Product Reviews

Here at Computer Shopper we are bombarded with technical jargon and lists of technical specifications, but there is a much more to a product than this information. A dry list of numbers gives little indication of a product's usability, leaving the unsuspecting buyer with an incomplete picture. The VPL-CS7 projector is that kind of product.

The build quality is very good and the body feels solid and doesn't creak when handled. Both the main unit and the small remote control have a decent set of controls for navigating the clear and comprehensive menu system. Its block-like shape is actually a lot more attractive than the curvier bodies of many projectors of this size, and this styling also makes it much more compact than its simple dimensions suggest. The built-in lens assembly helps to keep it very compact, and this is further enhanced by the recessed zoom and focus controls on the side of the unit.

These side controls are just one reason why the VPL-CS7 is so convenient to use, as it is very hard to nudge them accidentally. This means that when you turn on the projector, the settings are likely to be just as you left them when you last used it. This ease of

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setup extends to the automated tilt and keystone settings, too. Switching on the projector causes the front leg to extend automatically, tilting it up to the same extent as when it was last used. The keystone then adjusts the image correctly based on the tilt. This projector also does without the usual cool-down time on which most projectors insist - turn off the CS7 and you can immediately unplug it and move it elsewhere.

Inputs are limited to composite, S-video and VGA. Although a component input would have been nice, this has been sacrificed for a VGA pass-through output. This enables you to plug a monitor into the projector and control the presentation while facing your audience. It's most useful for desktop PC users who have the projector installed permanently in a room.

The VPL-CS7's specifications do not completely match its excellent usability. Its native resolution is 800x600 and, like all projectors, it suffers badly if pushed to resolutions beyond this. A resolution of 1,024x768 would have been preferable, as 800x600 can make your presentation look a little cramped. Even so, it produces a clear image, with good colour balance and graduation. The lens can create a 2.9m-image from a distance of just 3.5m, so you'll get a decent-sized image in any room.

Brightness is a very respectable 1,500 lumens, and you can increase this to 1,800 lumens at the expense of lamp life. Running costs are fairly good; a bulb, which lasts 3,000 hours at the standard setting of 1,500 lumens, costs around £350.

The VPL-CS7 projector is easy to use and compact with good brightness and a decent bulb life. There are cheaper projectors available at this resolution, but the VPL-CS7 has a consistency of design that makes it much friendlier to use.