InFocus IN114

The InFocus IN114 ($399 direct) is a capable data projector that can be had at a very low price. There are plenty of projectors out there with higher resolution, better image quality, and/or more features, but the IN114 costs less than most, is highly portable, and is fine for basic business presentations

The IN114 uses a DLP light engine rated at 2,700 lumens. It has a native XGA (1,024 by 768) resolution, a 4:3 aspect ratio befitting data presentations. The projector, black with rounded corners, measures 2.8 by 11.8 by 9.2 inches and weighs 4.8 pounds, making it very easy to tote around. It has a focus wheel and a zoom wheel, each accessible from above the lens. In back there are two VGA-in ports for connecting to multiple computers; VGA-out for connecting to a monitor; RS232; S-Video; a yellow RCA composite video jack; audio-in and audio-out jacks; and a USB mini-B port that you can plug into your computer. It lacks a USB type A port that would let you run a computer-free presentation off a USB thumb drive.

The IN114’s projecting distance was somewhat longer than with most projectors I’ve looked at; I needed about nine feet to fill our test screen with a 60-inch diagonal image on our test screen at the highest zoom setting.

In testing with the DisplayMate suite, the InFocus IN114’s data image quality was fair. Light gray tones often showed greenish tints, while white areas sometimes looked slightly yellowish. Gray areas with a hatched or moiré pattern looked distinctly greenish. Although type was readable down to the smallest size, the smallest type was a bit blurred.

All DLP projectors are potentially subject to the rainbow effect, in which bright areas break up into their component colors when one shifts one’s gaze, or when bright objects move in the case of video. The IN114 showed an average rainbow effect for a DLP projector; it could be distracting to people who are particularly sensitive to it.

Video quality is fine for short to medium-length video clips shown as part of a presentation, though you probably wouldn’t want to watch movies with it. In our test clips, the projector did better in retaining detail in darker than in very bright scenes. There were traces of posterization, sudden shifts in color or tone where they should be gradual. The rainbow effect was visible in scenes that typically bring it out. It may or may not be an issue, depending on how sensitive your audience is.

The IN114 has a built-in 2-watt speaker, and its audio is of decent quality and volume. This projector’s lamp life is very good: 6,000 hours in eco mode, 4,500 hours in normal mode. Another plus is the 5-year limited warranty (though the lamp is only under warranty for 6 months).

Although its data and video quality are average, the InFocus IN114 does well as a budget data projector, adding features like long lamp life and a 5-year limited warrantee.  It’s compact, portable, and easy to use—and you can’t beat the price. If you need better image quality and a fuller feature set, check out the NEC NP64 ($1,099, 4 stars) or the Editors’ Choice WXGA-resolution NEC NP-260W ($850 street, 4 stars), though at their price you could get two IN114s with money to spare.