This ceiling-mounted projector comes with a 2.4-ounce pen and a 7.2-ounce telescoping wand that let you draw pictures, make notes, take screen captures, and highlight words on a projected image. During our test presentations, the wand and pen frequently failed to respond to gestures, and some notes appeared incorrectly. What's more, the image looked a bit dull, despite the projector's 3,000-lumen rating. Replacement bulbs cost $399 and last 3,000 to 4,000 hours.
Cost: $2,199
A good value, this 2,200-lumen short-throw projector sits on a table right next to the projected image, which was bright and crisp. The projector's bulky 2.2-ounce pen took about 45 minutes to configure, much longer than the others we tested, but it rendered our scribbles and notes accurately. The pen also functions as a mouse, with right- and left-click buttons and a scroll function. Unlike the other pens we tried, it lets you grab and move objects. Replacement bulbs for the projector cost $149 and last 5,000 hours.
Cost: $1,499
At 2,500 lumens, this ultra-short-throw projector cast the brightest image during our test presentations. The projector, which mounts next to a viewing wall or screen using an included mounting kit, comes with a 1.6-ounce pen that lets you make notes, draw pictures, and highlight, copy, and paste text on a projected image. The pen was the most responsive in our test group. On the downside, it does not function as a mouse. The projector lamp lasts 3,500 hours; replacements cost $169.
Cost: $2,199
Image quality was outstanding on this 3,000-lumen short-throw projector, which sits on a table or mounts to a wall right next to the projected image (the mounting kit costs $379). Its 2.5-ounce pen was the most accurate for making notes. You can also use it to highlight text and undo mistakes. As with the Dell, the pen also acts as a mouse, with left- and right-click buttons and a scroll function. One drawback: The projector's interactive software is not compatible with Macs. The projector bulb lasts about 4,000 hours; replacements cost $279.
