BrightLink 485Wi Wins Projector Central Shootout

Grant's Perspective on ... Projector Central rates the Epson BrightLink 485Wi the best in their Interactive Projector Shootout.

Epson BrightLink 485Wi Interactive Projector

Projector Central is a respected website that is a good source of information to review and compare projectors. I noticed they recently conducted an Interactive Projector Shootout and the Epson Brightlink 485W1 was rated #1.

They summarize the findings, saying "The Epson 485Wi comes in first in most categories, with the best video image quality, brightest interactive image, best audio system, and more. It even edges out the DLP projectors on interactive features, thanks to its automatic calibration and its ability to work with two pens at once.

If you are in Western Canada (Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon or Winnipeg) and would like more information or a demonstration, contact us at Inland AV.

Grant

Sharp Interactive LCD Monitor Demonstrations In Winnipeg & Edmonton

Grant's Perspective on ... Sharp interactive touch-screen LCD monitors.

I encourage all of our readers in the Winnipeg and Edmonton area to attend the Inland AV Driving Technology Audiovisual Seminars and Demonstrations. The Winnipeg event is on January 27 and Edmonton is on February 10.

One of the seminars will feature Joe Ng, Sharp Electronics  of  Canada. Joe will be making a presentation on the 70" interactive touch-screen LCD monitor. Sharp recently visited our office to demonstrate the interactive monitor (see photo below).

Nick Hoxha, Sharp Digital Presentation and Signage Group

The seminars will be of interest to anyone who is looking at interactive technology because in addition to the Sharp interactive touch-screen seminar, Epson Canada will deliver a presentation on their BrightLink projectors.

This will be an excellent opportunity to learn about interactive monitors and projectors at the seminar and to try the technology out at their demonstration booths.

Grant

StarBoard Link Buy 4 Get 5

Grant's Perspective on ... Hitachi StarBoard Link Sale.

Hitachi is offering a "buy 4 get 5" deal on their StarBoard Link product. The StarBoard Link makes a dry erase whiteboard and regular projector and interactive surface. See the details below.

Grant

Chief Infrared Mounts Make Any Projector Interactive

Grant's Perspective on ... Chief introduces an infrared projector mount.

It was just a year and a half ago that if you wanted an interactive tool your only choice was a whiteboard.  At Inland AV, we were excited that Epson made the first breakthrough and launched the BrightLink and the interactive market took off. Hitachi soon followed with their iPJ-AW250N interactive projector. Other manufactures added interactive projectors and the people at Sharp introduced a 60" and now 70" touchscreens.  We then saw products introduced that enabled people to make their regular projector interactive. Epson introduced the BrightLink Solo and Hitachi introduced the StarBoard Link.

Chief  has now entered the interactive market with a series of interactive mounts. You can now mount your regular projector with a Chief mount and make it interactive.

I really like the functionality of their website for the new mounts.  The "compatibility" button lets you see if your projector will work with a particular mount. Their list of projector manufacturers looks exhaustive: there are over 50 projector manufacturers that start with the letter "A". Once you choose the manufacturer, you choose your model number. No guessing if your projector will work with a specific mount.

A short while ago you had no choice for interactive products. Now you have lots of options. Options are always good.

Grant

StarBoardLink Makes a Dry Erase Board Interactive

Grant's Perspective on ... the new interactive Hitachi StarBoardLink.

Hitachi has long been a part of the interactive market with their StarBoard series of interactive whiteboards. They have now brought the StarBoardLink to market.

The StarBoardLink is a good fit for the teacher that already has a projector and a smooth hard surface (standard whiteboard or wall) and would like to make their classes interactive, on a budget. This is the same technology as the Hitachi StarBoard but now without the board.

The StarBoardLink has an Infrared Image Sensor that is mounted at the top of the surface. The reflective bars are then mounted in a U shape around the Infrared Image Sensor.

The Infrared Sensor  is pre-drilled so that it can easily be permanently mounted at the top of your hard surface. With the sensor being mounted at the top of the surface it would be a good solution for rooms that have very low ceilings.

The interactive area is scalable. it can be set up with a 4:3 ratio ( 45" - 77") and the HD 16:10 ratio can be 45" - 90".

This adds another option for people that have been looking at interactive whiteboards or some of the other interactive systems such as the Hitachi iP-AW250N interactive projector and the Epson BrightLink and BrightLink Solo.

I have just read the StarBoardLink literature and look forward to getting my hands on the unit and putting it through some hands on testing.

Grant