BIOS: Technology Means Business

Dell's 5100MP DLP projector (£1999 ex. VAT) is pitched at business users looking for a robust, relatively lightweight and well connected presentation tool. The 5100MP is also Dell's brightest and highest resolution projector to date and is easy to configure, deploy and manage. In fact, it's ideal for data and multimedia presentations.

The 5100MP is better than most similar-priced projectors in terms of specifications. It has an impressive SXGA+ (1400x1050 pixels) resolution, super-high brightness of 3300 ANSI Lumens and a 2500:1 contrast ratio for high image definition and clarity. Weighing only 3.72kg (330x261x115mm), the black-and-silver model is attractive and should blend into any professional environment and not prove too much of a burden when travelling from the office to meet clients. The magnesium-alloy chassis is also robust, so should be able to handle everyday knocks and bumps.

Particularly suitable in large board rooms, auditoriums or classrooms, the 5100MP has a relatively low operating noise level of 31dBA (eco-mode). This means the projector runs quite quietly and will hardly be noticed when the two internal 2-Watt speakers are running. Also impressive is its range of connectivity options. These comprise an RJ-45 port for network-based monitoring and troubleshooting, HDMI, composite, VGA input and output (15-pin D-Sub), three RCA jacks for component video/HDTV input, S-Video-in, RS-232, BNC connectors (R/G/B/H/V), 12-Volt relay output, M1 Signal in, as well as audio in and out ports.

The High-Definition Multi-media Interface (HDMI) is an industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. HDMI provides an interface between any compatible digital audio/video source, such as a set-top box, DVD player, and A/V receiver and a compatible digital audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (DTV). HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It is independent of the various HDTV standards such as ATSC, DVB(-T,-S,-C), as these are encapsulations of the MPEG data streams, which are passed off to a decoder, and output as uncompressed high-resolution video data.

This video data is then encoded into TMDS for transmission digitally over HDMI. HDMI also includes support for 8-channel uncompressed digital audio. Beginning with version 1.2, HDMI now supports up to 8 channels of one bit audio. One bit audio is what is used on Super Audio CDs. The standard Type A HDMI connector used on the 5100MP has 19 pins, and a higher resolution version called Type B, has been defined, although it is not yet in common use. Type B has 29 pins, allowing it to carry an expanded video channel for use with high-resolution displays. Type-B is designed to support resolutions higher than 1080i.

Type A HDMI is backwards-compatible with the single-link Digital Visual Interface (DVI) used on modern computer monitors and graphics cards. This means that a DVI source can drive an HDMI monitor, or vice versa, by means of a suitable adapter or cable, but the audio and remote control features of HDMI will not be available. Additionally, without support for HDCP, the video quality and resolution may be downgraded by the player unit. Type B HDMI is similarly backwards-compatible with dual-link DVI.

Dell hasn't forgot about user options, either. The 5100MP offers preset and manual video and graphics modes to help ensure optimal colour performance, regardless of content displayed, and automatic vertical keystone correction technology helps ensure that a symmetrical image is displayed even when the projector is positioned at an angle to the screen. You can even mount it to a ceiling with the optional mount kit, and it comes with an RF remote control with mouse and laser pointer functionality.

The on-screen display (OSD) is a snap to use and allows you to alter brightness, contrast, colour temperature, vertical and horizontal keystone levels. You can also digitally magnify an image up to 10 times, alter the aspect ratio to adjust how an image appears (1:1, 16:9 or 4:3), change video (Movies, Game, PC, sRGB) and picture-in-picture (PiP) modes, alter white intensity, adjust gamma levels, and alter volume levels (in addition to treble and bass levels). We also liked the test pattern for self-testing focus and resolution, as well as the ability to set a password and lock the OSD.

If you decide to connect the 5100MP to a network, you can access it using Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator by configuring its network setting (TCP/IP). Networking options include the ability to assign an IP address using a DCHP server, enter a unique IP address manually, setup a subset mask number, and set the default gateway of your network. You'll also need to type the IP address of a DNS server on the network connected to the projector.

Once you have the 5100MP networked you can turn it on or off and adjust its projection mode, video source, and a slew of other settings. If it starts to overheat or the lamp goes bad, it will send an e-mail alert, and you can view the number of lamp hours used. The one shortcoming is that it can't project images from a network source, unlike more expensive projectors.

Also disappointing is that the projector takes nearly a minute to start up and requires 2 minutes to cool down. It also lacks motorised focus, lens tilt, and zoom, and there's no travel case included as standard (just a dust cover). Dell claims a bulb life of 1700 hours (typical) and up to 2200 hours (eco-mode). However, just like other projectors, bulb brightness will degrade with usage. Dell recommends replacing the bulb after 1700 hours of usage, or up to 2200 hours in Eco-mode.

The 5100MP throws a 31.49- to 295-inch diagonal image from 1.5- to 12m, depending on zoom, and it delivers more detailed images than most other sub-£2000 projectors. To take full advantage of the 5100MP's SXGA+ resolution you'll need a source that will output at 1400x1050 pixels. Once configured, black levels were deep and shadow detail was clearly defined. Colour balance was reasonable, although not of great concern to most business presenters using text-intensive material, but the 5100MP also performed well with graphics. Saturation levels were also good, with colours showing vibrancy and definition, and subtle gradations of colour were not lost. [8]