NEC on Tuesday announced the release of two new digital projectors, the NP110 and NP215. Part of the company's budget Value Series, the portable DLP projectors are meant to be taken to meeting and conference rooms. While they look nearly identical, several key features differ between the NP215 and NP110, including the 2,500 lumens of brightness for the NP215 (versus 2,200 for the NP110). The NP215 also gets a 1024x768 native resolution compared to the NP110's 800x600, but both accept input up to 1600x1200.
The NP215 gets an Ethernet connection for integration with local networks as well.
Both have a sub 4-second power up and shut down sequence, and there are RCA, S-video and component video connections on each. There is otherwise the same 2,000:1 contrast ratio, an ECO Mode that extends bulb life by up to 5,000 hours and a 7-watt speaker, along with closed captioning. Color correction presets permit images on non-white walls, and the lack of a filter in the design saves some of the usual maintenance work.
Both will begin shipping in October, with the NP110 priced at $459 while the NP215 will cost $599.