Product Roundup: Presentation Technologies
Image is Everything
The most important presentation tool, next to your computer and your winning business proposition, is a lightweight, powerful projector. During the past few months, several manufacturers have introduced projectors that are light enough for travel, yet bright enough for use in any environment. NEC's new DLP-based model LT260 weighs 6.5 lbs., and puts out 2100 ANSI lumens of native XGA image at a very crisp contrast ratio of 1300:1. The sub-$4,000 unit also features a built-in presentation viewer that plays back slides stored on a CompactFlash card for computer-free presentations. For use at home, this model lets you share data in a brightly lit media room, and its HDTV and Digital TV capabilities also make it a good choice for big-screen sports and movie viewing. Other hot models in this class include Sony's stylish VPL-CX5 and Epson's trim, versatile PowerLite 730c. CDW's Web site provides an easy, form-based method to compare the features and cost of hundreds of models.
For the road warrior, there are a number of excellent microportable projectors that fill the bill. Several models weighing between 2 lbs. and 3.5 lbs. put out a very respectable image of 1000 ANSI lumens of native XGA, bright enough for smaller screens in a well-lit room and cost less than $4,500. Leading contenders in the microportable class include the economical Boxlight XD-10m, NEC's 2.5" slim LT150z, and model LP70 from InFocus, weighing a mere 2.4 lbs.
The Right Stuff
Well-designed presentation peripherals make it easier for you to forget about meeting mechanics and to focus your attention on your audience and your message.
The PC- and Mac-compatible UltraMouse from Gyration lets you control your on-screen cursor with natural 3-D movements and also functions as a high-performance optical desktop mouse. Two models are available: Ultra Cordless Optical Mouse, with a range of 25 ft., sells for less than $80, and Ultra Professional Optical Mouse, with a range of 100 ft., including a spare battery and secondary battery charger plus GyroTools Presentation Effects Software, sells for $179.
The miniature Power Presenter RF from Street Smart Technologies weighs in at about 1 oz. and measures less than 2.6" x 1.5" x .05". This simple remote has just three buttons-forward, back, and laser pointer-and a range of up to 75 ft. Though it might be limited for some more interactive presenters, the $150 unit is a good tool for road warriors with straight-ahead presentation needs.
A Clean Slate
Portable devices that turn almost any surface into an interactive whiteboard can boost meeting productivity and increase the impact of presentations. Uses range from the simple recording and printing of meeting notes to live interaction with projected images (e.g., a giant touch-screen). Units such as the eBeam Serial 3 (less than $750) can be carried in a laptop case, set up in minutes, and can even broadcast meeting notes in real time over your LAN or the Internet. The mimio Xi from Virtual Ink (under $800) captures audio as well as onboard notes, and can save them both as a synchronized QuickTime movie, or stream them over the Internet for long-range interactive meetings.
