projectors and resolution

[chrbb]

Both the schools I work in have just had projectors and smartboards fitted, in one of them the cheaper option of svga projectors has been chosen (no input from me - thankfully!)
Had to call company back to align and configure the projectors, they blamed a combination of contractors and holidays. I don't think the image quality is particularly good and coupled with the fact that the laptops have resolutions of 1280 x 800 when changed to 800 x 600 they look out of proportion. When I pointed this out to the workmen one of them said in his experience 800 x 600 was better because the kids at the back can see. So after a long winded post my questions are what are your projectors set at for standard classroom use? Was this person right or just trying it on?

[localzuk]

1024 x 768 for all of them in our school. Nothing should be running at 800x600 these days. What model projectors are they?

[chrbb]

benq - can't remember the model. Do you keep your laptops to 1024 x 768 when you use projectors? We do at my other school now I'm unsure what the optimal resolution is for classrooms

[localzuk]

No, the laptops all have different resolutions and the majority of the projectors are smart enough to scale accordingly. I'm not sure what teachers do on the ones that don't scale.

For example, my laptop runs at 1440x900 IIRC (or something like that), when I plug it into the projectors at school it appears on screen exactly the same but squashed a bit. Most people don't even notice the squashing.

[john]

i run the teachers machines at 1280*1024 as thats what the 19" TFTs need to look decent, the projectors go a bit pixeley but nothing too bad.

[Geoff]

Yep, your best running TFTs at their native resolution.

[CESIL]

Yes you should stick to the native resolution of the TFT...but...in the case of projectors you should run at their native resolution, not the laptops.

The cheap (ha ha) projectors we were supplied have a native resolution of 800x600, if we go any higher small text is unreadable from the back of the classroom.

[chrbb]

If you have a xga projector do you run the laptop at 1024 780 then and do you find the text readable from the back of the class with that?

[CESIL]

Yes, XGA takes you up a level fron SVGA so you can go to 1024x768.

Of course then we get sunny days like we have been getting lately and the kids can barely see the board anyway...

[outeast]

As a former tech manager for a school district and now working for a private company that supplies SMART Boards, projectors, etc for schools... We really do find the SVGA projectors to serve two purposes...
1) Cheaper for the schools to purchase
2) Does provide teh ability to see better from the back of the room

Some people cannot get beyond the idea that there is XGA and "XGA is better than SVGA" because, of course, more is better - right? Always think through the application of the technology - more does not always equal better. If it is about the ability to view text from anywhere in a large classroom, then SVGA really is the appropriate choice... and again, it is also a more cost effective solution for schools.

[russdev]

I don't know all I do know is we had svga installed while back and we had them swapped out for nec xga ones as the screen was not clear enough to read.

XGA all way here..

Russell

[maniac]

All our projectors display at least 1024x768 and we have very few problems here. We also buy the biggest whiteboards we can for classrooms, this means the image is as large as possible. Right mish-mash of makes, mainly Sahara, Epson, Hitachi and Sanyo, but I think there's a few other odd ones as well!

Mike

[outeast]

well, reccommendations, opinions, etc are always going to vary... what is great is that you always have options, so if you have a large interactive whiteboard with an XGA projector and your teachers like that combo - then that's the one to choose. If they like a smaller board with SVGA - then that's the way to go. If they prefer some other combination and it is one that they will utilize in the classroom, then that is the way to go...

[petetownsend]

I cant understand why anyone would buy SVGA projectors! I know budgets are tight but they would not buy a black and white TV so why buy SCGA projectors in this day and age - its not as if there is a huge price differential.

[synaesthesia]

Dig up a 5 year old thread to whinge about VGA projectors?