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PROJECTOR
A bargain beamer for your wall
Did you know that BenQ is an acronym for "Bringing Enjoyment and Quality to Life"? Well neither did we! But seriously, BenQ has built itself a reputation for doing just that. Thanks to extensive research and development, they've been able to churn out cost-effective devices. How big is BenQ? Well, they've just gobbled up Siemens! Incidentally, they're also the world's leading manufacturer of multimedia projectors. So when we received a PB8140 to test, we felt compelled to put it through its paces.
Made with the mobile businessman in mind, the PB8140 weighs a mere 2.7kg and measures 262mm x 98.4mm x 215.5mm. Which means that it's light and compact enough to be carried on your next business trip. A capable companion to your laptop, it's a breeze to unpack and set up – so no unnecessary delays for that deal-making (or breaking) Powerpoint presentation. And when it's time to undo your tie and relax, this BenQ does so too. The PB8140 is a multi-purpose projector that is also suitable for home use.
As an entertainment device, this unit literally shines as well. It can be used with video recorders, DVD players, video cameras, game consoles and other video sources via composite, S-Video or component inputs. No need to go to the cinema to enjoy a good movie anymore. The native SVGA (800 x 600) resolution combines with an ANSI brightness rating of 2,000 lumens to provide easy-to-see images even in well-lit surroundings. When used for movies, though, we suggest turning down the lights (for less obvious reasons too). For a budget projector, its fan's noise level was surprisingly tolerable. Even during intimate moments, the sound generated by the fan was barely audible – an unobtrusive home entertainment device that performs its job discreetly between you and the missus.
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SVGA (800x600) resolution, 2000 ANSI lumens brightness. 2000:1 contrast ratio. 2000-hour lamp life. 24-bit color support. RGB, S-Video, composite video, component video (NTSC, SECAM, PAL), DVI. RGB Video Output.
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This brings a new meaning to the term, low budget flick.
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Set near the entry-level price point for BenQ's professional series of projectors, we were expecting some shortcomings with the unit. It didn't take us long to identify some caveats. To keep the unit relatively lightweight, BenQ decided to use lightweight materials as well. It gave the projector a rather flimsy feel. Remote control navigation, too, was a bit unfriendly, requiring a quick check in the manual. Sound quality from the built-in speakers was also poor. All these aside, the PB8140 offered excellent picture quality, which is what projectors are all about.
For the techno-timid, the Benq PB8140 is easy to set up and easy to use, making it a good purchase for first-time projector owners. It's simple design won't win it any style awards, but what it offers is quality images at a very reasonable price. - Neil Palabrica
 Post your opinion or own review!
T3 Magazine Philippines - October 2005 Issue
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