January 26, 2000 Web posted at: 9:42 a.m. EST (1442 GMT) by Michelle Speir

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(IDG) -- Just when your notebook finally became small enough for you to travel with comfortably, you find out that your boss now also wants you to lug along a projector.

Fear not. The latest portable projectors are a far cry from the behemoths of just a few years ago. Using terms such as "ultralight" and "microportable," vendors are driving home the message that you can travel easily with these projectors. Indeed, two of the three projectors we tested weigh less than five pounds.

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There's also good news about image quality. Companies are starting to use a new technology called digital light processing (DLP) in lieu of the familiar liquid crystal display (LCD) technology.

DLP images ÷ used by two of the three projectors we reviewed ÷ are clear, bright and uniform (see sidebar). To our eyes, the projectors with DLP created a slightly brighter image.

In addition, resolutions are higher than in years past, with all three projectors supporting XGA (1,024-by-768- dots-per-inch resolution.

Whatās the catch? In a word, price. These devices will set you back $4,200 to $5,800. Thatās a fairly significant investment. But we should also point out that larger, 12- to 16-pound projectors cost about the same amount more than two years ago [Government Best Buys, June 2, 1997]. This time, youāre getting better technology and greatly improved form factors for your money.

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We looked at projectors from Compaq Computer Corp., InFocus Systems Inc. and Proxima Corp. All three projected clear, bright images, but in other areas there were striking differences. The Compaq MP1600 stands out immediately because of its unique vertical design and extremely small size.

The Proxima UltraLight LX1 is noticeably larger than the other two projectors, but it sports a set of stereo speakers, excellent compatibility and a very long-lasting lamp. The InFocus LP330 is slightly larger than the Compaq but almost as light, and it boasts a great feature set.

Although the Compaq MP1600 is the smallest and snazziest of the three, itās also the most basic in features. The Compaq unitās price is also the lowest, at $4,227 on the GSA schedule.

The device has no speaker or remote control, and for video and S-video compatibility you must purchase a $249 video adapter. However, the Compaq is the only projector of the three to offer SXGA (1,280-by-1,024 dpi) resolution.

It uses DLP technology to produce a bright, clear image and Compaq even includes a digital flat-panel cable for use with compatible sources such as digital graphics cards.

A nice bonus is the inclusion of a software utility that works with Compaq notebooks that run a Compaq BIOS. The utility disables power management, screen savers and the auto suspend feature while the projector is connected so that your presentations donāt experience any unplanned interruptions.

We recommend this spunky little projector to customers who just need a basic, portable projector and donāt want to pay for functions they wonāt use.

The InFocus LP330 was the standout unit in this comparison. The projector, featuring DLP technology, costs $5,799, but you get a lot of nice features in a light package.

At 4 pounds, 14 ounces, the LP330 weighs about half a pound more than the Compaq, but because it includes a speaker, we find that trade-off a good one. The deviceās remote control is comfortable, very easy to use and can control the computerās mouse when the mouse cable is connected from the projector to the computer.

This projector offers excellent compatibility for use with many video and data formats, including Apple Computer Inc. Macintoshes and PowerBooks. Clear documentation and a quick setup card make the unit very easy to use.

A status function lists how many lamp hours have been used, the computer resolution, refresh rates and more. If you want a projector thatās portable but also offers a lot of functionality ÷ and youāre willing to pay top dollar for it ÷ the LP330 is a very strong choice.

Proximaās UltraLight LX1 is more luggable than portable, but it has a set of stereo speakers. It comes with a carrying case and a built-in handle, but at 8 pounds, 9 ounces, and with a rather bulky form factor, this unit might be better suited to a nontraveling environment.

The UltraLight LX1 uses LCD technology and comes with a remote control unit that features a laser pointer. The 800 ANSI lumens bulb beat out the other two bulbsā ratings of 650 ANSI lumens each, and the estimated bulb life of 4,000 hours is far longer than those of the other two units.

The UltraLight LX1 is full-featured, like the InFocus LP330, and sells for a GSA price of $4,842. This projectorās biggest downfall is its documentation.

One small pamphlet with drawings ÷ some of which arenāt even labeled ÷ is hardly sufficient as documentation and leaves many questions about the unitās capabilities. However, Proxima representatives told us that future models would include a real userās manual.

Like the InFocus LP330, the UltraLight LX1 can show you the amount of lamp time used, contrast, brightness, frequency and position.

One other inconvenience is that you must buy the mouse cable (for controlling the computerās mouse with the projector) and an audio cable separately.

The Proxima projector is a good device, but the poor documentation and lack of included mouse and audio cables make it decidedly less convenient to use than the others. Interested buyers might want to wait for future models to see if Proxima has resolved those issues.