Topic: Data Projector

[Clive]

I've been given a mandate to purcahase a data projector for our local astronomical society and THIS machine has been suggested to me.  It seems to be a very good buy and I see no reason not to go ahead.  What do you think?

[Sandra]

What are you going to be running it off Clive ?

Check the cost of replacement bulbs and expected life, although if its only going to be used a few hours per meeting then it probably wont be that critical.

I know that the lamp life and replacement costs deter some people from using them in their houses for normal TV viewing and they only use them for watching sporting events and films.

I am confused with the specifications as it says it wil do 720p and 1080i which is in the HD TV limits yet its maximum resolution is only 1024 x 768, which is not HD resolution 

[Clive]

Speakers tend to bring their own laptops Sandra, but data prjoctors can be difficult for them to get hold of.  Usually they manage to borrow one from their university but most societies now have one of their own, especially since they have come down in price.  It will only be used 2 hours a month max so lamp life is not an issue.  Sam may be able to advise on the resolution since he uses them all the time.

[Sandra]

Its probably ok then at that price as you could use the analogue 15 pin in, which I assume is the standard D Sub VGA connector that most laptops have.

I must admit I didnt notice the price last night as I was reading the specifications and was thinking that for astronomical (and sheep fancying) purposes that you would be after something that would show Hi Definition pictures.

I dont think you will find anything that does HD at full resolution without having to spend a lot more money.

[sam]

you don't need particular high def, most of the pics people show in these talks aren't that good...!

[Clive]

OK, so you only have yourself to blame when you are using it in November.   

[Sandra]

I thought youd have all the digitally enhanced ones in HD Sam, to show greater detail 

[sam]

why would you? You can't digitally enhance data! If you take the data with a 700pixel detector then the best it will look is that! :-)

I just don't see the wow in HD. In terms of a plot or an image... (mine are all radio maps) why bother. If you have an image that looks fine on 800 x 600 it will do for a talk were people can't necessarily see the screen properly. Of course this is different in a modern planetarium were you do need high res images.

and yay I dont have to use a OHP...!

[Sandra]

Agreed for data that would be ok but I thought youd be having similar pics to what you and Clive have sometimes posted on here Sam, but in greater detail 

[sam]

yeah but those pics, I'd classify as data btw, are only normally 1200X 800 sort of res

[Clive]

It's arrived and I will take it out of the box tomorrow.  The day after I may see if I can connect it to Mrs Clive's Mac.  She claims she will have to find her "dongle" whatever that means! 

LINK

[sam]

not really a dongle.. i dont think but macs normally have a different video output... dont worry for my talk i have this cable.

[Clive]

It's out of the box!     To be fair it's come with loadsa leads but it wont connect into a Mac without the mysterious dongle.  Mrs Clive claims to have one of these devices and has promised to locate it for me. 

[Clive]

Heck, if I realised it was that easy to set up I wouldn't have made all the fuss!  It works like a dream.  We can supply you with a Mac Sam.  We have a dongle!