Projectors get a USB hookup

By Keith Shaw on Fri, 06/13/08 - 3:42pm.

Connect to projector via USB!

Anyone who's had to connect their notebook to a projector for the purposes of showing a presentation knows how frustrating it is to get the thing set up. Anyone who's sat in an audience (either at a conference or even just a regular boardroom meeting) knows how frustrating it is to watch as the speaker goes, "Now what buttons do I push to get the display to show up here and there?"

The fact is, connecting to a projector via the VGA cable and then figuring out the correct function and/or control keys to push is annoying. Thank God, then for DisplayLink, which recently teamed up with InFocus to launch two new projectors that connect to PCs via a USB cable. The same company that allowed users to connect computer monitors via USB (watch our video) has now taken that same technology and applied it to the world of projectors.

The new IN3100 ($1,499) and IN1100 ($1,299) models from InFocus include the DisplayLink technology, freeing presenters and audience members from the hassles of setup. Chips on the projectors include the drivers that install on the users' notebooks once the USB cable is connected. With the USB connection established, users can also control other features on the projector through the notebook instead of pushing other buttons on the projector.

The IN3100 (available in July) is designed as an in-room projector, featuring 3,000 or 3,500 lumens, a choice of XGA or WXGA resolution, and 2,000:1 contrast. The projector includes HDMI support and wireless connectivity (LiteShow II) support as well. The IN1100 (available in August) is a mobile projector (2.75 pounds), designed for mobile workers and smaller teams. Features include up to 2,200 lumens of brightness, XGA and WXGA native resolution, and 4:3 or 16:10 widescreen options.