Handtops, UMPC - LED Projectors by Mitsubishi, Samsung an

12/21/05 + AI

I posted a reply on the post link
But I thought it be appropriate to post it with a new title.

I have been keenly searching for Mitsubishi PocketProjector for the last six months and as most of us are perhaps aware that official release has also been postponed several times. From July to September, and now 19th Dec 2005. So I called up Mitsubishi and they regretted that it is still delayed.

Mitsubishi Taiwan Asia market is reporting 1Q 2006.
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Samsung is also releasing its LED based projector called Pocket Imager (model SP-P300MK), due to be released next month (January 2006)
link
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The Toshiba LED powered micro projector is out in France and it is to be released in UK around Christmas (or early New Year).
Find below the hyperlinks for detail perusal:
link
The images on this link are detailed however I believe the description in the article quoting 400 ANSI lumens is a mistake. Verify it with product release info from toshiba France website.
link

Those interested in checking out the projected images by Mitsubishi LED projector (model PK10 or PT10) and by Toshiba LED projector (model FF1) follow the links below:

More detail review and images with battery of Mitsubishi Pocketprojector at:
link

Click the last image in the gallery at the bottom of the page to see the projected image by Mitsubishi PK10
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The projected image by Toshiba FF1 is shown in the penultimate image on the link below. The attached battery is also visible.
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The important question is ANSI Lumen and LUX values. Samsung states 23 ANSI Lumens while Mitsubishi and Toshiba indicates 250 and 400 LUX respectively.

Using the formula described on the following hyperkink:
link

My calculations for producing a projected image of 70cm(W) by 50cm(H), approximately 83cm(33inches) diagonal view:

Mitsubishi probably has 102 ANSI Lumens (calculated) and 250 LUX(stated) compared to Samsung having 23 ANSI Lumens(stated) and 55.9LUX(calculated). Whereas Toshiba’s LED projector is rated 400 LUX (stated) and 165 ANSI Lumens(calculated). I could have miscalculated, so verify with the formula! Please note that resolution 800 X 600 is 4:3 ratio or (1.34) therefore I choose screen size 70cmX50cm, ratio (1.4).

All three projectors have SVGA (800X600)native resolution. Weight wise Mitsubishi is the lightest 450 gm (without battery) and Samsung is the heaviest 660gm(perhaps without batter). The Toshiba is 556gm (without battery)

In my assessment Toshiba LED Projector is perhaps the best of the three. I have ordered mine.

03/02/06 + AI

Here is the complete review of Samsung Pocket Imager:
link

03/07/06 + mcverbs

Wired Gadget Lab just reviewed the Mitsubishi PK10, overall a very positive review. They gave it 9/10 -- main criticisms were that it was a little dim, started to fade at 5 feet away, and skin tones a bit bluish. Got the review in email, it's not up on the Wired site yet, but will try to post a link when it comes.

03/07/06 + AI

mcverbs,

Can you please forward me a copy of the review to my email, abuamina at gmail dot com. Many thanks.

03/08/06 + AI

As indicated by mcverbs, find below the link for a brief review of Mitsubishi Pocketprojector:
link

03/13/06 + gmorgan

Well I've just received my Toshiba FF1.

First impressions are positive but the screen seems to have a restricted angle of view, not surprising if it's designed for maximum reflectivity.

Any questions?

03/13/06 + AI

gmorgan,

I wonder when mine will arrive. Anyways I'll be grateful if you could answer the following questions.

1- Is the projected image bright enough on the portable screen when stretched to its maximum screen size(I guess 57cm diagonal) in low ambient light of a office room?

2- Have you tried projecting on any other white screen? How good or bad is the image quality?

3- In terms of brightness, how large an image can be projected? Can it project up to 52 inches (132 cm) and still give bright and clear image of good quality?

4- How loud is the speaker?

5- Finally, if you could post some pictures of the projected images, preferably with camera flash off, it will be very much appreciated.

Many thanks.
PS: Just curious if you don't mind mentioning where did you order from? Is it a UK retailer.

03/13/06 + gmorgan

A partial answer

(1) Yes, there is a brightness setting for the projector but I've left it at the default setting which is 2 or 3 steps (no idea of the calibration) down from the top. This is with all the fluorescents on, and windows unblinded, albeit on a greyish day.

(2) Not yet

(3) Haven't tried yet

(4) Haven't tried yet

(5) Will do.

Got it from a distributor which says it has 45 in stock (we sell mobile systems)

03/13/06 + AI

gmorgan, thanks for your quick reply, will wait for your detailed response.

03/15/06 + gmorgan

Not detailed, merely to say that I plugged my Sony camcorder into the FF1 last night in a room with one standard lamp behind me and watched our last weeks skiing and tobogganing in Italy projected onto a white wall at about (v approx) 6 ft across in widescreen setting.

Extremely good, so I think that (2) and (3) are yes, as well.

Overall impression is extremly favourable, I'll be using it on the road next week in several small meetings so that'll be the crunch, I suppose.

03/15/06 + AI

Very brief first impression:

Finally, my projector arrived today after 2.5 months of waiting. My quick verdict is Excellent! No exaggerations. It serves the purpose for which it has been built. It would be unfair to compare it with standard conference room projectors.

A nifty device with magnesium alloy casing and feels really solid. Quite small in size, the projector itself weighs 505gm and battery is 232gm. The included foldable screen allows projection without switching off office room light. The most convenient feature is giving presentation via USB which also allows slideshow of JPEG files.

All in all I am happy and would give 10/10.

I am trying to get hold of a digital illumination meter. To my knowledge it measures light output in LUX or Foot-Candle. Any advice before I could run some tests to measure its lumen, would be appreciated. Questions like, how far away should I place the luxmeter, whether facing the projector lens or the screen, etc.

03/15/06 + pigro

Hi all. I would much appreciate any images of the output (one in in "normal" ambient conditions i.e. blinds/curtains open & room lights on; one in darkened room) ... and any feedback on the quality of video playback (from DVD/XVID movies).

I'm thinking of buying an FF1 to project movies & TV from a Laptop when I'm on holiday abroad. I have a house whose main public areas are awash with bright natural light that can't feasibly be blacked out. I can move the laptop to a room with shutters to watch movies in the dark, so hopefully that will be OK, but for TV the only aerial point is located in the large open space.

So, the FF1 would be ideal in terms of portability, a compromise in terms of resolution (800x600 is just about OK for watching "holiday" movies, and fine for DVB-T tv pictures) but visibility by day may be a deal-breaker for TV in my circumstances unless I get a second aerial feed installed in a room that I can darken. I've bever owned or used a data projector before, so any other advice gratefully accepted.

03/15/06 + AI

pigro, what image size you are hoping to project on the screen/wall. The included foldable screen is very high contrast and I am interested to know its gain, so that in future I can consider purchasing a very high gain large screen. Anyhow the point I am trying to make here is that with room lights ON, the projected image on the protable screen is bright. With lights dim, it is still good and bright on ordinary screens.

03/15/06 + pigro

I'll accept any image size above about 20" diagonal which is clearly viewable in the prevailing ambient lighting conditions - I've kind of assumed from the previous discussion that the supplied 23" high gain screen may be sufficiently bright even in daylight to allow me to view TV comfortably. Ideally, at night I'd like to project upto 40"-50" diagonal (I was thinking of doing so simply onto a mat white wall, thinking this would probably work OK at night in the dark?)

03/16/06 + AI

It may sound silly to ask, but how do post images on this forum? I've taken some pictures as requested.

I also tried measuring luminosity by placing a luxmeter sensor few cms away in front of the lens and it gave approximately 500 lux reading.

03/16/06 + pigro

not silly at all; suspect you need to upload your images to a public server first, then insert a link to them using the 'TAGS' ... but I'm a total newbie to this forum (and forums in general) so I'm probably the last person to ask ;-). I've attempted to PM you so you can send me the images direct if you want to avoid that. Meantime anyone more knowledgable may be able to advise how to post an image from a local PC to this forum? TIA for images if/when they come. BTW - where did you buy your FF1 from?