Bargain Hunt: Projectors

by Sean Ludwig

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The quality of a projector can make or break a business presentation, not to mention a movie's impact when you're watching it at home. These four projectors, from Mitsubishi, Hitachi, InFocus, and 3M, can bring an exciting visual experience into your office or home, with vibrant colors and a variety of unique features. The 3M MPro110, the only pico projector in our list, is a great choice for business users who present to small groups, or for travelers who want to watch their iPod videos on a larger screen. The other three pleasantly priced projectors mostly cater to those giving presentations, while some may find them suitable for a home-theater setup.

Editors' Note: All listed prices are current as of the date of publication—and apt to change quickly and often.

Mitsubishi XD500U-ST
Was: $1,295
Is: $699
Savings: $596 (46 percent)
Why You Want It: Thanks to its notably short throw, the Mitsubishi XD500U-ST is a good choice for business users who need to project large images in tight spaces. At 4.0 by 13.1 by 9.8 inches (HWD) and 7.3 pounds, it's reasonably portable and light and even comes with a soft carrying case.

Hitachi CP-A100
Was: $2,495
Is: $1,529 (from FotoConnection)
Savings: $966 (38.7 percent)
Why You Want It: The CP-A100 scored the Editors' Choice in the ultra-short-throw category for its amazingly short throw (a 98-inch diagonal image at 15 inches from screen) and its bright, vibrant colors. Its relatively poor video performance won't be a problem for presentations.

InFocus IN1100
Was: $1,099
Is: $899
Savings: $200 (18.1 percent)
Why You Want It: We liked the InFocus IN1100 for connecting by USB cable—which makes it easier to use than many other projectors—and the 2.75-pound weight makes the device more portable than many of its peers. It may not be the best for presentations, but it could be a decent choice for watching movies.

3M MPro110
Was: $359
Is: $296
Savings: $63 (17.5 percent)
Why You Want It: We were big fans of the MPro110 when it was released last December. It's one of the first projectors that can actually fit into a shirt pocket, and it's the first of its size that can connect to a computer. The MPro110 uses an entirely different engine, designed by 3M: LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) rather than a DLP chip.