Mitsubishi PocketProjector

The Mitsubishi PocketProjector is a breakthrough. Weighing a little less than one pound, it is by far the lightest projector on record. Plus, its energy consumption is so meager that it can be powered by an optional battery. On the other hand, it's not nearly bright enough for conference rooms. This device was designed for more intimate business settings like darkened offices or even cubicles. For those environments, the PocketProjector could be a godsend.

The model name is a bit of an exaggeration, but the PocketProjector is no larger than a Tom Clancy paperback and it will fit in only the largest pockets. Add a small AC adapter with its conveniently long 12-foot cable (with two-prong AC plug) and a heavy-duty VGA cable that weighs almost as much as the projector to get a total travel weight of 2.3 pounds. Rare is the laptop carrying case that won't have sufficient extra space to accommodate this device.

To trim down this model to its ultra-lightweight form factor, Mitsubishi's designers had to jettison quite a few features. There is no lens cover, no optical zoom, no legs for adjusting tilt angle, and no speaker. Unlike most projectors, this model does not beam its image up at a slight angle. When placed on a table, users will probably have to tilt the front edge of the projector up with a newspaper or magazine in order for the entire image to be seen.

The secret of the PocketProjector's incredible lightness is its light source. It's not the traditional high-temperature xenon lamp, but an array of three light emitting diodes (LEDs), much as you might find in the newest flashlights. The LEDs (one each for red, green, and blue), are not only smaller and lighter than the traditional lamp, but are less expensive and do not require any complex cooling fans. To create images, the PocketProjector uses a DLP chip from Texas Instruments similar to that used on most other small projectors.

Because it uses so little energy, Mitsubishi is offering an optional $150 battery that will enable operation in remote locations. In our tests, the battery lasted 2 hours and 55 minutes, which is more than enough to watch most movies. Next year, for $100 extra, you can get a PocketProjector with a memory card slot. The combination of these two options will make it possible to do slide shows with neither laptop nor power; you can run a complete show from the palm of your hand in the middle anywhere opportunity strikes.

The downside of the PocketProjector is its brightness, or lack thereof. For our test unit, we measured the luminance to be a full two orders of magnitude less than that of most other SVGA projectors. This model is useful only in dark rooms and even then only at relatively small image sizes. In a well darkened room, the projector did surprisingly well. The tiny fan inside is audible, but not noisy. The image appears very quickly. Cool-down times are practically instantaneous. The freedom of location afforded by the optional battery can't be underestimated.

It's both difficult and misleading to compare the Mitsubishi PocketProjector with existing projectors. Its operating characteristics are completely different, and its predominant use will be in applications where projectors were not feasible before. It might be used in highly mobile applications or situations that require extreme quiet. It's not nearly bright enough for the conference room, but the PocketProjector is certainly a sign of great things to come for presenters on the go.