Little classroom projector without PC

[Simcfc73]

Hi,

 

I have a few projects on the go and one consists of a small classroom with a projector at the front without a PC (well without a teachers PC they sit at).

 

Now it needs to be an ultra short throw one but the wireless ones are a bit steep so I was thinkign of maybe attaching a mini pc to it and having a tablet to control the screen (or wireless KB and Mouse) but they want the computers to be able to prioject onto the screen also... kinda like apple tv and the ipads. Anyone got a similar setup going? Needs to be cheap as chips.

 

The teacher wants it to be cool so we are getting all in ones so no cable clutter so I am putting a little network cabinet in the corner where the printer will live on top of so the PC could sit in there or on top.

[Chris_]

Could you use some sort of wireless HDMI sender like this C2G CablesToGo TruLink ?

 

Then you just plug the USB dongle thing into the computer (obviously the drivers will need to be installed first) you want to project on to the screen.

[jmak]

If you had iPads, you could use Reflector installed on the PC which turns it into an AirPlay device. I've tried this and it works very well. To make it cheaper, you can get apps for android which allows them to connect to AirPlay devices, like Apple TV - or Reflector. Now that bit I haven't tried, but have a look at Airsync which sounds like it might do the job. For a cheap, but half decent Android tablet, try the Tesco outlet store - I picked up a Nexus 7 for £100 a couple of weeks ago.

 

Edit: all happens over wifi, so no cables or connectors.

Edited July 31, 2013 by jmak

[MordyT]

Chromecast+laptop?

 

Intel WiDi came to mind, but cheap means chromecast....