Laptop and projector resolution

[Colleen]

Any advice appreciated. I notice that most of the least expensive digital
projectors support SVGA. Suppose I have a laptop with XVGA resolution. If
I change the laptop display to match the projectors resolution I assume that
the images will enlarge. Will clarity be lost? This seems like a silly
question, but, should the resolution be changed prior to creating the
presentation? Also, is it necessary to have a multimedia projector or will
plain digital do, so long as I am not displaying movie files?

Any projector recommendations? Epson, InFocus, Optima, Toshiba, HP, Sony?

Thanks.

 

[TAJ Simmons]

Colleen,

I believe it's crucial to get a match in resolution.

If the projector is really an XGA 1024x768 projector then...use a laptop
that is also 1024x768.

Don't go XGA laptop to SVGA (800x600) projector or XGA projector to SVGA
laptop

Some laptops can have their local screen at one resolution while pushing out
a different resolution via the monitor/screen cable connector.

If it was me...I'd like them both to match. That' way there are no suprises!

Some projectors claim to support different resolutions....but they either
double up pixels or lose pixels to display the images. Resulting in a
'scaled' type image. Hard to explain. But if you've seen one you will know
what I mean.

I believe some projectors are labelled as "multimedia" if they can handle
sound as well as displaying a picture. If you have no sound .. then any
modern lcd projector will work for you.

Cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

awesome - powerpoint backgrounds,
free sample templates, tutorials, hints and tips etc
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[Colleen]

TAJ,

Thank you very much for your input. Although some of the SVGA projectors
look like good buys, perhaps it is best to spend the extra money and get one
that, as you said, produces no surprises.

Colleen

 

[Ute Simon]

Colleen,

if possible, take your laptop with you to the shop and try it out before
buying!

Only today my HiRes HP laptop drove me mad, when not working with a
(borrowed) XGA projector.

Kind regards,
Ute

 

[John O]

Only today my HiRes HP laptop drove me mad, when not working with a
(borrowed) XGA projector.

Dontcha hate that? I wish projectors were dumber...I don't need drivers on
my laptop when I hook up a monitor or projector...just take what I send and
display it, darnit!

Configuring these quasi-dual-head laptops is also far too difficult.

John O

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

What TAJ said. And in addition ...

Any advice appreciated. I notice that most of the least expensive digital
projectors support SVGA. Suppose I have a laptop with XVGA resolution. If
I change the laptop display to match the projectors resolution I assume that
the images will enlarge. Will clarity be lost?

You'll lose a little something ... SVGA wont' look as good as XVGA, of
course, but other than that, it shouldn't be a big problem. You don't
really need to set the resolution in advance in PPT but it's a good idea to
create pictures files at an appropriate resolution for your intended use.

This seems like a silly