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    03 June 2012| last updated at 10:40PM

    LAB REVIEW: Big picture, small package

    By Redza Imran

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    The Ricoh PJ WX4130N is quite a decent projector for the conference or even the living room if you have cash to spare, writes Redza Imran

    WHEN I first got the Ricoh PJ WX4130N, I was a bit sceptical that it would be practical. Why waste the effort in making a short throw projector? An equivalent overhead projector can display images and videos that are just as good and bigger than the 203.2cm claimed by Ricoh for half the price. Alas, when I first set it up, getting the picture to be perfectly square was a hassle.

    To get a good picture, you must get the projector to be perfectly parallel with the wall it is to be projected on. The wall had also better be perfectly smooth, otherwise the picture comes out a bit distorted. Even though I was finally able to get a roughly straight edged picture, it was still blurry around the top edges.

    Another gripe is that I could never get the height of the projection right. It always required some form of physical adjustment, be it a book or box placed underneath to allow you to see the screen in full. So yes, we’ve established that the projector is finicky, but why is that relevant?

    Well, because it’s touted as a portable projector. The limitations of trying to find a smooth wall or a projection screen at just the right height are setbacks to that claim.

    However, it’s not all bad news because it does a decent job of projecting images once properly set up. Capable of producing high-definition WXGA images up to a resolution of 1,280 by 800, it can project these images up to a size of 80 inches. In addition to a LAN port, it has a plug and play USB port, a HDMI port, VGA port, Video In and Audio In jacks as well as wireless LAN capabilities. The wireless aspect of the projector was the most interesting piece of tech, other than its short throw capability. It allows you to connect to a projector wirelessly to make presentations. Setting up is a pain as every PC or iPad had to have its proprietary software installed, but the concept is great. However, the iPad version is actually an app that allows you to share PDF files between your iPad and the projector, along with up to 10 other iPads. Sweet, but I hope they allow for more file types as the software improves.

    Once set up, the presenter is actually in front of the picture, eliminating that annoying shadow effect you get when someone steps in front of the screen on a normal forward facing projector.

    Another nice feature is the USB slot, allowing you to instantly show pictures up on the screen in all its HD glory. Perfect for those impromptu photo viewing sessions at home (albeit this is targeted to the business market). Movies were crisp and clear through the HDMI cable, though you may want to bring along external speakers as the built-in ones are small. That said, this is a nice piece of tech, but at more than RM6,000, it’s aimed at businesses and not the typical home user.

    Verdict: Businesses that want to set up a fixed projector in their offices should consider the PJ WX4130N as it would be perfect if all the other variables (such as screen position, projector height) are eliminated. Home users with high-end home theatres should also give this unit a once over.

     

    Ricoh PJ WX4130N Ultra short throw projector

    Manufacturer: Ricoh
    Enquiries: www.ricoh.com
    Price: RM6,689.
     
    Features
    Dimension: (WxDxH): 257 x 144 x 221mm
    Short distance to projection wall
    Portable design
    Produces high quality images  
    HDMI, WLAN Connectivity

    Our verdict: HHHH
    Physical design: HHHHH
    Documentation: HHHH
    User-friendliness: HHHH
    Performance: HHHH
    Value for money: HHHH

     

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