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Product Review: Page (1) of 1 - 11/12/09

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Epson PowerLite 1716 LCD projector

Wireless capable with 1024x768 native resolution

By John Virata

The Epson PowerLite 1716 is a  portable, wireless-capable LCD projector with a 4:3 aspect ratio targeted at mobile presenters and those on the go who need to present content in an effective manner. The PowerLite 1716 features a three chip Epson 3LCD optical engine that has a native hardware resolution of 1024x768, and features USB, component, and SVGA connectivity. It has a contrast ratio up to 2000:1, 2700 lumen color and white light output, 30" to 300" screen size,  and a 1.09 - 1.34 throw ratio range.

The PowerLite 1716 features a 30 degrees vertical keystone correction, and 16.77 million color reproduction.  The projector weighs less than 4lbs and ships with a soft carrying case, USB cable, user manual on CD, and remote control. It features a two year hardware warranty and 90 day lamp warranty.

In use
The PowerLite 1716 was setup in a darkened room that serves as a media room. The projector was setup 10 feet from the wall. The display surface used was a Panoview Gray Wolf II. A variety of content was projected, including Spiderman and Star Trek, as well as NFL football games and the World Series. The menuing system is easy to understand and straightforward, with easy access to the projector's adjustment settings. The included remote control enables you to access the projector's Power, source search selection, computer, S-video, video, EasyMP, A/V mute, freeze, user ID, auto, aspect, color mode, num, page up and down, E-zoom, and volume.

Images are sharp, blacks were output fairly respectively, and colors were outstanding. All of the movies were played off a MacBook Pro. TV came off a Windows Media Center PC, and images were played off the Macintosh as well. The viewing room itself isn't the darkest, with the Gray Wolf II screen hanging in front of a bay window that is covered with wood shutters, yet there were no viewing issues. The Powerlite 1716 also has a PC free mode that enables you to play JPEG images from a USB thumb drive. PowerPoint presentations can also be viewed via USB thumb drive provided the .ppt files are saved as JPEG interchange files to the USB drive.

First Impressions
The PowerLite 1716 is a small footprint proector targeted at those who need a mobile projector that is simple to set up and control, and is easy to transport. It features a two year warranty and 90 day lamp warranty, a bit less than what some other manufacturers offer, which is up to three year standard warranties and six month lamp warranties. The PowerLite 1716 is priced at $999.  For more information, visit www.epson.com.