Editors' Rating
| Service & support |  |
8.5 |
| Design | |
8.5 |
| Features | |
8.5 |
| Performance | |
8.5 |
Published: 23 Apr 2009
InFocus, which has recently been acquired by Image Holdings Corporation (IHC), targets its IN3106 projector at meeting-room-bound presenters requiring a good match for their widescreen notebooks and high-definition (HD) content. This DLP projector packs an impressive feature set, which includes 3000 Lumen brightness, a 2000:1 contrast ratio, DisplayLink 'content-over-USB' technology' and touch-sensitive (LiteTouch) controls.
The IN3106 has a native resolution of 1,280 by 800 pixels (WXGA) and can therefore project 720p (1,280x720) content natively; 'full-HD' 1080p input (1,920x1,080) is supported via compression. This 3.18kg projector can be ceiling-mounted (with a suitable attachment), supports desktop and rear projection, and measures 31.5cm wide by 24.9cm deep by 9.4cm high, so is reasonably transportable. Support for digital keystone correction (+/- 30 degrees) helps with positional flexibility. The built-in 3-watt stereo speakers deliver sufficient volume for small to medium-sized rooms.
Like several of its stablemates, including the IN1100, the IN3106 supports DisplayLink technology, which uses your computer's USB port to deliver the video signal to the projector. It also includes HDMI v1.3, VGA (2), S-Video and composite video inputs so you can connect HD TVs and other video sources. DisplayLink is designed to be cross-platform, with support for Windows 2000, Windows XP (32-bit) and Windows Vista (32-bit). Beta drivers for Mac OS X are also currently available for Tiger (10.4) and Leopard (10.5). A release date for the full Mac OS X driver has not been announced, although DisplayLink says it's 'committed to making a Mac release that is just as good as — if not better — than our Windows Vista release, including full support for OpenGL 3D acceleration'.
LiteShow II is a useful option for connecting the IN3106 wirelessly. This £113 802.11b/g adapter, which plugs into the projector's VGA port, supports simultaneous transmission of audio-visual content, enabling a totally wireless multimedia presentation. LiteShow II can be set up in peer-to-peer, access point or enterprise modes — in the latter, a 'guest' feature provides access to the projector but not to the corporate network.
We like InFocus's LiteTouch keypad, which replaces standard buttons with a backlit, touch-sensitive keypad that gives the IN3106 a sleek and professional look. From the keypad you can power the unit on and off, select the video source, alter keystone settings, adjust the volume and invoke the on-screen menu. You can also manage presets and let the IN3106 automatically setup an image for you. The keypad is very sensitive, thankfully, but you might want to turn off the rather noisy key clicks.
The IN3106 delivers impressive image quality thanks to its DLP projection engine with BrilliantColor technology. Images are sharp and bright with stunning colours, thanks to the use of a 5-segment colour wheel (red, green, blue, cyan and yellow). Blacks are noticeably deep and whites clean and bright. The lamp's 3,000 Lumens allows the projector to deliver a large image if necessary (maximum image size is 5.08m across the diagonal), while the 2000:1 contrast ratio provides impressive image depth and detail. The automatic keystone correction works flawlessly and the default settings will rarely need adjusting. The inclusion of USB-based DisplayLink technology makes it easier than ever to simply connect and present.
The IN3106 is extremely well built and looks great. Start-up and warm-down times are a little slower than the competition and the IN3106 is a little noisy (33dB) when running in High Bright mode, but at least there's an Eco mode that slows the internal fan right down to a hum and bossts the lamp lifespan to 4,000 hours (while dimming the brightness to 2,400 Lumens). Sadly, the projector lacks an Ethernet port, but at least it's wireless ready. The IN3106 comes with a three-year warranty, while the lamp is covered for one year.
Digg
Slashdot
Del.ici.ous
Stumble
Reddit
