Office & Business Projectors

Choosing the right projector for your business.

What is the difference between a home & business projector?

Business, Office, or Data Projectors are projectors designed for the business professional. Apart from some ultra-portable options, these data projectors are designed for use in brighter conditions, such as a conference room or meeting room. Many data projectors can include additional features such as Wireless casting from your computer, network control, and USB image readers.

Home projectors are primarily designed for entertainment purposes. Designers of the home theatre projectors put more emphasis on colour accuracy, contrast, and image processing, at the expense of brightness. A home projector usually will require a dark or semi-dark room for best results. Some home projectors may not display text as clearly as a data projector too.

How bright does a data projector need to be?

Brightness with most digital projectors is measured in ANSI Lumens or ISO Lumens. Both methods require the manufacturer to test their unit in regulated conditions to obtain a comparable rating. The brightness level required in a standard size conference room can range considerably, depending on the screen size and ambient lighting conditions. Typically, a brightness level of approximately 4000 ANSI Lumens is sufficient for a 2-metre-wide image in standard office lighting. Your viewing environment will be a major factor in determining how bright your projector must be. A lower brightness can still be used, however the ambient light in the room may need to be reduced, or the screen size decreased, to ensure a vibrant image. The larger the screen, and/or the higher the ambient light is in the room, the more powerful the projector will need to be.

Some recommended brightness levels are below

• 4000 ANSI Lumens – Typical meeting and conference rooms with lights on but minimal daylight.
• 5000 ANSI Lumens – Larger conference areas (30-150 viewers) or rooms with increased daylight.
• 6000 ANSI Lumens – Event or function spaces where a larger image is required (ie 3-4m wide).
• 8000+ ANSI Lumens – Specialty large-venue projectors designed for very large spaces or where exceptionally large image sizes are required. Commonly installed in large event spaces and hospitality venues.

What Resolution is best in a data projector?

The resolution of a projector is the measurement of the number of pixels being projected and therefore the detail level that you will see. Resolution is represented by its name (ie FULL HD), or by the number of pixels wide vs high (ie 1920 x 1080). A higher resolution will provide a more detailed image. Some smaller (and often much cheaper) projector brands heavily advertise their maximum resolution, rather than the real (native) resolution. The ‘Maximum Resolution’ specification represents the highest resolution of signal the projector can receive and has no bearing on picture quality, which is determined by the Native resolution specification.

Some common resolutions found in data projectors are below:

• SVGA - 800x600 - Low Detail. Only recommended for basic slideshows.
• XGA - 1024x768 - Medium Detail. Sutiable for standard PowerPoint presentations.
• WXGA / HD - 1280x800 - Medium Detail. The modern widescreen version of the XGA resolution.
• WUXGA / FULLHD - 1920x1080 or 1920x1200 - High Detail. This is the resolution of many computer monitors. Great for most uses.
• UHD / 4K - 3840x2160 - Highest Detail. Great for high quality projection such as CAD or highly detailed architectural drawings.

Are there portable projectors available?

Whilst most projectors are not overly large, there are some smaller models that are great for portable use. With portable projectors there can be a trade-off between size/weight and image brightness. Smaller projectors tend to not be as bright. For large audiences (ie 50+ people) you may need to stick with a more standard projector that weighs approximately 3-5kg), however if your audience is only 5 people then a mini projector may be for you.

There are a few classes of projectors as below:

• Mini Projectors - This type of projector can range from pocket sized to slightly larger than your palm. Average brightness ratings on mini projectors is 50 to 1000 ANSI Lumens. They are great for presenting to a few people in light controlled rooms.
• Portable Projectors - These tend to weigh approximately 1 - 2kg and have 2000 to 3500 ANSI Lumens brightness. They are great for most meeting rooms.
• Multipurpose Projectors - Represent the bulk of projectors with brightness levels between 3000-5000 lumens. Multipurpose projectors are great for conference rooms and small halls. They usually weigh around 3kg-5kg so are still easy to transport.
• Large Venue Projectors - Most large venue projectors will have brightness levels above 5000 lumens, some with well over 10,000 lumens. Large venue projectors are great for big conference and event spaces but are the least portable with the lightest weighing 5kg and some being over 20kg.

Can I connect my data projector wirelessly?

Wireless projection is a feature included on select projectors that allows the user to display wirelessly from a compatible computer or smart device. Wireless can make it significantly easier to present however there are some restrictions and limitations users need to consider.

Miracast Wireless is included on some business projectors and is arguably one of the easiest wireless technologies to use. It works with most Windows 10 and 11 computers as well as modern Windows and Android phones & tablets. No separate app is required as you can connect your device through the Windows ‘wireless display’ feature or Android’s Cast or Screenshare function. Miracast can display images and some video’s however it cannot display some copyrighted content (eg, Streaming apps like Netflix) and is not Apple compatible.

iProjection Wireless is Epsons wireless solution available on several of its projectors. Epsons iProjection requires the installation of the iProjection app. It can screenshare most computers and files can be selected in the app to display wirelessly. This app cannot for used for all file types and does not work for video. The app is compatible with Windows, Android, and Apple devices.

3rd Party Dongles can be connected to a projector to provide wireless connectivity. Many wireless dongles utilise Miracast and Apple AirPlay connection methods to make displaying from all mainstream devices easier. Basic wireless dongles are available for close to $100, while wireless display adapters with additional features and functionality can be well over $1000.

Is there anything else to look out for?

Do you sell to Government Departments?

Yes! Just Projectors regularly supplies to local, state, and federal government departments. Once you have decided on the products you require, you may attach your official purchase order to an email and send to sales@gmmultimedia.com.au. Please ensure your purchase order includes billing and delivery instructions and is signed by an authorised person. Payment terms for government departments is 30 days, however restrictions may apply depending on order size.

What projectors do you recommend for business?

The team at Just Projectors are constantly testing new releases to work out what are best for corporate use. Below we list a range of models we recommend for use in meeting rooms and conference venues. As always, if you have any queries feel free to get in contact with us.