Optoma neo-i Projector - Projector Screen Recommendations
2/25/2011 - Art Feierman
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Optoma DV20a Projector Screen Recommendations:
I suspect that most people won't be buying a projector screen to use with a neo-i or other pico. Rather, they will project onto a white or near white wall, piece of white paper, or some other surface. 
It's been a long time since I've seen one, but mini-screens do exist, and a whole new crop are coming, thanks to these pico projectors.
There are portfolio types and those that retract into a tube. Some of the retractible screens are pull-up types, and a couple are pull from the side - accordian like (no not pleated). I've seen small screens in sizes from about 16" diagonal. They can be opened up, and set on a table. By the way, I recommend finding a mini-tripod for setting up the projector. Those weigh only a few ounces and are typically less than 6 inches long. Even with the larger neo-i a mini tripod could be handy to get the neo-i up off the table to line up with whatever height surface you are projecting on.
If you are going to get a screen, I'd suggest a high gain screen if possible. That will help with ambient light, and provide some extra brightness. Some mini-screens come in high gain surfaces.
One example is the Da-Lite Presenter screen shown here. It is 40" diagonal, and when I looked last September ('10) it sold for about $199, and 
has a particularly bright surface. I expect we'll start seeing a number of similar designs and significantly falling prices. I believe most of the demand for screens will be at price points well under $100.
For a lot less money (around $50), Draper makes a 25" diagonal tabletop screen for pico projectors. I can't say that I've actually seen one, but here's an image I found. Elite Screens and others also offer them. We hope to provide a roundup of screens for pico projectors, in the 2011 Pico Projector Comparison Report this summer.
NEXT: Optoma neo-i Warranty