Sony VPL-ES2

Portable projectors are most commonly used for boardroom presentations; however, they are also frequently packed into carry bags and shipped home for weekend movie sessions.

Sony recognises this, and has built the VPLES2, a projector to fill both roles. It includes six picture mode settings to enhance the image for movies, presentations, and other types of display. VGA, composite, and S-Video inputs are provided, and Sony has even bundled a carry case to prevent the unit copping a flogging on the road to and from the office. The right-hand face includes zoom and focus dials next to the inputs, and the lens has a cover that automatically rotates when the power's turned off.

The 2.8kg device features a three-LCD-panel mechanism, running at a native resolution of 800 x 600 (in a 4:3 aspect ratio). It is able to scale HD content to fit the screen. A short throw lens means that the device only has to be 3.3m from the screen to produce a 100" image, making it ideal for cramped boardroom presentations or even use in small lounge rooms. There was little distortion at the corners of the picture as a result. The1500 lumen rating makes the display suitably bright for a well-lit room.

The small silver and blue unit features a number of fans to keep the lamp cool during operation, but it's not excessively noisy when running at full bore and wouldn't detract from the soundtrack on quiet movies. The lamp is rated to a life of 3000 to 4000 hours, making it one of the most durable projectors on the market.

One of the more elegant features of the Sony is Auto Intelligent Setup, which greatly simplifies the process of configuring the projector. A powered tilt adjuster, automatic keystone correction, automatic input selection and pixel alignment mean that you can have the projector unpacked and up and running within a couple of minutes. The base of the projector includes mounting holes so you can use it at a permanent installation, and there's enough adjustment available in the feet to stabilise and square-up the image on a boardroom table.

A small handheld remote control provides access to zoom, keystone, input selection and configuration buttons. Although the remote control is sparse, it's exceptionally easy to use, and it takes just a few minutes to fine-tune your settings and enhance the image. The device is covered by a one-year warranty.