HITACHI
CP-X885
£3700 (£4500 with
Wi-Fi module) – typical web prices
http://www.hitachidigitalmedia.com/
COPY
Unlike virtually
every other type of display device video projectors are usually situated some
distance from the other components in an AV system, often in an inaccessible
location, suspended from the ceiling or behind a partition. This can cause
problems with cabling so if ever there was an application crying out for a
wireless solution this is it. Hitachi’s response is the CP-X855, however,
before you whip out the plastic the bad news is that it’s not yet capable of
displaying moving images, just stills and graphics, but this is likely to be only
a temporary glitch with faster wireless systems now coming on stream.
For the moment
though, the X855’s wireless talents are aimed at corporate users, for
displaying PC graphics, PowerPoint presentations and so on. Nevertheless,
there’s nothing to stop home AVers using it for showing slideshows of their
digital photo albums, beamed from a laptop or home wireless network.
In fact wireless
connectivity is an optional extra and takes the form of a clip-on module, which
rather spoils the X855’s otherwise smooth lines. It looks like an afterthought
and hopefully the facility will be built-in on future models. Otherwise it is a
well specified design with an XGA display based around a single 0.99-inch TFT
panel giving a maximum resolution of 1024 x 768. Behind that there’s a 275-watt
ultra high brightness lamp pumping out a healthy 3500 Ansi lumens and it is
capable of throwing up an image up to 300 inches across -- in 4:3 or 16:9
display modes -- with a contrast ratio in the region of 800:1.
Useful features
include picture zoom and magnify, picture-in-picture, freeze, keystone
adjustment, an on-board monitor speaker and there’s a laser pointer built into
the handset. The remote can also be connected to the projector for PC mouse
control. Installation is virtually idiot proof, using an on-screen display
controlled from a one-touch dial on the projector and a joystick on the
handset.
Connectivity is
another of the X855’s strong points and in addition to composite, S-Video and
analogue RGB inputs (PC and video) there’s component video and DVI connections,
sockets for mouse control (USB and PS/2), serial communications and audio
in/out.
Wireless
configuration is reasonably straightforward; clip on the Wi-Fi module, set the
PC’s network configuration to the correct IP address, load a small utility
programs and it’s ready to run. The projector can be controlled from the PC and
it displays whatever is on the desktop or visuals from any chosen application
or file. Images can take a second or so to upload but there’s no loss of
quality, compared with a direct PC cable connection. Images and graphics can
also be displayed directly from a memory module loaded into the slot usually
occupied by the wireless adaptor’s Wi-Fi card.
Video performance
is also very good, even when there’s some ambient light in the room. The image
is sharp and detailed with bright, vivid colours. It’s optimised for PC
graphics so subtle shades, like skin tones, can appear a tad coarse but in a
semi-darkened room with an RGB or component feed from a high quality source
like a DVD player there’s little to complain about.
VERDICT
Wireless networking
for projectors still has a little way to go but if the X8555 is anything to go
by it promises to make cabling and control a lot easier but even without the
Wi-Fi element it’s a strong contender for the home and the boardroom.
FUTURE HOME RATING
4/5
SPECIFICATIONS
DISPLAY
XGA display (1024 x
768 pixels)
CONTRAST RATIO
800:1
LIGHT OUTPUT
3500 Ansi Lumens
VIDEO CONNECTIONS
Analogue RGB (PC
& video), DVI, component, composite, S-Video
FEATURES
Screen size up to
300-inches
Picture-in-picture
Zoom and magnify
Built in speaker
‘Whisper’ quiet fan
Internal 8Mb memory
Optional 802.11b
Wi-Fi connectivity for display and PC control
DIMENSIONS
380 x 120 x 290
mm (whd)
WEIGHT
5.7kg
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Ó R. Maybury 2003,
1906
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