Review: NEC M260GX projector

NEW DELHI: Projectors are evolving from being just business tools to much more. NEC's M260GX projector is one such projector that is fantastic for boardrooms, but also works great for entertainment purposes. Weighing 2.9kg, the M260GX looks very elegant in white.

The matte finish on the body keeps it free from fingerprints , but it does tend to get dirty very quickly. One noticeable thing about the projector design is that it has a sliding cover for the lens - this has pros and cons. The sliding cover is simpler to use and keeps the lens well protected, but it can become a problem to operate if you choose to mount the projector on the roof.

For table top use, the three legs underneath can be rotated individually - helpful to balance it on an uneven surface. The zoom and focus ring are accessible from the top of the projector. The power button on top lights up to indicate status - orange (standby) and blue(in use).

There are also indication LEDs for status and lamp overheat placed around the buttons for source selection and eco mode. At the back, all the connectivity ports are neatly placed with sufficient distance to connect multiple devices simultaneously. You get HDMI, 2 x D-sub (VGA) inputs, Dsub out, S-video and composite in, audio in/out, Ethernet and a standard size USB port.

Setting up the projector takes barely a few minutes. It can be kept on a desk or wall mounted -settings are available in the menu to adjust the view for the same. Once connected to power, the projector takes just about 30 seconds to display the first images.

It does however, take over 2 minutes to reach full brightness level and display proper colors. The built in auto keystone compensates for changes in angle of the projector. It works well and adjusts the image in about a second for a rectangular screen. Shutting down takes about 15 seconds with another 15 seconds to cool down completely.

Purely looking at specifications, the projector has an XGA resolution (1024x768 pixels) with 2600 ANSI Lumens brightness, 2000:1 contrast ratio and a rated lamp life of 6000 hours. While viewing presentations and other office documents, the projector displayed sharp blacks over white, which were easy to read.

It even offers the option to adjust the settings as per your wall color to get the best output. While viewing videos, the projector delivered vivid colors and superb clarity. HD videos looked spectacular, while gaming was great with no ghosting or lag - clearly indicating that it is great for home use as well.

The USB port on the back  from a USB drive without connecting to a PC if required. And the included 10W speaker is good enough to use in a small room. At the price, the M260 turns out to be a great option if you are looking for something to use in a small home-office.

For about the same price, the Benq MW512 can also be considered. The technology is different - it is a DLP projector and offers better resolution, contrast and is also 3D ready. However, it lacks network connectivity and comes with a smaller 2W speaker.