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(More customer reviews)I tend to make jokes about being a dinosaur. I'm not what you'd call real tech-savvy, and I don't generally purchase the newest and latest gadgets. Though my collection seems to be growing of late, one way or another, and I have to admit I'm having fun! Last month I was given the opportunity to review the BenQ Joybee GP1 Mini Projector through the Amazon Vine program. I'll be honest; I wasn't pining away for a mini-projector. Clearly, I didn't know what I was missing.
Now, you may be wondering if I'm even qualified to review this product. As it happens, I am. In my professional life, I'm an organizer of academic conferences. Out of necessity, I've had to learn how to jury rig the most creative AV set-ups, with never quite enough equipment to meet every professor's needs. I've been using full-sized, very expensive LCD projectors in every way it's possible to utilize the machines.
The BenQ mini project is mini indeed. It is a fraction the size of a traditional projector. It's almost exactly the size of a CD case, and about two and a half inches tall. It weighs about a pound and a half. It is insanely portable! Obviously, it's a great choice for anyone who has to travel and make presentations. It won't even cause a dent in your carry-on luggage.
I've found the machine to be reasonably intuitive to use. I say this, because the instructions were useless. The instruction booklet that came with the mini projector has no words. Literally. Just pictures. Seriously, there is only so much you can do with that. Aside from the picture book, there's a CD with extremely, extremely detailed information. I've got no time for that. I haven't even looked at it. So, the good news is I was able to figure everything out on my own. It took a few minutes of playing around, but it was very do-able. For someone more tech-savvy, it'd be a piece of cake.
Straight out of the box, I stuck my thumb drive into the back of the machine. It sort of automatically found the file where all my photographs were, and with basically no effort on my part, I was projecting a slide show onto the wall.
Next, I hooked it up to a laptop, and tested it in a proper darkened room. It was at this point that I discovered what I consider to be the machine's biggest (and possibly only) weakness. I'd say the focus is the worst feature of the machine. Don't get me wrong--it's, absolutely fine, but only up to a point. Despite claims that it will project "up to 80 inches in size," I wouldn't count on really tight focus much more than 60 inches. So, by my reckoning, that makes this an ideal machine for a smaller conference or screening room, but not for a really large one. Smaller machine, smaller projected image. It seems reasonable to me.
Since I never have enough equipment for my conference needs, the BenQ projector seems like a perfect back-up machine. It costs a fraction of what the LCD machines cost and has other advantages as well. This uses LED lights, not the very expensive LCD bulbs that need to be changed every couple of years. Also, this machine doesn't heat up like those do. If I accidentally turn off an LCD projector, I have to wait 20 minutes for it to cool down so that I can turn it back on again. Not so the mini projector. I can turn it off and then right back on again, or pack it up without waiting.
While it's great to have my own projector as a backup for conferences and other presentations I may need to make, that's not what I really use this for. Being me, I have a tiny little 19-inch television at home. Now I can hook up the mini projector to a mini DVD player I have and project DVDs 5-feet across! It's like suddenly having a huge, wide-screen television without trying to fit some monstrosity in my studio apartment. I love it! I have hundreds of movies in my home, and I find myself searching for the ones with the most gorgeous scenery just for the pleasure of seeing them projected huge on my bedroom wall.
Oh, and no screen is necessary. The picture looks quite good against my boring white wall. But get this, the projector even has color correction settings in case you're projecting against a pink, yellow, green, or blue wall, or even a blackboard! There are several other nice features I discovered after I'd mastered the basics. From the on-screen menu, you can control the volume of the speaker (which is adequate for a small conference room without external speakers), a sleep timer, and many other features.
This projector may not be the ideal tool for every person's needs, but it meets mine very well. I'm delighted by how many different ways I can see putting it to use in my life. And it's an affordable option for anyone looking for a good quality, highly portable machine.
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The BenQ Joybee GP1 Mini Projector is a palm-sized, pocket projector, designed to go wherever you go--business or pleasure. Plug in a variety of devices--laptops, MP3 players, cameras, gaming consoles, and more--to project your media up to 80 inches in size. The GP1 also comes with an integrated 2-watt speaker to further enrich your multimedia enjoyment. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your media.
Easy Set-Up The Joybee GP1 gets you going in a matter of seconds. Plug it in, insert your USB device or connect other media, raise the device to the desired viewing angle, focus your image and you're all set.
VGA and Composite Video Connect your laptop using the GP1's VGA connection for Power Point presentations, streaming video, slideshows or anything else you can display.
A composite video input allows connection of video game systems, DVD players, and various other A/V devices. Devices with component outputs can be adapted to VGA.
USB Connectivity With Wide Format Support On the back of the GP1 you'll find a USB port. Plug in thumb drives and USB devices with your favorite media for enjoyment on the GP1. Enjoy AVI/MOV/3GP/3G2/DivX/Xvid videos, JPEG/BMP/GIF/TIFF images, or just listen to your favorite MP3s.
LED3 Projection Powered by BenQ's LED3 Technology, the GP1 is built to deliver a cinema-quality image, giving you clear, brilliant images with optimized brightness and contrast ratio.
Tripod-Ready Stacking books under your projector may be a good idea when you want to get the projection height and angle you want, but here's a better idea--a tripod. The GP1 can be easily attached to a tripod for precise angling and adjustment.
100% Lamp-Free The GP1 utilizes RGB LEDs as the projection light source instead of traditional projection lamps. Enjoy vivid, stunning picture without worrying about issues such as decrease in brightness, color fading, or expensive lamp replacement.
The LEDs also consume less power than traditional lamps, and are mercury-free, making the GP1 a greener choice.
Wall Color Correction Can't find a smooth white wall? Not a problem. BenQ's Wall Color Correction technology offers a selection of five wall colors for various surfaces--even blackboards. Get outstanding projection quality wherever you go.
Built-in Speakers BenQ completes the self-contained multimedia experience with a built-in 2-watt speaker, so you don't need to be next to an audio system to enjoy audio.
Of course, an audio output (stereo mini jack) is also included, so you can connect to a stereo or other system for a little more power.
Keystone-Perfect Viewing Say goodbye to misshaped images, graphics, and charts--with the automatic keystone adjustment, a perfect square is all you'll see.
A Delightful Sight in Black and White It always helps when your multimedia devices take design to heart. The GP1 features a sleek, high-gloss finish with smooth, rounded curves. It weighs in at just over a pound. The illuminated touch-panel controls are functional and attractive. It's a pico projector that doesn't skimp on looks.
Optional iPod Dock Add the optional iPod dock for charging and enjoyment of your iPod. Without the dock, you can still enjoy iPod content via the RCA composite input (adapter needed).
What's in the Box BenQ Joybee GP1 Mini Projector, Quick Start Guide, Soft Carry Case, Remote Control, Power Supply, Manual, CD, 30-Pin Cable With VGA/Composite Inputs
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