Classroom Projector Report: Viewsonic PLED-W200 Commentary
The Viewsonic projector we considered in this years Classroom Projector Report (the PLED-W500 - click for full review) is from the same family as the Viewsonic PLED-W200.
7/9/2012 - Art Feierman
The Viewsonic PLED-W200 Projector - A Quick Look
| Viewsonic PLED-W200 | Viewsonic PLED-W500 |
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What they have in common: DLP technology, widescreen, native WXGA (1280x800) resolution, max 1680x1050 resolution, 20000 hour lamp life, no filters, 3 year warranty (and first year express exchange service), 3D ready |
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Viewsonic PLED-W200
The Viewsonic PLED-W200 (click for full specs) is similar to its sibling, the PLED-W500 projector. They are both widescreen DLP projectors with a native WXGA (1280x800) resolution. The PLED-W200 and PLED-W500 are also cost efficient - they're both very cheap ($600 and $840 MSRP, respectively), have an impressive 20000 hour lamp life (no need for pricey replacement lamps), and come with a 3 year warranty and an express exchange service for the first year! You'll save money up front when you buy, and in the long run because there aren't tons of hidden maitenance costs!
Both projectors are also 3D ready and come with 2W speakers (though the PLED-W200 has those two watts split between two stereo speakers instead of the PLED-W500's one speaker).
There are a few key differences between the two. The PLED-W200 is cheaper at $600 (MSRP), compared to the PLED-W500 at $840. The first difference is brightness - the PLED-W200 has 250 lumens, whereas the PLED-W500 has 500 lumens. In addition to being dimmer, the PLED-W200 has a lower contrast ratio (2000:1 instead of 6000:1). This just means that the darks are lest dark and the brights are less bright, but not by a significant amount. The PLED-W200 also lacks the HDMI input that the PLED-W500 has, which means that you can't hook up to your laptop, satellite or cable box, or gaming console as conveniently.
However, the PLED-W200 is lighter at a mere 0.9 lbs, while the PLED-W500 is 2.6 lbs. Though both are extremely portable (you'll have no trouble carrying them down the hallway from one classroom to another), it means you can put the tiny PLED-W200 in your handbag, briefcase or even jacket pocket while traveling!
If you're looking for ultra portability and widescreen, and if you don't mind dim, both projectors are an excellent choice for your classroom or office environment. For connectivity, though, the PLED-W500 and its HDMI makes that projector a more versatile option.