired for PC gamers. For DVD, TV and console gaming it’s more than adequate. It can handle up to 1,024 x 768 XGA, but the results aren’t as sharp.
The X1 has a small form factor so it’s ideal for the lounge room, and it worked quietly and didn’t output a great deal of heat. For $3,400 it’s a good budget option, particularly as a top shelf widescreen TV costs the same or more.
