Projector lamps: Changing the projector lamp

For most projectors, installing a projector lamp is simple and usually only involves the turning of a few screws. However, keep in mind that the projector lamp housing and glass are very fragile, so you should consult your owners' manual or the instructions that came with the projector lamp, before you attempt to install the lamp yourself.
The most important precaution to note is when handling the projector lamp, NEVER touch the glass housing on the lamp. Oils from your fingers can cause the projector bulb to burn out or even burst prematurely. Handle the projector bulb carefully using the metal housing, and your lamp should last thousands of hours.

Fixed Installation Projectors

Fixed-installation projectors are designed for auditoriums or presentation halls and are perfect for schools or churches. Usually, the projectors used in fixed installations are the more powerful and more expensive models, because they need to be able to broadcast on large projection screens to big groups. If you don't usually have a need for one of these big and expensive projectors but are planning a huge presentation, you can look into renting one for as little as a day, or for as long as you'll need it.

Make your projector lamp last: Allow projector lamp to cool

What is the most common reason for projector bulbs with shortened lives? Not allowing the projector bulbs to cool. Most projectors have a feature where they power down themselves, just make sure that you don't move the projector while it is in this mode. Some older model projectors may also feature a hard on/off switch as well as a projector lamp on/off switch. For those, turn the projector lamp off first and after it powers down, turn the projector off.

Choosing Data Signal Ports for your Classroom Projector

The classroom projector that you choose will have to connect to your computer. Whether your school is using Macintosh or IBM PCs you will need to check the Data Signal Ports on the projector to ensure that it will adequately connect to your computers and other equipment. You may need to purchase additional adapters to connect the computer projector to a Macintosh computer. Keep this in consideration when purchasing a projector and make sure that it is compatible with a Macintosh.

Classroom Projectors: Makes Teaching Easier and Better

Instead of having students crowd around a computer, the entire class can view one big screen without difficulty. The multimedia classroom projector has made the teaching of Internet-related subjects and the demonstration of new software applications much easier - heightening students´ awareness and expectations, while captivating their attention and increasing their motivation. The multimedia classroom projectors also accommodate the electronic submission and viewing of student work.

Projectors for less: Fewer Projector Features

Do you remember the pen that was also a radio, a flashlight, a cigarette lighter, a pocket knife and a videogame? The joke that went around was, “Yes, but does it write?” Today's projectors have features that are great selling points, but you have to ask yourself if you'll actually use each of the projector features. Rather, start with a quality projector that projects a clear, bright image and if it has a few bells and whistles, make sure that those projector features don't make the price climb too high.

An example of a feature that many people pay for, but rarely use is a PCMCIA slot on a digital projector. This feature allows a presenter to store a presentation within the digital projector, without having to bring your laptop! A great invention that adds several hundred dollars to the price of the projector, however, most people never utilize its advantages, making the PCMCIA slot useless.

Projectors for less: Lower Lumen Projectors

A lumen is a measure of the projector brightness. A digital projector with 2000 lumens is twice as bright as a projector with only 1000 lumens. Digital projectors are often compared using the formula of “Price per Lumen”. Therefore, everything else being equal, a 1200 lumen projector, will be a little more expensive than a 1000 lumen projector.
Talk with a sales consultant that understands how much projector brightness you need for your environment. Once you've nailed down the number of lumens you need, make sure you don't pay for excessive brightness over that count.

Projectors for less: Refurbished Projectors

Another option to look at is to purchase a refurbished projector. A refurbished projector is simply a new DLP or LCD projector that had to be rebuilt by the manufacturer. It has a brand new projector lamp and parts, and in most cases refurbished projectors ship with a solid warranty. One way to look at it, is that DLP or LCD projectors that are refurbished have been quality-control checked by the manufacturer to make sure they are in top working condition.

A Must Have for Portables

If you own a portable projector and actually have a need to relocate it at times, you can't go wrong with a projector case. A projector case will help protect the projector itself, as well as all accessories. Without it, you risk the chance of damaging the projector which can cost a lot of money and time to fix or even replace. You can pay as little as $50 for a case, but most projector cases cost more than $100.