Education Buyers Guide

Choosing the right projector for your school.

What brightness level do I require?

Brightness with digital projectors is universally measured in ANSI Lumens. The brightness level required in a standard size classroom can range considerably, depending on the screen size and ambient light. Traditionally a brightness level of 3000 ANSI Lumens or more is sufficient for a standard screen size like 90" to 100" in a lit room. 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 have to be lowered or the screen size reduced to ensure a clear image. The Larger the screen and the higher the ambient light is in the room the more powerful the projector will have to be. For small school halls a minimum of 4000 ANSI Lumens is required with an ideal brightness level of 5000 ANSI Lumens.

What Resolution is right for me?

A native resolution is essentially a measurement for the number of pixels being projected. Usually this is represented in a number of pixels width to height e.g. 1920 pixels width and 1080 pixels high. Projectors may accept signals higher and lower of the native resolution but will have to convert or compress the signal to display in the native resolution.

The most common measurements for education projectors are

• SVGA - 800x600 - For basic PowerPoint presentations with large font sizes. Is slowly being phased out.
• XGA - 1024x768 - Great for basic Powerpoint and video presentations. Also being phased out.
• WXGA - 1280x800 (HD) - Enough detail to handle smaller text or HD video e.g. Excel Spread Sheets
• WUXGA - 1920 x 1080 or 1920 x 1200 (Full HD) - Great detail, perfect for all presentations and high quality video's
• UHD - 3840 x 2160 (4K) - The newest and highest quality resolution. Great for very high quality projection such as CAD or highly detailed architectural drawings. Primarily this resolution is used for home theatre but there are some high-end business projectors starting to utilise this high resolution.  

Are there Portable models available?

Yes definitely! Whilst most projectors tend to not be overly large there are some smaller models that are great for portable use. The smaller projectors tend to not be as bright as the larger models so you have to keep that in mind when selecting your new projector. If, for example, you are presenting to groups of 100 or more you would be best to stick with a brighter (and larger) projector to ensure the image will be large enough for everyone to see. If you are only presenting to a few people you could get away with a Mini or Pico projector.
There are a few classes of projectors as below:

• Mini Projectors -
  These range from tiny pocket projectors to the slightly larger units up to around 1.5kg. Most of these models will have brightness levels ranging from 200 up to 1500 lumens. These are great for small groups of 6-15 people.
• Portable Projectors -
  These tend to weight around 1-2kg and have 2000 to 3500 ANSI Lumens brightness. They can handle typical classroom sized areas.
• Multipurpose Projectors -
  Represent the bulk of projectors with brightness levels between 3000-5000 lumens. Multipurpose models are great for classrooms and small halls. They usually weigh around 3kg so are still easy to transport.
• Large Venue Projectors -
  Most large venue projectors will have brightness levels of 5000 lumens or more... some having well over 10,000 lumens. These projectors are great for larger school halls but tend to weigh 5kg or more so are not as portable.

What do the PC Free, Smart and Wireless features mean?

PC Free and Wireless functions are two relatively new technologies to be included in select presentation projectors. PC Free allows the unit to project a presentation, image or some video files without the need to connect a computer or any other AV device. The correctly formatted files can be loaded onto a USB flash drive or SD Card, which is then connected directly to the projector. The projector can only read certain file types, some projectors may only be able to display a picture file while others can display some Microsoft PowerPoint slides or PDF files. PC Free is a great option for teachers that have many sessions or presentations a day and do not wish to carry around both a projector and a computer.

Smart projectors are a newcomer to the projection field. Essentially a smart projector has a basic computer inbuilt (usually Android or Windows based). This allows you to easily connect a keyboard & mouse into the projector for easy control of a presentation without the need for a laptop or PC. You can read files off USB, connect a camera for conferencing, pull up websites to present something on the internet. It like having a laptop but with a huge screen.

Wireless connectivity allows the projector to connect to a computer without the need for cabling. Wireless typically transmits at a low frame rate so is only suitable for presentations and photo's, not for motion (video/movies). There are several types of wifi technologies in use with Miracast currently being one of the most commonly used.

What is an Ultra Short Throw Projector?

An Ultra Short Throw projector is a projector with a very short installation distance. Generally, a UST projector will be a larger unit that uses a mirror to create an image from close range. These models are usually installed on a wall mount and project straight down onto the same wall. Many UST models only sit about 30cm out from a wall for an image around 2m wide. These models can be great for the classroom as the teacher/presenter can stand next to the screen without casting a shadow on the screen.

Is there anything else to look out for?

Can I order using a Purchase Order?

Yes! Once you have decided on the products you require, you may attach your schools 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 most education facilities is 30 days, however restrictions may apply depending on order size and trading history.

What projectors do you recommend for educators?

The team at Just Projectors are constantly testing new releases to work out what are best for the educator. Below we list a range of models we recommend for use in schools, Tafe's, and Universities. As always if you have any queries feel free to get in contact with us.