The MicroPortable Data/Video Projector from IBM truly lives up to its name, having a high level of portability due to its lack of bulk and weight. Its travel weight (including bag and accessories) is a mere 2.5kg, with its base weight a meagre 1.4kg, while it measures just 22 x 17 x 5cm. It is supplied with an equally compact carrying case. But this miniaturisation does come at a price and the projector offers a rather limited feature set.

At the heart of this projector is a 1,100 ANSI Lumens lamp and DLP (Digital Light Processing) chip, giving a 1024 x 768 pixel resolution (with interpolation to 1280 x 1024) with a projected image range from 1.5 metres to 9.1 metres. This equates to a diagonal image size ranging from 35cm up to 250cm, adjusted by a rotary control situated just behind the zoom control. The projected image quality is bright, as you'd expect from the specification, with a fair level of contrast and consistency produced by the DLP chip and powerful lamp.

Connectivity is limited to a mini-USB connector for mouse control and a DVI-I connector, while the lack of any integrated speakers means there are no external audio connectors. The control console is simple to use and is made up of just three buttons; a menu key that doubles up as the select key, a source select button and a reset button.

Equally basic is the remote control which, while having buttons for the keystone settings and data/video source select, doesn't allow for even the most basic of colour options such as adjustment of saturation and hue.

IBM has rather neatly designed the MicroPortable Data/Video Projector with its heat exhaust positioned at the rear of the system, so it doesn't produce a heat haze effect to compromise the image. However, positioning of the image is achieved by means of a single ratcheted support foot, which is awkward to adjust.

A basic level of security is provided by a Kensington Security Slot in the side of the unit. The projector comes with a three-year return-to-base parts and labour warranty.

Verdict
The MicroPortable Data/Video Projector doesn't have the feature set of some of its competitors - there are no integrated speakers and no remote control via a PC, for example - but to a certain extent this is compensated for by the lack of weight and bulk. If you really need a small, light projector, this will do the job.

Company: IBM

Contact: 0800 0965 287

Tags: digital light processing lumen (unit) ibm kensington security slot universal serial bus digital visual interface remote control video graphics array