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.
link

Samsung is also releasing its LED based projector called Pocket Imager (model SP-P300MK), due to be released next month (January 2006)
link
link

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
link

The projected image by Toshiba FF1 is shown in the penultimate image on the link below. The attached battery is also visible.
link

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.

03/23/06 + amateur

AI - thanks for trying this for me. I think there must be something wrong with my unit, particularly as I cannot save settings. I don't think there is anything odd about the jpegs. What version of the firmware do you have? can you save settings through a power cycle?

The Treasury at Petra

03/24/06 + AI

amateur said: "What version of the firmware do you have? "

As I mentioned earlier on page 8, it's version 1.1.0-1.3.0

can you save settings through a power cycle?

I am not quite sure what you meant, but if you asking whether the settings remain unchanged after power OFF and ON again, or after battery drain, then yes. Any settings in the last running of projector stays in its memory when I switch ON next time.

03/25/06 + AI

Very detailed review of Toshiba TDP-FF1 projector from tom's hardware guide. It's in German language(Use google translator)
link

04/05/06 + mcverbs

I've got my Mitsubishi PK10 coming in on Thursday... will post some impressions after I have time to play with it a bit.

04/05/06 + joignant

Hello there, any video sample available on the web to see the Toshiba FF1 in action? thanks

04/05/06 + AI

mcverbs said: "my Mitsubishi PK10 coming in on Thursday... will post some impressions "

Please do, I am anxious to see some projected images by Mitsubishi LED projector. Try taking photos with camera flash OFF and describe the surrounding environment.

joignant said: "any video sample available on the web to see the Toshiba FF1 in action"

Yes, indeed, Checkout page two of this detailed post. The cinenow video has the following hyperlink
link
Slide through the video more than halfway through (I guess after 65% of video clip) you will see the projector and its projected image, showing “Ice Age” movie.

I myself have made couple of videos but the file sizes are very huge to post. If anyone can advise where and how to post in smaller sizes, I'll be more than happy to post for the benefit of potential users/buyers. Cheers.

04/17/06 + AI

Another review of Samsung Pocket Imager SP-P300:
link

04/20/06 + AI

Useful lux values for light levels:
link

04/26/06 + mcverbs

Sorry for the delay, but here (finally) are my photos with the Mitsubishi PK-10. These are projected onto a sheet of white foamcore, in a room with the drapes closed (took photos with room lights on and off for comparison -- the photos actually show less of the difference than reality. In real life, having the room lights on made the projector look somewhat less bright than it appears in the photo, although it was still visible at those sizes).

Startup splash screen, room lights off, 12" from wall

Projecting Photo image, room lights off, 12" from wall

same, with room lights on

room lights off, 15" from wall

same, with room lights on

room lights off, 20" from wall

same, with room lights on

room lights off, 30" from wall

same, with room lights on

04/26/06 + AI

mcverbs, thanks for the photos. Please answer following queries:

1- What is the maximum quality projected size you can obtain?
2- With the office room lights OFF and some ambient coming from the windows, can you get a bright enough projected image of 20" for quick presentation?
3- Did you try all other input signal?, S-video, composite, RGB?
4- What is your personal impression?

04/26/06 + AI

mcverbs,

How much does the battery weigh? and with the projector attached what is the net weight of the unit?

edited: Apr 27 2006 + mcverbs

AI,

First, I returned the projector, so I'm sorry I can't run additional tests for you, but here it is:

1.) I didn't measure this, but it is about what the professional reviews say -- you wouldn't want to go more than 5' or so from the wall (you can see in those room light photos it's starting to get dimmer even at 2.5'); the throw ratio is right about 1.6 or a little under, so maybe a 38" diagonal.

2.) 20" diagonal is slightly larger than what you're seeing in that last pair of photos. So I guess it depends on how close the windows are, how big they are, and how much sun is out that day. If you can close the blinds, then certainly; if not, I've found any reasonable amount of daylight is actually pretty bright compared to a room light, so you might not have a great picture in that case.

3.) I only tried the VGA connector, that's all I ever use. I don't own an S-video cable and I don't know why you would use composite with this -- it's for portable presentations, not watching movies.

4.) Overall, quite good. I returned it only because it was too dim for my intended use (which is admittedly different than what it was really designed for). I was impressed by the size, weight, appearance, ease of use, picture quality, documentation, packaging, and pretty much everything other than the brightness. But we already had some idea of that; I'm not even sure that it is really that much worse than any of the other ultraportable LED projectors (FF1, Samsung), at least from the photos. I think the brightness will get better in later versions, but I think this device is actually quite usable as is for someone who does a lot of mobile presentations, etc. It is also utterly silent, warms up very very fast, and turns off instantly without a cooldown period. I think this is a well-designed and high-quality product, and most of the customers in its target market should be happy with it.

5.) Doesn't come with a battery standard, and I didn't order the accessory. Also did not weigh the unit separately. I do have the pdf of the manual, which I will try to post -- it has a few more specs than I have seen published elsewhere, and they are pretty accurate (or even conservative -- my throw ratios measured were even slightly better than what was in the manual). It says the unit (without battery) is about 1 pound, which sounds about right -- it felt even less than this to me.

04/30/06 + AI

Toshiba FF1 review by the same author who reviewed Samsung SP-P300. Both hyperlinks are given below:
FF1 review:
link
SP-P300 review:
link

05/03/06 + zzonbi

The dimensions of the Samsung look suspect. It's not that small, perhaps they meant 121 instead.
This author leaves the impression it's dimmer than the Toshiba, proving how little can we trust either specifications, either reviews.
I don't like the part about the led replacement. But then again, I do not trust the 'no serviceable parts inside' sign.

I guess I have a trust problem.

05/03/06 + zzonbi

Now I get it, although not replaceable, the lamp warranty is 6 months, and the rest is 2 years. So, after the lamp burns, you may still be good using it as building brick or something, for some time...