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JANUARY 25, 2002 Mitsubishi XL1U
In terms of portability, it's not the smallest unit in existence, but it is light, at 6.5 pounds. It measures 9.3" x 3.7" x 12.4". But the tradeoff in size translates to an excellent cooling system, which makes the heat coming from the unit almost undetectable. Finally, in terms of lighting situations, I found the projector to operate well an a slightly lit environment, as well as in areas of indirect sunlight with some shading. The unit includes Mitsubishi's "Intelligent Room Illumination Sensor," which automatically detects ambient light and adjusts color tones for optimal performance. [an error occurred while processing this directive] Disappointments It's always easier on me in a review when I have few disappointments to report. My disappointments with the XL1U were few and minor. When using a component video source (YCrCb), there was just the slightest amount of frame jitter, noticeable only on still frames. Also related to component video, the unit does not auto-select the type of signal coming through the VGA port. In most cases, you will be using an RGB signal, which is the projector's default. But in cases where you're using component, such as from a DVD player, you'll need to select the signal type manually. That's really it. I should mention that in my review unit in the waning days of of the review period, the lamp inside the unit burst. I've never had one burst on me before, but I can't hold Mitsubishi accountable for a defective bulb. I spoke with Mitsubishi about this, and they responded that if a bulb were to go bad in the first 30 days, they would replace the entire projector unit (or just the bulb, at your option). Or, if it happened in the first 31 to 90 days, they'd replace the bulb. Plus, if you buy it from a professional dealer, you'll have whatever support or warranty that dealer provides. The bottom line The Mitsubishi XL1U is an excellent projector that has somehow made it down into the "value projector" price range. It's a versatile unit that's light and easily transportable. And it has most of the capabilities found in projectors costing thousands more. Most important, the image quality is simply superb. We give the XL1U a strong buy recommendation. The XL1U is available from professional and consumer outlets for around $2,800. It includes a case (one that you'll likely want to replace), a remote with laser pointer and most of the cable's you'll need. For those wanting to hook up a component video source, a component to mini D-sub 15 interconnect cable is available from Mitsubishi for about $45. (Or, as I mentioned, you can just have your friend Paulo come over and make you one.) It has a mini D-sub 15 input, RCA jacks for composite video and audio sources and an S-video port, as well as USB and RS-232. It's compatible with NTSC, NTSC 4.43, PAL, PAL-M, PAL-N, SECAM, PAL-60 and HDTV 720p and 1080i. It's also compatible with Macintosh and Windows systems. The lens zoom (1.2:1) and focus are both manual. For more information, visit http://www.mitsubishi-presentations.com. Dave Nagel is the producer of Creative Mac and Digital Media Designer; host of several World Wide User Groups, including Synthetik Studio Artist, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe LiveMotion, Creative Mac and Digital Media Designer; and executive producer of the Digital Media Net family of publications. You can reach him at dnagel@digitalmedianet.com. Prev 1 2 Related sites: • AV Video • Creative Mac • Digital Producer • Presentation Master • The WWUG Related forums: [an error occurred while processing this directive] 
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