A NEWLY emergent and fast growing area of the business machine sector is that of the LCD projector, the latest form of a machine that has been a standby for generations of sales personnel, financial executives, and general managers.
The LCD projector differs from the traditional in that it uses a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit to formulate the image, doing away with old fashioned slides, and allowing for more powerful projection.
Thus it is possible to show images on a screen without having to go through the old rigmarole of pulling shutters to plunge the viewing arena into darkness. With LCD projectors, it is possible to present images without recourse to such extremes, although subduing the light will heighten the contrast of the presentation.
Danny Mulligan, manager of business electronics with Philips Ireland, says there has been a dramatic fall in the price of these units, from an entry level of £7,000 12 months ago, to about £4,000 now. More sophisticated machines range in price up to £8,000.
The advantages of the LCD projector extend well beyond image quality, says Mulligan. With a weight of less than eight kilos, these are very compact and portable pieces of equipment and are extremely flexible in that they can take the material for presentation straight from a PC or notebook computer.
Introduced here only in mid 1996, the LCD projector is already showing strong growth, says Mulligan. Even so, the market here is still in its infancy, and should take off strongly as the product's potential in sales and financial presentations is more widely appreciated.
Another area in which Philips has been making a name for itself is computer monitors for those at the high user end of the market. As Danny Mulligan explains, computer manufacturers are compelled for cost reasons to provide the lowest specification screens they can get away with. The typical 14 inch colour monitor that comes with most computers is fine for the majority of users, but those involved in any form of desk top publishing or graphic design inevitably will want something better.
Windows T95 makes a 17 inch screen a virtual necessity, says Mulligan, because once three or four windows are opened at the one time - as many users seem to do - then a standard 14 inch sometimes proves inadequate to the job.
Philips provide screens ranging from 15 to 21 inches, ranging in price from £350 up to £2,000, depending on specification. The ultimate is a 29 inch multimedia display which combines a computer monitor with a television set, enabling the display of computer graphics along with corporate videos and commercials. Prices in this category start at around £2,000.
