Panasonic Lcd Tv Review

A New Generation Of Electronic Presentation Puts Your PC or Notebook Image on the Big Screen

THE RIGHT PRESENTATION GIVEN ON STORYBOARDS--OR a chalkboard or overhead transparencies--may have enough impact to sell you and your services to an audience or client. But with the growing number of excellent presentation software packages on the market today, the best tool you have is your notebook. Using Microsoft PowerPoint, Lotus Freelance Graphics, or SPC's Harvard Graphics, for example, you can put together an effective presentation, sit a client in front of your notebook, and start the show.

Sometimes your computer isn't enough, however. Whether it's 9.5 or 12.1 inches, dual-scan or active-matrix, a notebook screen won't cut it when you're presenting to three or more people. You need a way to project your message to larger audiences in the formal structure of a conference room setting. Why not use the most ubiquitous display technology available: the television.

Most companies stock their conference rooms with a TV. The problem is that your computer's video output needs a scan converter to work with a TV. Compact, portable, and easy to use, they project your notebook's VGA or super VGA images on either a U.S. standard NTSC or European-standard PAL.

Reconciling these two systems is not easy. A computer screen displays images at 640 by 480dpi in VGA or 800 by 600dpi in SVGA, while refreshing the screen 60 to 75 times a second. A TV refreshes lines alternately, doing one half and then going back to refresh the second half, refreshing the entire screen 30 times a second. In trying to bridge these two worlds, scan converters produce images that flicker and have varying degrees of sharpness. Still, while you're at the mercy of on-site equipment, it's one of the most cost-efficient ways to show your slides to a larger group. When you design your presentation for use with a scan converter, make sure to test it on your own TV screen. This will give you an idea of what converts well--and what doesn't--as you design your presentation. Trust your own eye, but in general, try to avoid using thin horizontal lines because they can get caught between the lines on the screen and become almost invisible.

Also, stick to a 14- to 18-point font-- 12-point will barely be legible. And make sure to keep your text and images a good distance from the edges of the screen; the bottom portion of a television screen is normally reserved for close-captioning or time codes, something normally cropped off when not in use. Similarly, the TV will cut off either the top or bottom of the computer image. Center your content to avoid this problem.

Should you decide that you want to bypass the scan converter's glitches and limitations altogether, LCD projectors and display panels will give you the means to produce more sophisticated, high-impact presentations--for a price. LCD projectors are high-tech versions of the Kodak projector you show your vacation slides on--which has changed too (see the accompanying box, "Going All Out").

For this month's buyer's guide, we selected three scan converters that range in price from $149 to $1,695. The Umax TV Mini and AVerKey 3 are the market leaders in their price range. All three scan converters work with Windows and Macintosh systems, and all support the European-standard PAL.

As with most electronic presentation equipment, scan converters are not widely available at the superstore level but are sold through regional dealers specializing in professional presentation tools. Look under Audio-Visual Dealers in your yellow pages for retailers in your area. Or contact the vendors directly and ask them for the closest distributor in your area.

We tested each unit on a Pentium-based PC running an STB Powergraph videocard and a Panasonic 27-inch flat-screen television. We noted how these units worked with a variety of applications that included text, color, sound, and video. We took points off for inaccurate color rendition and strongly flickering images.

AVerKey 3

Rating: ***

WIN/MAC

AVerMedia's midrange AVerKey 3 is a compact unit, a little larger than a videocassette. It comes with a separate AC power adapter and a small handheld remote with a special key that lets you pan across different areas of the screen. The remote allows you to zoom in to a portion of an image--a nice feature the other two models don't have, but its image quality suffers in the process. Installation takes just seconds, and operation is simple.

The performance of the AVerKey 3 is remarkably good. In 800-by-600dpi mode, sharpness of text is comparable with that of a low-range PC, and it reads a bit sharper than on Umax's TV Mini, although there is obvious ghosting caused by the sharpness control. Image flicker is also fairly noticeable. Color rendition, on the other hand, is close to what you get on a PC monitor. Overall, the AVerKey 3 is the best unit we tested when it comes to balancing price and performance. AVerMedia, 510-770-9899, 800-863-2332; $299

Extron Electronics

Super Emotia

Rating: **

WIN/MAC

The Super Emotia is widely regarded as one of the best high-end scan converters on the market, with excellent color rendition that supposedly justifies its price. Our tests, however, met with mixed results. The Emotia is a relatively large unit (about the size of an LCD panel) that, like the other converters, sets up easily-- a few cords to plug in and you're ready to go. It has no handheld remote, but several switches and dials on the front of the box let you control flicker, screen position, and size. You can use the TV's remote to adjust the brightness, color, and contrast of the screen.

The Emotia's color rendition was good, and its contrast was the best. But sharpness on our test device was mediocre. In 800-by600dpi mode, 12-point type was barely legible, and switching to 640 by 480dpi barely resolved the problem. The Super Emotia will run as high as 1,024 by 768dpi-- the highest possible resolution.

The Super Emotia had the best picture in terms of color and contrast, and the most PC monitor-like image for gradations of color, but its image resolution was not on a par with the AVerKey 3. If you do graphics-rich presentations, you'll like this model, as long as you keep your text short, sweet-- and large. Extron Electronics, 714-491-1500, 800-633-9876; $1,695

Umax Maxmedia TV Mini

Rating: ** 1/2 WIN If your arm has grown a sleeve length from lugging around "portable" computer equipment, you'll appreciate Umax's tiny Maxmedia TV Mini. The TV Mini is literally pocket-size--not much larger than a standard PC mouse. Setup is straightforward-- the Mini plugs directly into the VGA output on your PC and then into your TV. The Mini supports a number of output plugs, including Sony's "S" video jack, an RGB jack, or an RCA video jack. Power to the converter is supplied through a connection to the keyboard cable. It also has an underscan/overscan control, which lets you adjust the screen size. To control color, brightness, horizontal, and other settings, you have to fiddle with tiny, recessed screw controls using a screwdriver that Umax supplies. Fortunately, we were saved this hassle by the Mini's software drivers, which provided onscreen fine-tuning.

We noted that the Mini only did a fair job of rendering colors. Those in the same family (for example, light and medium blue) tended to blend into each other, which caused images to appear slightly washed out. Sharpness on the TV screen does not approach that of an SVGA PC monitor, but its 640-by-480dpi mode was acceptable. The flicker on the TV Mini, though present, was the least noticeable of those here. Urnax, 510-651-9488, 800-562-0311; $149

ABOUT OUR RATINGS

Lightware Viewpoint

One of the newest projectors is Lightware's hot-selling Viewpoint, which hit the market this past March. It's one of the first truly portable projectors, tipping the scales at a luggable 9.4 pounds. Adding to its portability is the handsome black case it comes in, which lets you easily carry it. Setup is quick and easy, and the onscreen controls for brightness, contrast, and flicker are accessible via a handheld remote or through controls on the device itself.

The Viewpoint emits a formidable light cannon, with a 400-watt halogen lamp and a 270-lumens rating. It throws a sharp, bright, 640-by-480dpi image visible in a lighted room on screens up to 80 inches measured diagonally. Using the remote, you can zoom in on different portions of the screen, then use the remote cursors to move from one portion of the image to another. Color and contrast are both excellent. The Viewpoint is expensive, but its compactness, ease of use, and excellent image make it a winner. Win/ Mac. Lightware, 503-646-4265, 800-445-9396; $6,500

Proxima DP 2810

Proxima's DP 2810 represents somewhat older, bulkier technology but it is still a capable machine. The DP 2810 uses a410-watt halogen bulb to throw out a bright, sharp picture. It projects a VGA 640-by-480dpi image, has built-in speakers and video compatibility, and it can reverse an image for rear-screen projection.

Unfortunately, compared to the sylph-like Viewpoint, the DP 2810 is a bit of a tank. It's roughly the size of a VCR, and with its accessories, cords, and spare bulb, it's capable of filling up a medium-size suitcase. Little chance of carrying this unit for any length of time. The projector alone weighs a formidable 21 pounds. Win/Mac. Proxima, 619-457-5500, 800-447-7692; $5,995

LCD Panels LCD panels hold some advantages over projectors in their small size and weight. Their dimensions of roughly 15 by 12 by 2 inches allow them to fit into a briefcase along with a portable PC. LCD panels are considerably less expensive ($5,000 or less) and lighter (around six pounds) than most projectors. But they leave you at the mercy of an overhead projector in a place where you plan to give your presentation. While they rely on a good projection source, when coupled with a bright overhead projector, LCD panels display a picture that is tough to beat for a self-contained projector.

Chisholm Rainbow 30/20

Chisholm's new Rainbow 30/20 LCD panel creates a sharp, well-saturated VGA 640-by480dpi image capable of reproducing 16.7 million colors. The 30/20 also has inputs and outputs for sound, an additional monitor, as well as a built-in amplifier and small speaker. It's also a manageable weight--under six pounds.

What makes the .30/20 a standout, though, is its WritingPad, an electronic tablet that will bring out the John Madden in any presenter. With the WritingPad and its wireless electronic pen, you can underline important points, make notes over a presentation or on a blank slate, add bullets to highlight key parts of your presentation, or manage the entire show by using the pen as your mouse. It's addictive--and useful to boot. Win/Mac. Chisholm, 408-559-1111, 800-888-4210; $4,495

Sharp QA-1800

Sharp's new QA-1800 panel is noteworthy because of its display. It projects an 800-by-600dpi SVGA screen image through an active-matrix display.

The QA-1800 also includes sound inputs, a built-in speaker, and an infrared remote-control device that allows you to manage the display in the unit's "mouse" mode. Images are well focused, color rich, and easy to watch. The QA-1800 weighs 7.3 pounds. Win/Mac. Sharp, 201-529-8731, 800-237-4277; $5,195

CHRIS SAYS:

The biggest pain about the video output devices described nearby is that you'll have to lug along yet another item in your travels. Although the smallest of these units is a tad larger than a videocassette, I would love to have seen any of you try to cram it into my overstuffed briefcase during my last road trip. 1 had to loosen the straps to get the buckles closed as it was.

Nothing against the products we tested--they work great if you've got an older notebook--but some recent models of IBM's ThinkPad line already include an NTSC video-out jack. Just plug the notebook into any handy TV set and you can present to a full boardroom. It's a trend we hope to see more of in the future.

--Chris Sandlund

Reviews Editor

MAKE YOUR POINT

Part of the magic in a good presentation is the air of effortlessness with which the presenter manages the screen image. Instrumental to that is a good remote pointer.

These give you full command of your presentation from almost anywhere in a room, freeing you from tapping commands onto a keyboard. Some of these standalone units are well worth considering.

IR50 F/X

Mind Path's IR50 F/X is an infrared-driven device that enables you to work up to 45 feet from your laptop. The IR50 unit is about the size of a flattened banana, with a large central button that you manipulate with your thumb to move the customizable onscreen pointer. Five preset buttons manage the telestrator zoom (you can circle or underscore onscreen items), spotlight, and such special effects as sound (best is a WAV file that lets you run nonstop applause). Two other buttons manage slides.

Operating the IR50 is easier if you are accustomed to a laptop-type, thumb-operated pointer button as opposed to a traditional desk-side mouse. With a little practice, though, you'll soon be a pro. Win/Mac. Mind Path Technologies, 214-233-9296, 800-634-7424; $150

Remote Point/Remote Point Plus

Another infrared unit is the Interlink Remote Point. It's a simple mouse unit with just a thumb-operated cursor control and buttons that emulate a two-button mouse. But its range is about 40 feet, line of sight, and its pressure-sensitive thumb-controlled cursor unit takes practice. Its more advanced sibling, the Remote Point Plus has four preset or programmable buttons and Interlink's VersaPoint Plus software for advanced screen control. Remote Point is available in Win/Mac versions; Remote Point Plus is for

Windows only. Interlink, 805-484-8855, 800-340-1331; $99 for Remote Point, $159 for Remote Point Plus

GyroPoint Pro

Gyration's otherworldly GyroPoint Pro, although the most expensive remote pointer, is easily the best. It's a football-shaped, fist-size, radio-controlled unit that lets you stand up to 70 feet from the screen, and it is far less sensitive to obstructions between you and the receiver unit than infrared models. What's terrific, though, is the GyroPoinfs internal gyroscope, which tracks the user's wrist movements for operation, almost exactly mimicking a traditional mouse, but in three dimensions.

The GyroPoint's software has a wide array of screen tools, including reveal (which lets you blank the screen, then gradually uncover it), spotlight, screen zoom, sounds, and "Xs" or other symbols you can scatter around the screen. It has three control buttons--one activates the unit, the other two mimic standard mouse buttons or can be programmed to launch its software tools. Win/Mac. Gyration, 408-255-3016; 800-316-5432; $449

SLIP SLIDIN' ALONG

Despite the proliferation of whiz-bang presentation gears such as LCD projectors, panels, and scan converters, one decades-old technology is doing just fine: the slide projector.

In fact, slide projectors remain the presentation medium of choice for executives and professionals who want hardware that's reliable and easy to use. "LCD technology causes people to fumble," says Rich Deline, a Seattle presentation consultant. "On a slide projector, you just push a button."

Slide projectors will give you an edge in overall image quality as well--particularly when slides contain documents, photographs, or other material that would need to be scanned into a PC or laptop to be used with an electronic presentation system. "You can put anything you want on a slide and it's always clean, sharp, and readable," says Deline.

Projectors also remain relatively affordable-around $1,200 for a high-quality unit such as Kodak's computer-ready Ektapro 9010. With the 9010 or its slightly less-expensive sibling, the 7010, you can use a laptop equipped with slide-system software to fully control a slide show. It's even possible to preview slides on the laptop screen so you know exactly what's coming next, or you can easily backtrack. The digitally driven Ektapros also have features such as fast, 0.88-second slide-changing; dual-lamps for lamp-out protection; and timers for unattended operation. With a cable you can automatically manage dissolves between two projectors or fade-in/ fade-out slides on a single projector.

Slide projectors have their drawbacks, though. Preparing slides takes time, even when using a program such as PowerPoint or Persuasion, because the digital images need to be converted to film. Slide projectors also present data in a linear fashion, something today's interactive/info-browsing/hypertext-happy audiences don't always appreciate. And they typically need a darkened room for best performance--something sure to put half your audience to sleep (especially after lunch). But for performance, price, and ease of use, these pre-PC devices still have a lot to offer.

DOUG GANTENBEIN writes extensively on the technology industry.

COPYRIGHT 1996 Freedom Technology Media Group
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

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