Projector Resolution Guide - Computers

From business presentations and large-scale events to in-home gatherings and family celebrations, projectors can add so much more than just visual effect. With a rental projector, you can add drama, flair, pizzazz, or simply create a personalized or more customized feel in any venue.

Projector Resolution Guide The amount of data that can be displayed on the screen at any given time is determined by a projector's resolution. Resolution is an indicator of the number of pixels the projector uses to create the image. High-resolution projectors are able to show more picture details than low-resolution projectors. Here are some basic choices.

SVGA (800x600) -While most computers still output higher resolution, SVGA can be a good option for Power point presentations or other applications that are not relying on intense detail. Ideal for a tight budget.

XGA (1024x768) - The budget standard. Many laptop computers still output in XGA, and matching an XGA projector to your XGA laptop make it positive that you won't lose any detail.

WXGA (1280x800) - High resolution wide-screen products, usually a bit more expensive than XGA. These units are targeted for use with mid-range wide-screen laptops, which often use 1280x800. These are becoming increasingly common and are used as an inexpensive wide-screen alternative to XGA.

SXGA+ (1400x1050) - Growing in popularity, there are several offerings available in both budget and high-end. SXGA+ resolution is useful for detailed photography and data graphics, but not necessary for PowerPoint presentation and text.

UXGA (1600x1200) - These units are very high in resolution, and are detail or information intensive. Expensive projectors that support a wide range of computer equipment (few products on the market have this native resolution).

One of the key factors in choosing the right resolution is to ask: Is there a need for intensely accurate displaying of small visual details, or are you simply looking for a general presentation tool for text and small graphics?

Another consideration in selecting the ideal projector is its weight. If you are on the road a lot, you would want the lightest, most portable machine available that still fits your resolution needs, so keep the weight of the unit in mind.

Home Theater Setting Choosing a projector for the home theater setting requires further consideration, such as aspect ratio, resolution, brightness, contrast, and of course, cost. The aspect ratio refers to the rectangular shape of the video image. A standard TV has an aspect ratio of 4:3 and the HDTV standard is 16:9. As for resolution, we recommend two resolutions for wide-screen 16:9 format home theater, those being 1280x720 and 1920x1080. Regarding brightness and contrast, it depends on the projection size and the amount of ambient light in the space. Contrast is by far the single most important quality in a home theater's projector, with the higher contrast being preferable.

Of course, the easiest route is to simply rent a projector, when and where you need it most.