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It’s 2020, And People Are Still Choosing Projectors Over Flat-Panel Displays

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Casio LampFree

By: Wayne Borg
Marketing Manager, Casio 

A familiar question in the AV industry: How do projectors compare to flat-panel displays?

Before you answer that, first establish what kind of projector you’re referencing.

Therefore, the better question is, How do lamp-free projectors compare to flat-panel displays?

Because once you eliminate the headaches of a traditional lamp-based projector, the reasons for choosing a Casio LampFree projector over a flat panel become clear.

It’s 2020, and the industry is still choosing projectors over flat-panel displays. Here’s why.

When Screen Size Triumphs

The graphics on flat-panel displays are impressive, but that doesn’t matter when you need a large screen size. For applications that require text and numbers to be displayed on-screen, screen size is the most important factor. A few cases in which screen size triumphs over perfect graphics:

  1. When reviewing numbers-based documents, like Excel spreadsheets, in corporate spaces and boardrooms. (Crisp graphics won’t matter if you can’t read the numbers.)
  2. When the viewing distance is far enough, for any applicable case in which people are a long way from the content that’s being experienced — like a museum exhibit utilizing one or more projectors with screens.
  3. When presenting lessons and curriculums in schools, where the screen size must accommodate students in the seats that are farthest from the screen.

For reference in classrooms specifically, look at the widely referenced 1/4 rule in AV, the baseline for determining what size screen and projection technology are needed. The 1/4 rule says that, for an average classroom (20’x30’), the minimum classroom screen height must be 60 inches or the height of a 113-inch diagonal display.1 Sure, there are flat panels large enough to meet this requirement, but most classrooms can’t afford them. And the last thing an AV/IT manager wants to do is go with a smaller screen, forsaking readability and compromising the view for the students in the back of the classroom.

Casio 1/4 rule

Fortunately, Casio LampFree gives you both a large screen size and high image quality at an affordable price, something flat panels can’t currently balance.

When Economics Triumph

In the past, IT managers had to deal with projectors that required a lot of maintenance and broke down more often than flat panels, costing them time and money. But Casio’s projectors are an excellent balance of high image quality, price and reliability.2

LampFree vs. Flat Panels
LampFree is the more economical choice over a flat-panel display: In cost per inch, a projector and a screen are still much less expensive than flat panels. For large display sizes, you just can’t currently beat the price of a combined projector and screen. With minimal maintenance (no filters to clean or lamps to replace), AV end users are saving on the less tangible but still valid economic costs — people’s time, for instance. Many argue that flat panels need more people to install and consistently service.

LampFree vs. Similar Projectors
Pricing for Casio LampFree is extremely competitive when looking at similar projectors. For one, each model in Casio’s Superior series is priced under $2K for 4,000 lumens each — that’s as good as it gets today (most 4,000-lumen projectors are well over this price point). You’re getting more lumens per dollar with Casio’s hybrid LED/laser light source, which uses a red LED, then a laser light for blue and green. That means more lumens per watt as compared to all-LED or all-laser projectors.

When Casio LampFree Triumphs

There may very well be no question for dealers/integrators when deciding between a projector and a flat-panel display — the reality of the space and the setup’s viewing distance typically make that decision for you. That said, a lot of IT managers and AV end users are still faced with a choice between the two, which is why it’s important to bring to light (and it’s a very bright light indeed) the benefits of lamp-free.

Lamps are last year’s news. End users may be switching to flat panels because they are sick of lamps. They may not be aware of the laser or LED projectors available to them. Casio LampFree solves the old headaches of lamp-based projectors; and since Casio pioneered its hybrid-LED/laser technology projector, it has sold more than a million LampFree projectors globally over just one decade.

Projectors give you more flexibility. It’s not a secret that projectors provide more flexibility in where (and how) to showcase content as compared to flat-panel displays. And the evolution within the projector industry to include portable and ultra-slim designs — like the Casio Ultra Short Throw and Casio Slim series (the XJ-A252 is just 5.1 pounds) — has made installations more fun and creative. With projectors, the possibilities are endless.

Casio is challenging the old saying that you can have it fast, inexpensive or good (pick two): It does all three. For more information, request a demo or learn more about Casio LampFree at www.CasioLampFree.com.

Sources:
1. Casio: “Projectors, Flat Panels, and the Classroom”
2. Casio: “Casio Projectors Offer Economic And Environmental Benefits”
3. Casio: “One-Click Classrooms”

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