The LCD projector was invented by the American inventor Gene Dolgoff. He started working on it in 1968 but it wasn’t until 1984 that he was able to complete the world’s first LCD projector. There were large losses of light and very noticeable pixels on the screen. It took him until 1988 to produce a model that satisfied him and in that year he founded Projectavision Inc, the world’s first LCD projector company.

Data projectors are now becoming very popular as their price starts to drop. The cost of replacing the lamp is still quite high. A lamp can cost up to $500 for a projector that originally cost around $1000.

There are two main types of data projectors, namely LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and DLP (Digital Light Projection). With LCD, the projector reflects the video signal onto thousands of tiny mirrors, allowing for improved clarity and resolution. LCD projectors are usually the most affordable. DLP projectors use “micromirrors” to display their image. This leads to a perfect digitally projected image. DLP projectors are known for their incredible image quality. Many theaters have started using DLP projectors.

Several people are installing home theaters with screens around 4 or 5 meters wide, which is easily achievable with a data projector. They are also used in classrooms and many companies use them for their training classes as they can be connected to a laptop quite easily.

Home theaters usually show DVD movies or live TV shows. Make sure you have a TV tuner to allow TV channels to be picked up.

When buying a projector, make sure it has the required output connectors. HDMI is a must these days, but DVI also provides an excellent signal.

S-video and composite are also desired. The brightness depends on the environment. A small, dark room will not require as many lumens as a large room with the lights on. In a dedicated home theater in a dark room, a contrast ratio greater than 2000:1 is required. If it is displayed in a bedroom, then the contrast is not as important.

Ceiling mounting is desirable because the projector is less likely to be damaged by people wandering into the room. Make sure the projector you are interested in has ceiling mount capability.

Small portable projectors are now also available. One of the most popular measures just 162mm x 102mm and weighs just 635 grams, but can project an image up to 228cm diagonally and has a 30,000 hour lamp life. It does not have a tuner to capture TV channels. Selling at just $499 it’s an incredible value. It is the Vivitek Qumi DLP Pico projector.