Meetings where multiple people need to contribute can be incredibly tedious, with each person having to either connect to the office projector individually or having to simply turn their laptop around to show other participants. It doesn't create a particularly collaborative atmosphere and normally leads to someone dashing out to find that Mini DisplayPort to VGA converter they left on their desk.

Barco's ClickShare products aim to change this by replacing the usual gaggle of adapter cables with a wireless connection that can be seamlessly shared between multiple computers. The CSC-1 is the top-of-the-range ClickShare device, with a price to match, so it has to be a totally seamless experience to justify the cost.

Setup

The CSC-1 takes the form of a base unit - a mini PC a little larger than a high-end router - and four buttons' - wireless dongles that you plug into your computers' USB ports. First-time setup is simpler than we could have expected, with everything working as expected with zero configuration.

This means the CSC-1 could easily be bought and set up by someone who has no technical knowledge whatsoever, and you could happily run the CSC-1 without ever having to reconfigure it. It's no wonder Barco doesn't ship the unit with a proper manual; it's simply not necessary for most buyers. With that said, there's a comprehensive and regularly updated user guide on Barco's website for those who want it.

Of course, there's a lot more to it if you're an IT manager who actually needs to integrate the CSC-1 into a corporate IT system. At the rear of the unit is a LAN port for connecting to your network. In order to configure how it behaves on your network, you have to connect to the CSC-1's local Wi-Fi network, navigate to its local IP address in your web browser and log in with the preset username and password.

The web interface is much like that of a router, with simple, HTML-based buttons and boxes. The CSC-1 doesn't hook into any external devices natively: for example, if you wanted to hook the CSC-1 up to a video conferencing suite as a video source, you'd have to do this via a video splitter because the box itself doesn't handle it natively.

When you first run the CSC-1, there will probably be a firmware update available, but because it doesn't connect to the internet directly, you'll need to download the update to a PC and then upload the software to the CSC-1 via the browser-based interface. For us this was very simple and took around 10 minutes.

At the rear of the device there's a fairly conventional set of I/O ports that you'd find on a regular PC, including four USB ports (which will rarely be used), the Ethernet connector and two display outputs. Those outputs take the form of a DVI port and a DisplayPort connector. It's curious that more common outputs found on many projectors aren't present; VGA and HDMI would have been handy; you'll need to find adapters if your computers don't have DisplayPort or DVI outputs.

Both DisplayPort and DVI connectors can be used simultaneously with the CSC-1 outputting to two screens simultaneously. The CSC-1 also receives sound, and if you've connected your receiver via DisplayPort or have used a 3.5mm jack, you'll be able to play it on your display device.

In use

Aside from the base unit and four buttons, the CSC-1 also ships with a nicely made tray' into which the buttons slot when not in use.

To project your screen to the CSC-1, you plug the button into a USB port. The Button is both a very small flash drive and a wireless transmitter, so when you plug it in it appears as an external drive for your PC or laptop. Simply open the application that's stored on the drive and you're ready to go. You'll see confirmation that you're now connected to the CSC-1, and that's it.

To project the contents of your screen to the CSC-1, you simply click the button. When you're projecting, the button is lit up red, and when you're not it's lit up in white. If more than one person is projecting at a time, the CSC will split the screen into two, three or four to accommodate them all. If you have two screens connected to the CSC-1, the third and fourth outputs will go on the second screen instead, unless you've configured the CSC-1 to clone to a second screen instead of extending.

Our only real issue with the way the multi-screen sharing is handled is that there's no way to force somebody to stop sharing their screen, meaning they might continue to share even when they have finished contributing. This means you'll have to press their button for them or ask them to stop. It would be a lot easier if someone was a meeting leader who can control who's sharing at any one time. It's a minor point, but something we reckon would make the whole process even more fluid.

The quality of projected content is excellent. There's a brief moment of fairly blurry content when you project for the first time, but after a couple of seconds you get a full-quality picture. There's next to no delay between the source and the CSC-1's output, which is great when you're watching video. There's a slight amount of judder on moving images, which is noticeable but completely acceptable for the office environment where videos will most likely be fairly mundane anyway.

We weren't able to get the signal to drop at any reasonable range; even standing 20 metres away with our laptop we still had a crystal clear image.

In addition to the buttons, which work on both Windows and OS X, you can also download the ClickShare Presenter app for iOS and Android. We had a lot of trouble with the Android app and it took a lot of fiddling to get it to connect. Once connected, the app isn't especially good and only lets you share things that are open in the app itself, and as soon as you navigate away from the app your connection is lost. It's not terrible - you can open files whether they are locally stored files or on cloud services such as Dropbox from within the app - but it's nowhere near as seamless as the Windows and Mac applications.

Conclusions

The Barco ClickShare CSC-1 is a terrific piece of kit that more than justifies its asking price for businesses who need a better way of handling projector-based meetings. With very few drawbacks - such as patchy mobile apps, a lack of third-party integration and a rather free-for-all way of managing meetings - it's a great buy.

Verdict

The Barco ClickShare CSC-1 is an expensive way to streamline your meetings, but it’s absolutely worth it

Framte rate: 30fps

Maximum resolution: 3840x2160 pixels

4x ClickShare buttons

1x Ethernet; 802.11n Wi-Fi; 5x USB2 ports, 1x DVI; 1x DisplayPort; 1x 3.5mm in; 1x 3.5mm out; maximum 1,920x1,200 pixel output

Windows system requirements:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E4600, AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ or faster Memory: 2GB RAM OS: Windows XP or later

Mac system requirements

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo or faster Memory: 2GB RAM OS: Mac OS X 10.6 or later

HP has announced an updated version of the Sprout, its pioneering all-in-one PC. Now aimed at business and education customers, the Sprout Pro is unique as it has a built-in 3D scanner as well as a projector which creates a second touch-sensitive control surface.

The Sprout Pro is little changed aesthetically from its predecessor and has received the usual boost in specifications that you'd expect from a 2016 PC Skylake Core i7 6700 processors, Windows 10, 8GB DDR4 memory and a TPM chip.

Much more interesting are several new apps and use cases which make the Sprout more than just a passing curiosity. Using Sprout Companion for Skype for Business, you can share whatever the 3D scanner sees with your chat participants as an attachment. You can also scan prosaic items, such as documents, and annotate them on the projected screen using the included stylus. More lighthearted use cases include the ability to make a stop motion animation with the 3D scanner tracking your objects' movements across your table top.

One of the most intriguing third-party uses of the Sprout is a program for training assembly line workers from LGS Light Guide Systems. The camera tracks workers hand movements as they practise assembling items, with helpful animated annotations appearing onscreen over a live view of their hands pointing out where they've gone wrong. It's a niche but remarkably useful application of the Sprout's cameras and augmented reality capabilities.

Alive Studios produces educational programs for the Sprout including Letters Alive and Math Alive for very young children who've started learning the fundamentals of literacy and numeracy. Placing special cards under the Sprout's camera, such as 'H for Horse', will show an onscreen animation, corresponding to that letter, layered on top of a live video feed of the card.

The camera can detect finger presses on specific 'buttons' on the cards, so, for example, pressing one button will present the child with an onscreen audio prompt on how to pronounce the letter. Children can line up a series of cards under the camera to create a basic sentence the software can detect incorrectly constructed sentences and prompt the child to change it by swapping out word cards. The software doesn't come cheap though a bundle of both Word Alive and Math Alive costs US$1300.

The Sprout Pro itself will require a significant amount of investment compared to other non-workstation PCs, although this is admittedly due to its unique and specialised hardware and software. The Sprout Pro will cost 1899 and will be available from March, but only to professional and education customers in the UK, France, Germany and Spain. It's likely the Sprout Pro will become available to general consumers if it's a hit with business and education users. In the meantime, everyday punters will have to be content with the previous-generation Sprout which remains on sale.

Intel IDF has yet to kick off officially, but the firm previewed a handful of concepts at a tech showcase, with two items catching our attention.

Display without boundaries

The aim of this is to enable users to beam images and videos onto any surfaces within home and business environments.

The concept on show involved a images being projected on to touch-compatible glass bowl. Users can cycle through images and transfer them to another surface such as a wall with a quick tap or swipe using the cloud.

A projector is used to place the images on a touch screen bowl. However, in the future Intel is hoping to project images using smaller light sources

"So far images and videos have been limited to being viewed on displays such as TVs, PCs or mobile devices. We're looking to extend this to any surface and whilst retaining gesture based interaction too."

For the demo Intel had to set up a projector precariously facing downwards, but Marshall was confident that the technology can be incorporated into smaller light sources primarily fixtures such as light bulbs, which naturally point vertically onto surface and can be repositioned.

The technology would not just be limited to showing off images, but with other uses including sharing charts or PowerPoint slides during presentations or viewing and planning routes such as Google Maps.

Micro Digital Signage

Another eye catching concept on display was the Digital Program Manager, which aims to benefit consumers and retailers when it comes to shopping.

A mock up of what a supermarket shelf would look like with the Micro Digital Signage system

The concept has been built using 4in web-connected touch screen displays instead of traditional paper-price tags, explained Tom Birch, the Micro Digital Signage product manager.

The display will allow users to rate products, look at Twitter feeds, select coupons and even allow users to change languages so they can read ingredients. The devices come are built using a HTML5 webpage so retailers will be able to add as many panels as they require.

Users will be able to swipe through panels, to see information such as prices, rating and even comments from Twitter

For retailers benefits will include being able to spot consumer trends, and change pricing of goods from a central location. The screens will also come with front facing cameras, so retailers will be able to monitor stock levels of products on opposite shelves.

It remains to be seen when this concept is able to make it to market. Birch acknowledged that retailers have low margins, so the system will have to made as cheap as possible utilising lower-resolution touch screen that those that were on display.

Verdict

It remains to be seen whether these concepts will make it to market. They are in the early stages of conception, but the Digital Signage system could certainly be useful to both consumers and retailers. The only problem is whether Intel can make it cheap enough for mass production.

With desktop DLP projectors now available from around 200 ex VAT, 500 is enough for something a bit more upmarket. ViewSonic's latest sets itself apart with an unusually bright 3,500 lumens and widescreen 1280x800 pixel resolution.

These are impressive specs for the price. There are various projectors for around 500 that deliver one or the other, but this is the lowest price we can find for one with both of these specifications. Replacement lamps are relatively pricey, though, at 198 ex VAT. That equates to 5.7p per hour over the 3,500-hour lamp life.

The bright lamp has clear benefits in classrooms, lecture halls and offices where the projector has to compete with natural light. The wide-aspect (16:10) resolution might go down well in these environments too, as it's closer to the aspect ratios of most modern laptops and computer monitors. This enables users to duplicate their computer's image with the minimum of fuss. 16:9 is more common on laptops, but the projector had no problem automatically letterboxing the various signals we fed it with to maintain the correct aspect ratio. There's a lot of inertia for 4:3 projectors in business environments, though, with most projector screens and many people designing presentations in this aspect ratio. Business buyers should therefore think carefully about whether a widescreen projector is right for them.

The PJD6553w is a handsome device, although its beauty is somewhat short-lived because the glossy plastic finish shows up dust and fingerprints. At 2.6kg and 294mm wide, it's small enough to be carried from room to room. Accurate positioning is helped by a ratcheted front foot raise the projector to the desired angle, release the catch and the foot drops down to the correct height. With the foot fully retracted, the lens is the same height as the base of the image. One of the rear feet is threaded to make small adjustments to compensate for uneven surfaces, although it could be a little stiffer to avoid accidental adjustment during transit. The 1.3x optical zoom and throw ratio range of 1.21 to 1.57:1 provide a little flexibility in positioning. Keystone correction is a manual process.

IT staff will appreciate remote control over a LAN using Creston e-control and RoomView Express web-based interfaces.

The projector somehow managed to crash while displaying one of its built-in test pattern images as we switched to Eco mode. The only way to regain control was to unplug it at the mains, which isn't great for the lamp. We couldn't get it to repeat the problem, though, so we'll put it down to a freak occurrence.

Otherwise, the PJD6553w was straightforward in operation, displaying a usable image within 10 seconds of powering up, and taking just five seconds to power down. The OSD was easy to navigate via the remote control or the buttons on the top of the projector. It includes all the usual features, plus detailed control over the RGB colour channels and the ability to adjust colours for projecting on a blackboard, whiteboard or green surface. It also supports 3D sync for use with DLP Link-compatible glasses. This projector is a decent choice for 3D films and gaming with its wide aspect ratio and bright image the latter compensates for the fact that 3D glasses halve the amount of light reaching each eye.

The PJD6553w has a plethorea of inputs.

Image quality was typical for a DLP projector, with the bright lamp and deep contrast producing extremely vivid colours. There was no colour banding or clipping of highlights or shadows in our greyscale ramp test, even when we ventured into the more souped up colour profiles. The rainbow effect was visible in fast-moving, high-contrast graphics, particularly when we moved our eyes quickly across the image. However, while this might spoil the suspension of disbelief when settling down in front of a black and white film, it won't do much to interrupt the flow of a lecture or presentation.

Focus wasn't as sharp as we'd hoped for, though. With the projector sat level on a table facing perpendicular to the screen, it proved impossible to achieve sharp focus across the entire image at the same time. Once we'd found the best compromise, small text was perfectly legible but the lack of pin-sharp focus was still visible at typical viewing distances.

So what's our verdict?

Verdict

The bright lamp, high resolution, Ethernet-based remote control web interface and low price look great on paper, and the superb colours and straightforward operation mean it's pretty impressive in the flesh, too. Less-than-perfect focus and the high cost of replacement lamps take the shine off, though. Until such time as we see a better-performing business projector at this price, we'll give it a cautious recommendation.

Display Size: 30-300in Resolution: 1,280 x 800 pixels Throw distance: 1.2-10m Throw ratio: 1.21 – 1.57:1 Display technology: DLP Brightness: 3,500 ANSI lumens Contrast Ratio: 4,000:1 (dynamic) Lamp life: 3,500 hours (5,000 in eco-mode) Connections: 2x D-Sub in, D-Sub out, HDMI in, S-Video in, composite in, mini-USB2, Ethernet, 2x minijack audio in, minijack audio out, RS-232 Adjustments: Keystone, brightness, contrast, BrilliantColor, colour temperature, screen colour, colour management (hue, saturation, gain for R/G/B channels) Dimensions (W x D x H): 294 x 242 x 84mm Power consumption: 310W active, 1W standby Speakers: 1x 10W Security: Kensington lock VESA mounting: N/A Warranty: Three years collect and return (one year lamp) Part code: PJD6553W

Pocket projectors are still a niche product, but are becoming more common. Manufacturers are beginning to integrate them into other devices such as cameras and camcorders, but they're little more than gimmicks. 3M's latest model - the chunky MP180 - hopes to appeal to the travelling presenter, and is the most feature-packed pico projector we've seen.

The most obvious extra is the colour LCD screen on the top of the unit. This 2.4in display makes a lot of sense as you can browse files stored in the 4GB of built-in memory as well as the contents of an inserted microSD card without needing to actually project an image.

The resistive touchscreen display requires a firm prod.

As it's a touchscreen, control is intuitive, but it wasn't quite as responsive as we've come to expect from modern capacitive screens - this is a resistive display which requires a firm prod. Occasionally the MP180's processing power appeared to be the weak link, as we were left waiting for menus to appear for several seconds after trying to exit an application.

The strangest built-in application is the web browser. This connects to the internet using the integrated Wi-Fi radio - websites are then displayed straight onto the nearest flat surface. Unfortunately, the browser looks like an ancient version of Internet Explorer. Entering a web address or Google search term is fiddly due to the tiny keyboard which appears on the 2.4in LCD screen. Trickier still is controlling the mouse pointer with the touchscreen - we found it almost impossible to be accurate. Worse still, you can't tap the screen anywhere to click; you have to prod a specific area at the bottom, requiring you to take your eyes off the projected screen to find it.

Next to the USB port is a proprietary A/V port. Two cables are included - one with VGA and a 3.5mm audio jack, and another with composite video and stereo phono audio connectors. 3M has chosen a sensible resolution for the MP180 - 800x600 is a standard Windows setting so it's easy to connect your laptop and project an undistorted image.

The MP180 is considerably larger and heavier than most pocket projectors.

Most people, though, are far more likely to use the built-in media player than connect an external device. As well as being able to play music, photos and videos, there are viewers for Microsoft Office files and PDFs. We had no trouble viewing PowerPoint presentations, even in the latest PPTX format, but video support is limited to MP4/H.264.

The 30-lumen brightness is enough for a moderately large image in a darkened room. We found it best to stick to around 40in or less, but that's still far bigger than any laptop screen. At this size, colours are fairly vibrant and accurate, but contrast at any screen size is disappointing.

The main problems, though, are typical of pico projectors. It was impossible to achieve sharp focus across the entire screen, while a vignette effect made the corners noticeably darker than the centre. Yet another issue was that colours weren't even across the screen. The white background of our test presentation had prominent yellow areas in addition to the darker corners.

Despite the price, a remote control is merely optional, leaving only the touchscreen for controlling presentations and media playback. This is ok if you're just using the flip-out front foot, but the bundled mini tripod isn't sturdy enough to keep the image still while you're poking the screen.

The bundled mini tripod isn't sturdy enough to keep the image still while you're poking the screen.

At least the two-hour battery will outlast any presentation, even if it takes three hours to charge up again, and the stereo speakers are nice and loud, even if they lack bass. Also, despite being based around DLP technology, we didn't notice the rainbow effect, which is where your eye can detect the red, green and blue flickering as the internal LED cycles between the colours.

It's worth noting that the MP180 is considerably larger and heavier than most pocket projectors. At 336g, it's hardly heavy, but Samsung's SP-H03 weighs just 210g including the battery that lasts just as long as the MP180's. As it's a similar size and shape to a large glasses case, it will just about fit in a jacket pocket, but the SP-H03 is much smaller.

So what's our verdict?

Verdict

It's commendable that 3M has gone further with the MP180 than any other pico projector before it, but the price reflects this. Given the unusable web browser, relatively poor image quality and whiny fan, Samsung's SP-H03 is still the better choice. It too has a built-in media player and a battery that lasts for two hours, but it also has slightly better image quality, it's more compact and is cheaper at around £200.

Display Size: 10-80in Resolution: 800 x 600 pixels Display technology: LCOS, LED Brightness: 30 ANSI lumens Contrast Ratio: Not disclosed Connections: VGA (via adaptor), micro USB, micro SD slot Adjustments: focus Dimensions (W x D x H): 63 x 150 x 34mm Speakers: Yes Security: none Warranty: one year RTB Part code: MP180

We're used to seeing ultra-portable laptops with 13in displays, as it's usually the smallest size that can still accommodate an internal optical drive or second battery; with this in mind, we were surprised when the Tecra R840 landed on our desks. Despite having a very compact chassis, it has a larger than normal 14in display that sets it apart from the smaller competition.

You might gain an extra inch in screen space, but Toshiba hasn't capitalised on that by including a higher resolution display; the Tecra R840-12F uses the same 1,366x768 pixel resolution that we would expect to see in a 13in laptop. Image quality was about average, with a reasonable amount of contrast and mostly accurate, if slightly muted, colours. Vertical viewing angles weren't the best, although there was plenty of screen tilt so this shouldn't be a massive issue. A matt screen finish helped diffuse light reflections, so we had no trouble using the laptop under harsh office lighting.

Some of the ports are tightly spaced, so some chunky cables and peripherals could foul adjacent sockets.

The display is powered by Intel's integrated graphics, rather than a dedicated card. It's suitable for light tasks such as video playback, but not well suited to more intensive applications such as video editing or CAD work. Even so, it's still able to output a Full High Definition signal to an external monitor using the DisplayPort output. There's no HDMI port, but older displays and projectors are still supported by the VGA connector.

Aside from the slightly larger screen, the Tecra R840 is in many ways very similar to smaller 13in business ultra-portables. It still has room for an optical drive, as well as plenty of connectivity ports; one USB3 port for extra fast file transfers, one combined USB2/eSATA port and a regular USB2 connector, an ExpressCard/34 slot and a multi-format card reader are all welcome inclusions. A smart card reader has been squeezed in above the optical drive and there's also a connector for a port replicator, which would be useful for quickly disconnecting peripherals.

Surprisingly, battery life doesn't suffer from the high performance hardware; the R840 managed a lengthy eight and a half hours in our light-use battery test, so you should be able to get through an entire working day without having to find a power socket.

In everyday use, we had no problems typing on the spacious keyboard; its wide, flat keys had relatively short travel times making them feel incredibly responsive although the action was a touch too springy. Each key has a slightly glossy finish that some may find a little slippery, but we quickly adjusted to it. Understandably, there's no room for a full-size keyboard and a separate number pad in a 14in chassis, but this isn't a huge loss as many laptop keyboards with number pads tend to be a little cramped.

The keyboard is comfortable to use, but the tip of the touchstick can sometimes come off making it easy to lose.

We appreciated the large touchpad; the textured plastic finish creates very little friction so finger movements were smooth and the cursor felt responsive. The two buttons directly below it felt slightly stiff, but again had very springy actions. The R840 also includes a second set of mouse buttons, to be used with the blue touchstick set into the keyboard. Some will find this useful, but there's a button that can disable them for those that prefer to use the touchpad or a USB mouse. A fingerprint reader has been squeezed between the bottom two touchpad buttons, while there are plenty of other business features that are worth keeping in mind.

The BIOS has a fairly comprehensive list of ports and services that can be disabled by a system administrator but oddly not the USB ports or memory card reader.

The BIOS has a fairly comprehensive list of ports and services that can be disabled by a system administrator, including the Ethernet and SATA ports, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the integrated webcam and the built-in pointing devices, but oddly not the USB ports or memory card reader. Unless your company is especially concerned with data security, this shouldn't be a massive problem though.Aside from the slightly larger screen, we don't think that Toshiba has done a huge amount more with the Tecra R840 than it would do normally with a 13in laptop. Since the screen resolution remains the same, there's very little actually gained from choosing it over a 13in competitor.

Thankfully, the laptop as a whole still manages to deliver in other areas that make it worth considering for anyone looking for an ultra-portable laptop that doesn't sacrifice performance for mobility. The connectivity options are excellent and battery life is good. At 986 ex VAT it's more expensive than Dell's Vostro 3350 which also has longer battery life, but we feel that the extra performance and improved connectivity make it worth the trade-off for most people.

So what's our verdict?

Verdict

Apart from the slightly larger screen, there’s very little to differentiate the Tecra R840 from the 13in competition. Thankfully, it excels in many other areas, including performance, battery life and connectivity. If you don’t mind carrying a little extra weight, it’s the ideal business laptop for the frequent traveller that can’t do without essentials such as an optical drive and desktop-level performance.

Processor: Intel Core i7-2620M 2.7GHz Memory: 6GB 1,333MHz DDR3 RAM Graphics: Intel HD Graphics Hard disk: 500GB HDD Display: 14in 1,366x768 pixel, LED-backlit screen Features: 0.3 megapixel webcam, microphone, stereo speaker Connectivity: 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, 3G WWAN modem Ports: 1 x USB3, 1x eSATA (shared with USB2), 1 x USB2, 1 x 8-in-one card reader, 1 x VGA, 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x ExpressCard/34, 1 x smart card reader, 1x 3.5mm headphone output, 1x 3.5mm microphone input Dimensions: 341x229x27mm (WxDxH) Weight: 1.99kg Warranty: three years collect and return warranty OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Part code: PT42GE-00N006EN BENCHMARK RESULTS Image editing 92 Video encoding 59 Multiple apps 58 Overall 64 Light usage battery life – 8h 37m POWER CONSUMPTION Sleep 1W Idle 14W Active 49W

The U5200 is a strange-looking projector by anyone's definition, and wouldn't be out of place on the set of a sci-fi movie. The front tapers to a thin series of vents and there's no visible lens. Instead, there's a large panel which slowly opens when you press the release button on top. It reveals a sunken lens and - on the underside of the panel - a mirror.

The reason for all the drama is the ultra-short-throw nature of the U5200. The mirror allows it to project an 80in image when it's just 6in from the wall. This is ideal for classrooms or any other situation where throw distances are very limited. It also prevents the beam from damaging teachers' eyes, and eliminates the problem of shadows when the teacher or presenter has to stand in the path of the beam.

There's no zoom control, so image size is dictated entirely by the projector's distance from the screen or wall the minimum size of 72in could be a problem in small rooms, or those with low ceilings. It's possible to project onto a non-white wall thanks to colour compensation. The bad news is that the choice of colours covers only pink, light blue, yellow and dark green. This compensation is also supposed to help to counter colour degradation as the projector ages Acer calls this ColorSafe II.

There are several other convenient features including the ability to replace the lamp through the top panel: useful if the projector is mounted on the ceiling. Network management is also possible, and the U5200 is fully compatible with the Crestron Network System for controlling the projector remotely. The administration can power the U5200 on and off as well as scheduling power up and power down times, and configuring email alerts.

As well as the variety of ways to project content, the DLP chip inside the U5200 supports a 120Hz refresh rate, so it's 3D ready. Naturally, you'll need a compatible 3D video source and additional hardware: Nvidia's 3D Vision system is compatible, but this requires a pair of active shutter glasses for each viewer a big expense for a packed classroom or meeting room.

The native resolution of 1,024x768 is unremarkable, but the 2,500-lumen brightness should be enough for clear viewing with accurate colours with the blinds drawn and lights dimmed. Don't expect the image to be clear with sunlight streaming through the windows, though. Contrast is better than many LCD-based projectors at 4,200:1 thanks to the DLP chip.

In our tests, colours were just as we'd expect from a DLP projector - vibrant and accurate. Contrast was also good. The six-segment colour wheel helped to add punch to yellows, which can appear greenish with a traditional three-segment wheel made up of red, green and blue portions. There are several colour modes to choose between, including standard, video, education, presentation and bright. The latter skewed colours so much it was virtually unusable, but standard delivered the best compromise between brightness and colour accuracy. The pair of 10W speakers are loud, and shouldn't have a problem filling a classroom.

The fans were remarkably quiet, and we appreciated the audible beep to indicate when the projector had been turned on or off. If you plan to ceiling mount it, the manual zoom control won't be a problem, but bear in mind that the lid isn't powered, so you'll have to leave it open. When on a table, you can close it to prevent dust entering.

Another gripe is the poorly designed remote control. Buttons are small and have equally small, hard-to-read labels. Unlike other remotes with a direction pad and a Enter' button in the middle, the U5200's has a Menu button in the centre. Enter and back are located above. One small consolation is the bright laser pointer, and also the fact that the remote can double as a mouse control.

It takes around 20 seconds from turning the U5200 on to a clearly visible image, but well over a minute to shut down. Once in standby, power consumption is less than 1W. If there's no input signal detected for five minutes, the projector will automatically turn off.

So what's our verdict?

Verdict

The 3D feature is a gimmick most businesses and schools can do without. Few projectors can match the U5200’s extremely short throw ratio though, so if you’re happy to live with the imperfect image quality in exchange for the ability to wall-mount the projector immediately above or below your screen, it’s a decent choice.

Display Size: 72-300in Resolution: 1,024 x 768 Display technology: DLP Brightness: 2,500 ANSI lumens Contrast Ratio: 4,200:1 Connections: 2x D-Sub in, 1x D-Sub out, 2x HDMI in, S-Video in, composite in, 2x USB2, 1x mini-USB2, 1x Ethernet, 2x minijack audio in, 1x minijack mic in, 1x minijack audio out, 1x RS232, 12V DC out Adjustments: Keystone, wall colour, colour mode, red, green, blue levels, degamma, colour temperature, saturation, tint, front/rear, floor/ceiling projection modes, sharpness, aspect ratio, VGA out in standby. Dimensions (W x D x H): 420 x 340 x 145mm Power consumption: 320W active, 0.7W standby Speakers: 2x 10W Security: Kensington lock VESA mounting: N/A Warranty: two years collect and return (one year lamp) Part code: EY.JC205.001

Despite the promise of Intel's new Sandy Bridge processors, technology manufacturers have been slow to release new models equipped with them. Sony has finally released its first Sandy Bridge ultraportable laptop, the Vaio SB1V9E. The name might not roll off the tongue, but it's an impressive laptop in many ways.

The Vaio SB1V9E weighs just 1.7kg even though it has a built-in DVD writer. The magnesium and aluminium black chassis isn't especially eye-catching, but it still looks classy in an understated way. It doesn't feel quite as rigid as other laptops we've seen, flexing under pressure more than we'd like, but it still feels well made.

Typing long documents is accurate and fast thanks to the large, responsive and comfortable keyboard. The keys are backlit for working in darkened rooms, such as airplane cabins and lecture halls. The touchpad is large and generally feels accurate, although the tracking speed felt a little off even at the fastest setting it still felt a little slow. The pad supports multitouch gestures, although they're frustrating to use as there's often a delay in Windows responding to the finger swipes. The buttons are a bit stiffer than we'd like, but work well enough.

Unlike other ultraportable laptops which use ultra low voltage processors, which are energy efficient but comparatively slow, the SB1C5E uses a full-speed Core i5 mobile processor. Paired with 4GB of RAM it sped through our benchmarks, managing a high score of 53 in our new cross-platform applications benchmarks (designed by our sister site Expert Reviews). It's noticeably quicker than older Core 2 Duo-based laptops, but the difference isn't as pronounced when compared to previous generation Core i5 laptops.

The underside of the laptop didn't become uncomfortably warm when it was churning through our demanding benchmarks, but the cooling fan was irritatingly loud. It's especially annoying since the fan kicked in even during seemingly simple, innocuous tasks such as web browsing.

The Intel chip is slower but prolongs battery life it managed just 9.6fps in our 3D graphics test, but the battery lasted just under seven and a half hours with it enabled. In contrast, the AMD chip managed a much smoother 24.2fps in our 3D test, but the battery lasted just four hours with it enabled. Although the battery is officially user replaceable, doing so is a chore as you have to remove a bottom panel and then several screws to do so.

Screen glare caused by reflected light shouldn't be a problem thanks to the 13.3in screen's antiglare finish. This matt finish does mean that the display isn't bright as others we've seen, but it's still bright enough for most tasks - even when brightness is turned down to conserve battery life. The 1,366x768 pixel resolution is large enough for most everyday office tasks, but we'd have preferred a higher resolution 1,440x900 screen which would have benefited complex tasks and applications with lots of windows and toolbars.

The integrated 3G modem makes working on the go easier. The SIM card slot is accessed by removing a small, easy-to-miss cover on the underside of the laptop. Giving presentations should be a doddle thanks to the HDMI and VGA ports for connecting projectors and TVs. If the 500GB hard disk isn't large enough for your needs then you can add external storage using either the two USB2 ports or the lone USB3 connector.

Security features are thin on the ground, but there is a fingerprint reader wedged in between the two touchpad buttons. You can use your fingerprint in place of your Windows and website login passwords. It works well and was simple to set up thanks to the illustrated setup wizard. We are concerned that the Kensington security slot is located directly underneath the SD card slot, potentially fouling it if you use a bulky security cable.

So what's our verdict?

Verdict

The Sony Vaio SB1V9E is a lightweight, well-specified ultraportable laptop with a powerful processor, plenty of useful ports and dual graphics. Its seven and a half hour battery life isn't nearly as impressive as the pricier 13in MacBook Air which lasted 13 hour and 40 minutes though. This isn't an entirely fair comparison as the MacBook Air was designed to be as thin and light as possible with a long lasting battery at the expense of powerful specifications. The Vaio SB1V9E, on the other hand, was designed to fit as powerful a computer as possible into a slender build. A more comparable model would the 13in MacBook Pro which is 300g heavier, but its battery can last as long as ten hours. If you must have an ultraportable that's also fast with lots of storage then the SB1V9E is a fine choice, but frequent travellers should consider Apple's models first.

Processor: Intel Core i5 2410M, 2.3GHz Memory: 4GB 1,333MHz DDR3 RAM Graphics: 512MB AMD Radeon HD 6470M and Intel HD Graphics Hard disk: 500GB hard disk Optical drive: DVD+/-RW +/-DL Display: 13.3in 1,366 x 768, LED-backlit screen Features: 0.3 megapixel camera, microphone, stereo speakers, fingerprint reader Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Gigabit Ethernet Ports: 2 x USB2, 1 x USB3, 1x HDMI, 1 x VGA, 1 x SD card slot, 1 x Memory Stick Pro Duo slot, 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo audio socket, 1 x Kensington slot Dimensions: 333x227x25mm (WxDxH) Weight: 1.7kg Warranty: 1 year C&R warranty OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Part code: SB1V9E BENCHMARK RESULTS Image editing 71 Video encoding 48 Multiple apps 49 Overall 53 COD4 AMD 24.2fps COD4 INTEL 9.6fps Light usage battery life 7h23m Heavy usage battery life 4h01m POWER CONSUMPTION Sleep 2W Idle 17W Active 50W

Intel's blazingly fast successor to USB3 may be coming first to Apple's iPad 2 and then to new MacBook Pro laptops.

Although USB3 is barely a year old, Intel was already demonstrating its next generation Light Peak technology back in 2009 before USB3 products were widely available.

The new connector enables data transfer speeds which, on paper, are twice as fast as the already speedy USB3. It could also be used to replace all of a computer's other ports and minimise cable clutter, since it can handle networking, audio and video too.

Previous demonstrations of the technology's potential have been undoubtedly impressive.

Rumours have indicated the first computers to come equipped with a Light Peak port will be updated versions of Apple's MacBook Pro laptops.

According to leaked images of the new 13in MacBook Pro, the Light Peak technology will be sold under the ThunderBolt name.

Oddly, the photos showed the ThunderBolt port in the shape of the existing Mini DisplayPort socket, currently used for connecting displays and projectors to computers.

Intel and Apple can't use the familiar USB port for ThunderBolt due to intellectual property issues and the disapproval of the USB Implementers Forum, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Although this might hinder market acceptance of ThunderBolt, it could play to Apple's advantage since the company pushed the Mini DisplayPort standard. Also, few other computer manufacturers have added Mini DisplayPort to their computers, so Apple may be able to roll out ThunderBolt more quickly and further differentiate its Mac computers from the competition.

Leaked images of alleged iPad 2 cases from Chinese manufacturers have fuelled speculation the upcoming next generation tablet, due to be launched on 2 March, could also come equipped with a ThunderBolt port.

Handheld projectors have been around for several years, and Philips' new PicoPix is a third-generation LED-based device. With a rated brightness of just 20 lumens, it isn't the brightest we've seen, but is just about on a par with its competition, including Samsung's SP-H03. Although the resolution is relatively low at 800x600, it's a step above most pocket projectors. The PPX1020 is convenient, too, since it requires only a USB cable for power and data.

It's about the size of a coaster and only 22mm thick. There's no keystone correction, which is odd considering the flip-out foot for raising the front up slightly. The resulting image is only marginally skewed, but you're better off attaching it to the bundled mini tripod using the screw mount underneath since most tables or office desks are too low to project an image high enough.

Unlike the Samsung SP-H03 and other pico projectors that have a DMD (digital micromirror device), the PPX1230 has a Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) chip. It relies on the same red, green and blue LED light source which cycles quickly between the three colours to create the impression of a full-colour image.

Unfortunately it isn't quick enough, and the resulting rainbow effect was the worst we've seen from any projector. It wasn't noticeable just in high-contrast scenes (where many single-chip DLP projectors show their weakness), but also occasionally in full-colour images. This became highly irritating and the relatively slow cycle speed also made the image appear to flicker.

Colours were very oversaturated, and as there are no image controls whatsoever, there's nothing you can do about this. Although you're unlikely to notice it, the backlight is uneven and our test unit had a bright spot in the top-right corner.

Showing static images is no problem, and there's very little lag via the USB cable. Videos, however are another matter. As with other USB display devices we've seen in the past, attempting to display video at 30 frames per second stretches the bandwidth to its limit, and even standard definition YouTube clips showed tearing when there was significant motion in the image. This is where it appears the video has been split horizontally and is out of sync. Relatively static clips looked passable, but if you want a projector for showing videos, don't choose the PPX1020.

Since the projector operates via USB, you first have to install the drivers which are conveniently stored on the internal memory. Each time you connect the PPX1020, you have to click on the PicoPix Viewer to duplicate your laptop's desktop. As Windows doesn't see the projector as a secondary display, mirroring is the only option. Plus, you'll have to set the resolution to 800x600 to obtain readable text, and back to your usual resolution afterwards. This is far from convenient.

Under normal office lighting, the LED is bright enough for a 20-30in image, but you'll need a surprisingly long throw distance to achieve this. At 7ft, for example, the PPX1020 projects only a 52in image.

The PicoPix is competitively priced at 162 ex VAT. However, the rainbow effect is pronounced, and video is pretty much out of the question. Unless you'll only use it for PowerPoint presentations, we simply can't recommend it.

So what's our verdict?

Verdict

Reasonably cheap compared to the competition, but it also lacks features and can only be used with a PC or laptop. Image quality isn’t bad, but it’s ruined by flicker, the rainbow effect and severe tearing in videos. The Samsung SP-H03 costs a little more, but is superior in every other way.

Display Size: 5-81in Resolution: 800 x 600 pixels Display technology: LCoS, RGB LED Brightness: 20 ANSI lumens Contrast Ratio: 500:1 Connections: mini USB2 Adjustments: N/A Dimensions (W x D x H): 87 x 87 x 22mm Speakers: N/A Security: none Warranty: one year RTB Part code: PPX1020 Power consumption: Bus powered

Most of the pocket-size projectors we've seen so far have had serious flaws that prevented us recommending them. However, Samsung's latest attempt, which is around the size and weight of a Rubik's cube, goes a long way to making a pico projector a credible option.

Unlike some of its competition, the SP-H03 has a battery. This means you don't need a second power supply if you're hooking it up to your laptop to make a presentation. The battery lasts around two hours, so should be enough for at least a couple of meetings before you have to connect the power supply.

Another highlight is the built-in media player, which means you don't even need a laptop to show a PowerPoint slideshow, some photos or a video. The 1W mono speaker is surprisingly loud, and is good enough for the odd promotional video soundtrack, but you wouldn't want to use it for a feature-length movie. The media player has a music section, but we can't see many people using this.

As well as PowerPoint decks, the SP-H03 supports a wide range of formats including DOC, XLS and PDF (plus the Office 2007 variants) but oddly not RTF. Plus, it can handle plenty of video formats including MKV, M4V and MP4. It played some of our MP4 test files, but not others. While you won't have to re-encode most videos for the SP-H03, you will have to resize photos, at it can't handle JPEGs over 1,200 pixels wide.

The media player interface looks slick, and you can also play files from microSD cards up to 16GB and USB flash drives of any size. Unfortunately, but not unsurprisingly, it doesn't support portable USB hard disks. Our test disk refused to work at all unless we plugged in the SP-H03's power supply, and even then, it would play only the first few seconds of videos.

Compounding the problem are the touch-sensitive controls on top of the projector. These are all but invisible until you touch one: they then light up, but your fingertip still has no way to feel for each individual control while your eyes are concentrating on the information on screen. Physical buttons would have been a far more sensible choice.

Image quality is a little better than we'd expected, although still far from that of a full-size projector. The widescreen resolution of 854x480 is not only low, but it's also not a standard resolution in Windows. When you connect a laptop using the VGA adaptor, you'll likely have to settle for 800x600, which makes text look fuzzy and can occasionally play havoc with aspect ratios. The odd resolution does more closely match that of high-end Android smartphones, but of those models with video output ports, almost all have micro HDMI ports so they won't be able to connect to the HDMI-less SP-H03 anyway.

Colours are fairly realistic, though, and contrast reasonable. As we've seen with other pocket projectors, it's impossible to get perfect focus across the entire screen when the top is in focus, the bottom is slightly out; the corners are fuzzy when the centre is pin-sharp.

The LED is rated at 30 ANSI lumens, which means it can project a slightly larger image than most rivals in similar ambient lighting conditions. However, you can only get away with small sizes under normal office lighting, only increasing to around 60in (5ft) in near darkness. Achieving a screen this size requires an 84in (7ft) throw distance.

Currently, there's a fairly wide choice of these ultra-portable projectors, and the Samsung SP-H03 is one of the best. It isn't perfect but it's fairly quiet, can show videos and PowerPoint slides without needing another device, and it's not too expensive either. The battery means it really can act as a standalone device, which is perfect if you need to turn up to a meeting and give a presentation immediately. Once you're finished, you can use it to watch a big-screen movie in your hotel room. As long as you don't want it to do anything else, it's a good choice.

So what's our verdict?

Verdict

While flawed, this is the best pico projector we've seen so far. If you're planning on using it for PowerPoint presentations, bear in mind there's no remote control for the internal media player.

Display Size: 9-80in Resolution: 854 x 480 Display technology: DLP, RGB LED Brightness: 30 ANSI lumens Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 Connections: D-Sub (via bundled adaptor), composite video and stereo phono audio (via bundled adaptor), mini USB, 3.5mm headphone Adjustments: N/A Dimensions (W x D x H): 70 x 70 x 38mm Weight: 210g with battery; 630g with accessories Speakers: 1 x 1W Security: none Warranty: Three-year RTB Part code: SP0351VBX/EN POWER CONSUMPTION 0W standby 12W active

As mobile devices become increasingly capable, their biggest drawback is their tiny screens. Stick a pico projector inside, though, and the screen can be far bigger than the device itself.

There are various stand-alone pico projectors on sale from around 200, and Samsung is leading the charge for projector-phones. Meanwhile, Nikon is doing the same for cameras with the S1100pj. This second-generation model is both brighter as a projector (up from 10 to 14 lumens) and can take higher-resolution photos (up from 12 to 14 megapixels). More importantly for business users, as well as projecting photos and videos taken with the camera, it can connect to a PC or Mac via USB and duplicate the computer's desktop on the projector.

Ignore the projector and this is a typical mid-price camera that we'd expect to sell for around 150. There's a respectable 5x zoom range but the f/3.9-5.8 lens captures around half as much light as f/2.8 lenses. Meanwhile, the excessive 14-megapixel sensor resolution means that very little light hits each pixel.

The upshot of these two factors is noisy images. Outdoor shots were a little grainy, with an indistinct haze to subtle textures. Indoor shots were smudged and blotchy. The automatic mode restricted the ISO speed to 80-400 to avoid the worst excesses of noise, but this meant that suppressing the flash in low light resulted in blur due to camera shake.

We didn't warm to the touch-screen interface, either. The layout is simple enough but it was a little unresponsive. Worst of all, the camera sometimes took a second or two to respond, but after repeated prods, the menu suddenly flew off in unexpected trajectories.

Ironically for a Nikon product, the S1100pj is a better projector than it is a camera. The 14-lumen brightness is useless in daylight but under household artificial light it produces a useable 20in image from about a metre away. Focus is a little soft and colours are washed out but it's good enough for sharing snaps or videos. The supplied IR remote works elegantly and saves stabbing at the touchscreen, and a cheap mini tripod makes an effective stand to position it.

Picture quality was the same when connected to a laptop, and installation went without a hitch. However, business meetings are a more demanding environment than showing off your holiday snaps; here the projector's limitations become more significant. There's no mains socket and it can't draw power over the USB connection. The 60-minute battery life is cutting it fine for the average meeting. The resolution of the projected image is limited to a cramped 640x480 pixels, although this is a common limitation of many pico projectors.

The main problem is the image brightness. Even with the blinds drawn, the usable screen size isn't much bigger than a laptop screen, and far dimmer. We can't imagine many situations where the SP110pj would be a better choice than a laptop either by itself, or paired with a standard projector.

It is possible to export PowerPoint presentation as JPEGs and load them onto an SD card, which means a laptop isn't necessary. The process should be much easier than it is, though the PDF manual describes a convoluted folder and file name structure that must be adhered to in order for the JPEGs to be recognised. Users are left to find a batch-renaming utility for the files, or rename each one manually.

However, as convoluted as this process is, it might just come in useful in situations where a conventional projector and laptop aren't feasible. Impromptu presentations in a bar or restaurant come to mind, albeit with a shudder of self-loathing at having contemplated the idea.

Verdict

A combined digital camera and pico projector is more likely to appeal to teenagers than business users, but it does have its moments in the workplace. We’re not convinced by the ability to use the projector with a laptop, as the dim image is likely to be overpowered by even a small laptop screen. The option to play PowerPoint slides – saved as JPEGs – from a SD card makes more sense. The camera function is a disappointment, though. We’d be more inclined to go for the 3M MPro150, a dedicated pico projector that’s almost as expensive but that can read Office documents straight from a MicroSD card.

Photo resolution: 14.0 megapixels Video resolution: 1280x720 pixels, 30fps Lens: 28-140mm (5x), f/3.9-5.8 LCD: 3in, 460,000-pixel touchscreen Connections: SDXC slot, USB and AV ports Power: Li-ion battery Projector brightness: 14 lumens Projector resolution: 640x480 pixels Accessories: USB and AV cables, IR remote

Over the weekend, Japanese printer giant Epson announced a global sponsorship deal with Premiership football side Manchester United.

Epson become the club's Official Office Equipment Partner and will provide printers, scanners and projectors for the club's ground, Old Trafford, and presumably supply point-of-sale equipment, such as tills and receipt printers, for its retail outlets.

The deal provides obvious benefits for both parties.

Epson get to be associated with a worldwide recognised brand that is an enviable success in its own field and we expect Epson will use images of the team spilling out of printers in its consumer advertising.

For Manchester United, it gives the team an even bigger image in the lucrative far-east market, an area it has concentrated on in the past with pre-season tours.

Epson's Global President, Mr Minoru Usui, said: "The partnership with Manchester United aligns Epson with an exciting and globally recognised brand, bringing us closer to our customers worldwide."

Manchester United's chief executive David Gill added: "We are obviously delighted to have Epson as one of our commercial partners with immediate effect and are looking forward to developing an exciting communications programme that helps us both achieve our business goals."

Precise details of the deal were thin on the ground, with both Epson and Manchester United refusing to comment on any financial element.

The deal was announced to fans at this weekend's home game with Blackburn Rovers though it's hard to imagine it was a motivating factor in United's triumphant 7-1 victory.

Samsung's F10M is one of the first full-size projectors we've seen to use an LED light source with LCD projection technology. It's also the first to hit the 1,000 lumen mark while relying exclusively on LEDs. There are brighter LED-based projectors available, namely Casio's Green Slim series, but these use a combination of laser and LED.

That's not a bad thing, but Samsung deserves praise for managing to achieve this brightness with LEDs alone. Unlike a traditional projector lamp, the LED light source will never need replacing, and should last for 30,000 hours: more than the lifetime of the projector. You could use it for eight hours a day, five days a week for 14 years and still not reach 30,000 hours. In eco mode, this increases to 50,000 hours, or around 20 years.

As there's no dust filter, it's completely maintenance-free. Plus, as there's no lamp to warm up, the F10M is ready to present in just a few seconds. It's also good to see three-colour LEDs being used with LCD, since this method doesn't suffer from the rainbow effect that most DLP projectors do. This is where the individual colours that make up the colour wheel (usually red, green and blue) are visible in high-contrast images when you move your eyes, and this can be very distracting for some people.

The F10M's 1,024x768 resolution doesn't match the widescreen resolutions of most modern laptops, but it's still the standard for business. Unfortunately, 1,000 lumens isn't. We'd normally expect 2,000 lumens or more, and it means that the F10M's image quality will look its best only when the lights are dimmed - something that might not be possible in your meeting rooms.

We found the image presets - which include Film, Presentation and Game - weren't much use, being too garish or too dark. Instead, we preferred the User setting, so we could tweak contrast, brightness and colour settings ourselves. This isn't particularly convenient, but you only need to do it once. After these adjustments, we were pleased with the natural, realistic colours that were produced.

Under normal office lighting, the F10M wasn't bright enough to produce great contrast, but brightness will depend heavily on how close you place the projector to your screen or wall. It's quite a short-throw projector, capable of a 70in image at around 2m. The 1.2x zoom lens gives you some flexibility, but there's no lens shift which would allow you to mount the F10M off-centre. What you do get is horizontal and vertical keystone, which is a digital version of lens shift, but it degrades image quality.

It's good to see a USB port for showing PowerPoint presentations without a laptop, but the F10M's size and weight (it's 5kg) mean it isn't really portable, so the advantage is questionable. There's also support for JPEG slideshows, plus Word and Excel documents. DivX, Xvid and WMV9 videos can be played, but not all our test files worked, so you're better off sticking with one format, and encoding any videos you need to that.

In terms of value, the F10M will save you a lot of money on replacement lamps, and it isn't too expensive to buy, either. However, the relatively low brightness compared to many other data projectors means that you'll either have to dim the lights or push the projector closer to your screen (and potentially have to settle for a smaller image). For this reason, we can't recommend it wholeheartedly.

Verdict

We've yet to see the ideal LED projector: the F10M is a strong contender, but it's lack of brightness means image quality suffers in bright conditions. It's also fairly bulky, so won't appeal to the travelling presenter, despite the ability to show presentations from a USB drive.

Display Size: 40-300in Resolution: 1,024 x 768 Display technology: LCD / LED Brightness: 1,000 ANSI lumens Contrast Ratio: 2,000:1 Connections: HDMI, D-Sub Adjustments: N/A Dimensions (W x D x H): 309 x 290 x 111.5mm Power consumption: 150W active, 2W standby Speakers: No Security: Kensington lock VESA mounting: N/A Warranty: three years collect and return Part code: SP1055XWX/EN

The ProBook 5320m is HP's latest ultra-portable laptop aimed at businesses. Despite this, it's surprisingly stylish. The brown brushed metal and black plastic design resembles a more compact version of HP's larger, heavier ProBooks such as the 4720s .

It weighs just 1.8kg and feels robust yet it's quite slender, although this effect is ruined by the protruding battery but it does prop up the keyboard at an angle which some may find more comfortable to use. The 5320m achieves its low weight by not having an integrated DVD writer. Although we've seen other ultra-portable laptops around this weight with built-in optical drives, these also cost more than the 5320m so it's an acceptable sacrifice.

Battery life in our light usage test, where the laptop is set to scroll through a series of webpages repeatedly until the battery runs down, was impressive. It lasted seven hours exactly, which is long enough to last a transatlantic flight. Battery life in our more demanding heavy usage test wasn't as long-lasting. When set to edit a series of photos repeatedly until the battery depletes, the 5320m lasted just over two hours which is meagre.

We suspect the rather short heavy usage battery life is due to the powerful 2.4GHz Core i5 450 M processor. Paired with 4GB of RAM, it managed an impressive overall score of 87 in our demanding Windows applications benchmarks. It's easily more powerful than the ultra low voltage processors often found in more budget-priced ultra-portables and should be able to handle all but the most strenuous tasks.

Frequent travellers will also appreciate the built-in 3G modem. In addition to the standard VGA port for connecting monitors and projectors, there's also a DisplayPort connector. Relatively few displays and projectors use DisplayPort though, but DVI and HDMI adapters are widely available. The only other unusual port is the combined microphone and headphone jack - some VoIP headsets which are designed to connect to separate mic and headphone jacks might not work with it.

The keyboard is comfortable to use thanks to the large keys. Although we'd prefer keys with a little more resistance and a bit less travel, they still feel responsive and comfortable enough for error-free typing. The touchpad is large and feels accurate. Although the buttons are large, they have too much travel and don't give enough feedback when pressed.

Security-conscious users will appreciate the built-in fingerprint reader which can be used instead of a password. It's also possible to disable the USB ports and the SD memory card reader from the BIOS, making it more difficult for users to copy sensitive data off the hard disk without authorisation. Another useful option is the ability to securely wipe the hard disk using multiple passes which would be useful if you ever need to replace or dispose of the 500GB hard disk. The BIOS is also automatically password or fingerprint protected, so these sensitive settings can't be easily changed.

As we'd expect from a business laptop, the 13.3in screen has a matt finish. Unlike a screen with a glossy sheen, it doesn't reflect as much light from overhead sources such as fluorescent strips. This results in reduced glare, making the screen easier to look at, but the trade-off is brightness. Although it's bright enough at the highest brightness setting, it's noticeably gloomy when brightness is reduced by 50% to conserve battery life. It's good enough for web, email and office tasks but is less than ideal for editing photos.

The standard warranty included with the 5320m only lasts for one year and provides collect and return service. Better coverage is available under the extended warranty which costs 97 ex VAT. This provides next business day onsite coverage for three years.

Verdict

HP's ProBook 5320m isn't perfect. We wish the screen was brighter and the touchpad buttons felt more responsive. We can forgive these faults though, since the 5320m has long battery life, a comfortable keyboard and fast applications performance all at a surprisingly reasonable price. It's a good value ultra-portable laptop.

Processor: Intel Core i5 450 M, 2.4GHz Memory: 4GB 533MHz DDR3 RAM Graphics: Intel HD Graphics Hard disk: 500GB hard disk Display: 13.3in 1,366 x 768 pixels, LED-backlit screen Features: Two megapixel camera, fingerprint reader with TPM 1.2, microphone, stereo speakers Connectivity: 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, GPS, HSDPA Ports: 3 x USB, DisplayPort and VGA output, 3.5mm combo headphone and microphone audio socket Dimensions: 330x221x335mm (WxDxH) Weight: 1.8kg Warranty: 1yr C&R warranty OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Part code: WS996EA BENCHMARK SCORES Video 95 Image 106 Multiple apps 68 Overall 87 Battery, heavy usage 2h04m Battery, light usage 7h00m

ViewSonic has announced the PJD-7383i, an interactive projector which the American displays company hopes will replace flipcharts and interactive whiteboards in offices and schools.

Using a special rechargeable pen which communicates with the projector wirelessly, we were able to draw and write directly onto the projected image of a PowerPoint slide as if we were using a mouse or graphics tablet directly connected to the computer. The changes are saved to the file being edited, in this case a PowerPoint presentation, and can be edited just like any other graphic.

The pen looks a bit chunky, but it's surprisingly light and is charged over USB. During our hands on at the IFA trade show in Berlin, there seemed to be a slight lag between using the pen and the image appearing onscreen, but we'll reserve judgement until we get our hands on a production unit.

Although extra pens will be available separately, only one pen can be used with a projector at any one time due to limitations in the Point Blank interactive technology from Texas Instruments. While it's currently unique to ViewSonic's projector, rival projector manufacturers could license it and release their own versions.

The PJD-7383i can display content in 3D, but the interactive and 3D capabilities can't be used simultaneously. To our eyes, the 3D effect wasn't as convincing as the best 3D TVs we've seen and will likely be of little use in most offices anyway. Unfortunately, switching between 3D and interactive modes is a fiddly process that requires digging through the onscreen menus using the remote. A shortcut button would be a big help.

The PJD-7383i is a DLP projector with a resolution of 1,024x768 pixels, so it's definitely aimed at businesses and not consumers who want to watch high definition movies. It's a short throw model, so you don't need a large amount of space between the projector and your wall or screen to display an image, which will please businesses with cramped meeting rooms. It has a rated brightness of 3000 lumens and a stated contrast ratio of 3000:1.

The PJD-7383i is due to be released in September, but suggested UK retail pricing has yet to be confirmed. ViewSonic plans to sell it for less than an interactive whiteboard. We'll bring you a full review as soon as we can.

The company is already planning a successor, the the PJD-7583wi, for release in November. It will have a higher resolution of 1,280x800 pixels, as well as a USB port. These can be used to display content stored on a USB flash drive, so presentations could be given without a laptop. Alternatively, a laptop could be connected to the projector over USB or ethernet, although we don't see the point of this unless your laptop's standard monitor connections are broken.

Verdict

The ViewSonic PJD-7383i interactive projector is certainly intriguing, but we'll have to wait for pricing and a more in-depth hands-on review before we can decide whether it's a must-have or a clever gimmick.

The 3M MPro150 Pocket Projector has arrived, letting users give presentations without a laptop.

Weighing in at just 160g, the 130mmx60mmx24mm projector features 1GB of built-in flash storage and accepts microSD cards, so it can show pre-loaded presentations without being plugged into a laptop.

Thee 3M MPro150 works with Microsoft Office documents - including Word, PowerPoint and Excel files - as well as Adobe PDFs, images and video files.

It can project 15 lumens of brightness from 50in away and includes a pair of half-watt stereo speakers. As it uses an LED light, there's no bulb to replace, 3M said.

The tiny projector offers two hours of battery life - so users should try to keep their slide count below that level.

The MPro150 is available now for 349.99 including VAT.

Forget pencils and paper, today's kids have much more interesting learning tools in their classrooms: 3D projectors, fingerprint scanners, ruggedised notebooks, Lego-based robots and more.

All this was on show at the BETT educational technology show at Olympia in London.

Stand after stand displayed the all-important back-end tech as well as tried-and-tested school-friendly gadgets like netbooks and interactive whiteboards, but there was plenty of room at the massive show for some more unique - and brightly coloured - devices too.

IT PRO uncovered the new USB-based NComputing system, 3D projectors, do-it-yourself robots and more. Click through the photo gallery for pictures and details.

Are you attending BETT this week? Have you stumbled across any great tech? Let us know at comments@itpro.co.uk.

A UK-based firm has unveiled a revolutionary projector-based technology that can transform any flat surface into a touch screen users can interact with.

Cambridge-based Light Blue Optics (LBO) has debuted its mobile interactive Light Touch projector, which uses proprietary holographic laser projection to create a virtual 10in WVGA touch screen on almost any surface.

The integrated infrared touch sensing system allows you to interact with the virtual screen just as with any other handheld touch-based device.

"People expect to engage, interact and share content and our first product enables them to do that in new and exciting ways," LBO chief executive Chris Harris told attendees at an invite-only event at the CES technology show in Las Vegas.

The Light Touch's headline capabilities are accompanied by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, enabling device-to-device communication and direct access to online services over a network.

It has 2GB of flash memory built in, which can be expanded via microSD card by up to 32GB. The Light Touch has a battery life of two hours, but can be powered directly from the mains too. It runs Adobe's low-profile Flash Lite 3.1 software.

At present, there are no plans to release the Light Touch commercially, with its developers saying it's a reference product only and will be made available solely to LBO's strategic partners and OEM customers.

"The opportunities for Light Touch extend beyond consumer electronics into retail spaces, the workplace and the home profoundly changing the way people interact with multimedia content and the built environment," Harris said.

"By enabling such diverse and compelling use cases, LBO aims to become the world's leading supplier of miniature projection systems."

It's been 10 years since the first digital cinema first arrived in the UK. Since then, it's made slow but steady progress and there are now more than 500 digital-enabled screens in the UK. With the rise of 3D presentation, headed up by flagship films such as Avatar, its adoption by UK exhibitors is set to increase, and by any yardstick it will soon be the primary way that British cinemagoers consume cinematic content.

According to many though, the potential of digital cinema doesn't just lie in consumer entertainment. At a recent panel discussion on digital cinema in London, Lord Puttnam, the Labour peer and successful film producer of classics such as Chariots of Fire, said: "We're just scratching the surface of what will be possible in the years to come. In fact I believe that digital cinema can be at the very heart of any vision of Digital Britain that the government sets out."

Key to that vision is that fact that, unlike conventional film-based cinema, digital cinema can be opened up to display other types of content beyond just movies. This could be live concert material, sports events, gaming tournaments, or for example, for a corporate customer, a live feed of a keynote speech from the other side of the globe.

Delivered at the speed of light

What makes this all possible is the speed and ease of digital delivery. The key advantage of digital cinema is that content is beamed directly to the cinema via satellite or through fibre optical links. If the cinema does not have these facilities in place, the content can be physically delivered on a hard disk, which is still several orders of magnitude cheaper than producing and distributing physical prints. Film prints costs around $2,500 per print, which when you're dealing with thousands of cinemas around the world can really mount up.

As well as potentially saving the studios millions of dollars per year, digital will also give suitably equipped cinemas the flexibility to deliver a far greater breadth of content than just movies.

If you're looking for variety, how about super high-resolution surgery? In Norway, Sony's 4K resolution projectors, boasting high colour accuracy and with four times the resolution of regular 2K resolution digital cinema, were used to broadcast live endovascular surgery to a team of 200 doctors who were all at once able to view and learn a procedure in greater detail than they otherwise would have been able to.

The VPF

However, while the benefits of digital cinema are clear, the digital dream that Lord Puttnam has envisioned won't come for free. The high cost of digital projection equipment means that it's prohibitively expensive for all but the largest cinema chains to undertake themselves. As such, it's business deals that are enabling the spread of digital technology. These deals that are enabling the industry to move forward are known as Virtual Print Fee, or VPF deals.

In a VPF deal the costs are shared by all the interested parties rather than having only one party having to bear the burden. The digital projector is licensed to the exhibitor by the projector manufacturer, with a contribution also made by a film studio. The VPF deals also pay not just for the initial installation but for the on-going costs of running that projector too.

David McIntosh, financial director for Sony Professional Europe explained the benefits to IT PRO. "The exhibitors really want to move to digital. It offers so much greater efficiency in terms of getting content," he said.

3D and business

What's different about Sony compared to rival projector manufacturer's rivals such as DLP is that it exclusively offers a 4K resolution projector, which delivers 4,096 x 2,160 resolution, four times the number of pixels used in 2K (2,096 x 1,080) resolution cinema. This makes it an ideal platform for projecting the many 3D films that many studios are investing in. James Cameron's Avatar is currently flying the flag for 3D, but Pixar and others are committed to releasing 3D versions of all their films from now on.

Whether 3D cinema is here to stay or not is still up for some debate, but it's clearly making great strides. Indeed, 3D projection in the home is imminent, with the Blu-ray Disc Association only recently ratifying a 3D Blu-ray standard such use. Meanwhile, companies such as Nvidia are pushing 3D gaming on PCs.

But is there any place for 3D projection technology in business?

Ian O'Connel, director of Musion clearly thinks so. Musion uses a 3D projection technology called Eyeliner to create virtual life size holograms. Using the correct lighting conditions it appears as if the projection is actually in the room or on the stage. Using its optimised codecs, and with sufficient bandwidth the projection can be fully interactive and two way, with no discernable lag.

You can think of it as the closest technology currently available to Star Wars-style holographic projections, though admittedly while the projection appears fully 3D when viewed, it's not possible to walk all the way around it at least not yet. Nevertheless IT PRO has seen the technology in action and can vouch that it is remarkably effective.

As with conventional digital 3D cinema, Musion's holographic technology has been widely used for entertainment purposes and has been used in stage performances for the likes of Madonna and Gorillaz, but O'Connell agreed that its technology would be an ideal way for a chief executive to deliver an interactive keynote speech to an audience across the ocean, without having to go to the effort of getting on a plane instead he'd just need to step into a specially prepared broadcast studio.

O'Connell sees Musion's technology as the future of telepresense for enterprise customers a step beyond the simple high-resolution video currently offered by the likes of Cisco. He envisions dedicated rooms where chief executives can go to and conduct meetings across the oceans as if they were face to face, making for much more flexible, dynamic and natural interaction than current conferencing technology.

However, as it stands the bandwidth necessary means that dedicated networks are required, which limits it to companies with large purses. It also currently needs to be set up on a case-by-case basis, with lighting that's specifically calibrated for each individual's skin tone. O'Connell admitted that its long term plan would be to partner with a large company that as he said could create simple, "customer interfaces", enabling companies to run 3D projection studios themselves. One day he said consumers could even walk into 3D cafs and have holographic Skype-style conversations.

As for the near future, O'Connell admitted that the recession had slowed progress down, but was still confident that the company's 3D tech could become more established in 2010. "I would hope that we had a partner that would implement a permanent installation of corporate communications by the end of 2010," he said.

Digital cinema and 3D then are on the cusp of having serious impact beyond pure entertainment. So the next time you're wowed by the realism and impact of 3D at your local multiplex then brace yourself - it could be a taster of the sort of experiences that could soon be coming to your workplace.

Projectors have been one of the last pieces of IT equipment to undergo full-on miniaturisation, but now it's very much the trend. However, we've yet to see a strong contender to match the hype and promises, such as this 3M Micro Professional Projector MPro110.

Most haven't been pocket-sized, while resolutions and brightness levels have simply failed to hit satisfactory levels. And then there are the prices: should they really cost as much as a full-sized office projector?

Samsung's SP-P410M certainly doesn't address all of these issues, but it does raise the bar in a few key areas. For a start, the 170-lumen LED lamp puts it far ahead of recent rivals for brightness, approaching a level at which it's genuinely usable in a non-darkened room. You'll still struggle to discern differences in the darker shades of grey and black, but it's fine for an impromptu presentation where you can't control the lighting.

The 800 x 600 picture is sharp and evenly lit, and the 56in diagonal at a 2m distance isn't bad. Keystone correction isn't automatic, but wasn't difficult to apply manually, and there are the usual menu options for changing the aspect ratio, adjusting the colours and applying preset picture modes.

Then there's the built-in audio: a pair of 1W stereo speakers that emit enough volume to more than fill a room. Look past the expected lack of bass and they'll likely be much louder than those in the laptop you've connected them to. We watched a variety of movie clips and played music, and at no point did the audio crackle or distort, even at maximum volume.

The SP-P410M is also a good looking piece of kit, all curvy and black with a silver lens cover that springs open and closed with a reassuring action. At 950g, it's heavier than the BenQ Joybee GP1, but we'll take that trade-off for the added brightness - it's safe to say neither will fit in a pocket, particularly with their external power bricks.

On the rear sit D-SUB and composite connections, the latter of which is the only way you'll get audio to the device from a laptop; only a D-SUB cable is provided. There's also a USB port, though, through which you can play video and display images without a PC connected. It works well enough, but don't lose the remote control, since the on-device controls are a pain to use: they're barely readable touch buttons that need more of a push than you'd think.

Overall, the Samsung SP-P410M starts to make a case for the mini projector. It's bright enough to be usable, the speakers are impressive and the whole package has a style that others lack. In short, it's the best mini-projector we've yet seen - the problem is that it's also the dearest.

At 400, you're definitely paying a premium for the size, but if you intend to get regular use from it it could justify the outlay.

Verdict

Most mini projectors lack punch and verve and just don’t have the brightness to do the job. However, the Samsung SP-P410M does enough in the performance and style stakes to justify its price.

Resolution: 800 x 600; Brightness: 170-lumen brightness LED lamp; Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Connections: D-SUB, composite, USB Accessories; remote control Warranty: Three year RTB warranty Dimensions: 148 x 146 x 66mm (WDH) Weight: 950g

In the competitive market place of mobile phones, new technologies come out over night, change everything, and then become simply "ordinary" a week later.

The entire industry centres on a form of technological Darwinism, where only the strongest and most visible products survive. Despite this, is it possible to accurately make predictions about what the future holds for mobile phones?

In 2005, Nokia released its Communicator 888 concept phone. The device featured a liquid battery, was completely flexible and capable of morphing shape - showing what was potentially possible with nanotechnology.

But, has there been any progress since, and, if so, could nanotechnology become the next technology to revolutionise the mobile phone industry?

From dream to touchscreen

Not so long ago, touch screen phones were merely a pipe dream, now they account for 20 per cent of the entire mobile phone market largely thanks to Apple's groundbreaking iPhone, which illustrated profoundly the effect technology can have on an industry in a short period of time.

However, touch screen along with 3G capabilities, picture and video projectors, as well as social GPS are all small potatoes compared to what Nokia is supposedly cooking up.

The Finnish phone giant recently announced its plans to create a transformable mobile phone, by using nanotechnology to produce flexible electronic components that would allow the handset to morph between shapes, develop artificial intelligence, and even clean itself.

Known as Morph, the joint venture between Nokia and Cambridge University, seeks to build on the 888 concept, and eventually implement nanotechnology into mobile devices.

Dr. Bob Iannucci, chief technology officer (CTO), at Nokia said in a statement: "Nokia Research Centre is looking at ways to reinvent the form and function of mobile devices; the Morph concept shows what might be possible."

What's set for 2033?

Whether this technology is just an interesting theoretical discussion point, or an actual palpable technology remains to be seen - no one knows what the future holds, particularly in the world of technology. However, devices such as the iPhone and the hotly anticipated Palm Pre profoundly illustrate hwo the implementation of new technology can really shake-up a market, even during a recession.

Motorola, according to their spokesperson Amanda Kamin, is experimenting with ideas and concept for future mobile device. The 2033 concept takes a look 25 years into the future by considering how the world is changing, and how technology will develop around it.

The 2033 concept features an organic memory application, which would theoretically capture memories directly from your brain. Additionally, second sight, which augments your vision and is essentially a head mounted device, creates virtual reality applications, and infinite screen possibilities.

"While I can't really comment on whether we're doing anything towards incorporating nanotechnology into our research - I can say that we do pride ourselves on constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible," said Kamin.

She added: "The 2033 concept is a clear example of our thinking out of the box."

"We also developed touchscreen technology a few years before it became mainstream. Unfortunately, at the time it wasn't viable within the current consumer market. But that serves as a good example of companies constantly trying things out before they make it into the commercial market," Kamin added.

Does the recession matter?

However, Nick Jones, technology market analyst at Gartner, does not share Bishop's enthusiasm: "To be honest, we're less likely to see these devices now more than ever, due to the current state of the economy."

"The reduction of the market by 10 per cent has forced the phone companies to focus on mainstream, rather than speculative products."

He added: "If I had to speculate I would put Apple in front of Nokia for something like this, as they cater to a more exclusive market. Nokia are mainstream, and very eager to hold on to their 42 per cent market share," said Jones.

"Once firms like Intel have developed the technology, it is likely that it will trickle down to the mobile phone companies. However, this is still very far off into the future - science fiction, basically," he added.

When will the future arrive?

Indeed, Nokia say it will be at least seven years before technology from the Morph will be integrated into high-end, off-the-shelf phones. However, the odds of it being actual nanotechnology are doubtful, particularly when you consider the present silicon paradigm is expected to last until 2020.

Motorola, according to Kamin, "concentrate on getting the technology exactly right before they release it, due to the fact that consumers needs and requirements change so rapidly," concurring with Jones' sentiment about manufacturers focusing on mainstream markets, as apposed to speculative and exclusive ones.

Additional boundaries to technology development, particularly nanotechnology, are the research costs, which are gigantic, and currently led by Intel.

But even when they develop something new, it doesn't mean it's hitting shelves. Intel's recent development of 'graphene', which is a form of graphite that consists of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb pattern, allows for rapid information transfer at a minuscule scale when compared to existing chip sizes, and serves to further bridge the gap between science fiction and reality. But it's still a long way from being anything more than a prototype.

So unfortunately we can't expect a nanotechnology-based mobile phone anytime soon, which is certainly a shame. However, what is clear is that mobile designers and researchers are clearly moving towards a new technological paradigm that will eventually see the light of day.

"While you do have to view these devices as essentially marketing tools - I do feel that in the next five years we'll see a new definition of what constitutes a mobile phone," said Jones.

For the latest mobile phone news and reviews, visit Know Your Mobile.

The life of the road warrior has never been a glamorous one. Lugging briefcase, laptop and projector around from sales meeting to sales meeting is enough to get even the most doughty of professionals down, especially when each item in that list can weigh in excess of three kilos.

With the advent of more affordable laptops at least one element in that equation has changed in the past year or two, but the projector has lagged behind. Even portable models tend to weigh more than 2kg, and once cables, bags and power adapters have been taken into account, the weight can escalate pretty quickly.

But things are about to change and mobile professionals now have a new breed of projector to choose from: bringing glitz and gloss to the world of mobile presentation is the pico projector.

Championed by several big companies at CES at the beginning of the year, they're the next must have. At the recent Mobile World Congress show, there were even some built into mobile phones."

Of the stand alone models, Aiptek and Dell were the first to offer them for sale; now 3M has come to the party.

The best things...

Let's not beat about the bush here: the MPro110 is a miniature marvel, in every sense of the word. It measures 50mm in width, 115mm in length and is 22mm thick. To put that in perspective, its footprint is smaller than that of an iPhone and its height from the table no more than a slim novella. Its weight is equally inconsequential at a mere 160g less than some of the beefier Windows smartphones we've seen and its built-in 1,050mAh lithium ion battery means the only extra you need to carry with you (other than your laptop) is the VGA cable.

It's a simple thing, too, and apart from the lens at the front and focus wheel, control switch on the left hand side and input ports at the rear, there's very little story to tell. You simply plug the MPro110 into your laptop and off you go. There are no settings at all to fiddle with, other than the focus wheel.

There's more to get excited about under the hood, though. Unlike the majority of portable and installation projectors, which are based on either transmissive LCD or Texas Instruments' nano-mechanical reflective DLP technology, the MPro110 boasts an 11.9mm LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) chip. This works in a similar way to DLP, but instead of millions of tiny mirrors it uses liquid crystals directly applied to a silicon chip. These then reflect light just like the mirrors on a DLP chip.

In use

It's all very exciting, but does it make sense practically? Can you really use such a tiny projector to make that all important sales pitch? Well, you'd certainly make a big first impact, and when you're searching for the finest edge over the competition that can be worth something. But that, alas, is where your client's positive inclinations would begin to turn negative. The reason? It's simply not very good.

The first big problem with the MPro110 arises from its tiny size, low weight and, to a lesser extent, the short length of the VGA cable supplied in the box. Where standard projectors have enough mass to remain where you put them, the 3M moves if you so much as sneeze in its general direction.

As well as being incredibly light it has no rubber feet, which makes it very difficult to position accurately. The result is constant fiddling and refocussing, and the stumpy VGA cable means you'll have to move your laptop as often as you move the projector. The only bright spot is a standard threaded tripod mount on the projector's underside a small tripod is an essential accessory.

The projector's optics prove the second hurdle to practicality, and here the small size begins to impinge more seriously on its usability. There's no vertical shift built into the lens arrangement, so you either need a tall tripod or a very low screen to make the most of your projected image. The throw ratio of 0.53 (width/distance) is also a problem. In order to project a picture larger than your average laptop screen, this means you need to be at least a metre away from the surface you're projecting onto.

The quality of the glass struggles to keep up too. Though it's straightforward to get a sharp, image at the MPro110's native resolution of 640 x 480, which is more than we can say for some other pico projectors we've seen, there are dark patches evident in the corners (vignetting), and pincushion distortion on all sides.

But the final, and most problematic of this projector's foibles is its lack of brightness. The manual claims it will project images up to 70in in size from a distance of 1.8m, but to see anything you'd have to tape blackout material to your windows and project in complete darkness. At closer range, lights need to be dimmed in order for readability to be achieved, and even when you get a bright, watchable image, colours are subdued and highlights bleached out.

It's a shame, but if there's anything the 3M MPro110 clearly demonstrates, it's that pico projector technology is not quite ready for mass market, or even niche, consumption just yet. The idea is a good one and 3M has done its level best to make it an attractive proposition with its rechargeable battery, VGA input and impossibly tiny size.

It's surprisingly cheap too, but the bottom line is that it's simply too impractical to consider splashing 220 on. Adventurous early adopters may be tempted, but unless you want an expensive toy cluttering your shelf after a couple of outings, we'd counsel caution.

Verdict

Impossibly small and with some neat touches, but the MPro110 shows that pico projector technology is not yet ready for the market.

Specifications: Chip technology: 0.47in LCOS chip Resolution: 640 x 480 resolution Bulb type: LED lamp, Throw ratio: 0.53 throw ratio Connectivity: VGA and composite input Features: tripod mount, Warranty: 1yr warranty Dimensions: 50 x 115 x 22mm (WDH) Weight: 160g

HP used this week's HP Lab University in Lisbon to showcase some of the fruits of its research, with an innovative projection framework taking its turn in the spotlight this morning.

The project, code-named Pluribus, combines multiple low-cost projectors to give large businesses, home entertainment enthusiasts and anyone in between high quality output without the massive costs of one large machine.

"Pluribus is about combining multiple projectors to make one big projector. It's part of the transformation from static content to dynamic content," said Niranjan Damera-Venkata, one of the brain's behind the technology.

"We have a vision of the future where displays are omnipresent. The problem with realising visions like that is cinema-grade projectors are very expensive which prevents us from having an IMAX-quality image not just at home but everywhere else too. So how do we scale? One approach is to use multiple low-cost projectors and combine them."

Damera-Venkata added: "Clustered computing replaced supercomputing. People took standard components and hooked them together. By themselves [those components] were not very capable but when hooked together they do the job. RAID also works on the same principle. That's the analogy we'd like to use for this."

Pluribus works by using a camera, automatic calibration and complex mathematical algorithms so that the projectors can work as one regardless of their individual configurations, makes or models.

Images can then be displayed in a tiled format by joining the multiple projection displays together as one or in a superimposed format with images laid on top of one another, or as a combination of the two. Resolution and brightness quality remain high and if one projector fails it doesn't adversely affect viewing. Likewise, people can walk in front of the projectors without creating an annoyingly-large shadow on the display.

Damera-Venkata and fellow Pluribus researcher Nelson Chang demonstrated the merits of the technology, which is controlled by a PC, by combining six projectors together to display images and offer delegates a chance to experience what interactive gaming is like using this format.

They optimised the set-up prior to delegates arriving, but they assured attendees that it took just 10 minutes to do as opposed to the six hours it would have taken to do the same job manually.

HP isn't suggesting that it has invented the concept of clustering projectors together, but its approach to how to do so successfully is where the innovation lies.

"Of course people have tried this," admitted Damera-Venkata, as he detailed how HP has tried to overcome the pitfalls encountered by others such as display differences between projectors impacting on the visual seamlessness and lack of robustness and efficiency.