An Easy to Use LCD Projector: Eiki's LC-XB23
Written: Oct 01 '07
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Reliability: |
 |
|
| Ease of Use: |
 |
|
| Display Quality: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Easy set-up, quick start, good resolution, newbie-friendly.
Cons: None--a good little projector for everyday use.
The Bottom Line: If you're in the market for an LCD projector, give EIKI's XB23 a try!
|
|
|
| JediKermit's Full Review: Eiki LC-XB23 Projector |
Two years ago, the middle school I teach at got a new principal. This principal loves technology, and believes that it can be a good way to reach students. I tend to see technology as another arrow in a quiver full of strategies and tools we can use to reach students. When this principal arrived at our school, there were only three LCD projectors, shared among forty teachers. Over the last two years, that number has gone up to twenty LCD projectors, and they've become an indispensable part of how I use my classroom.
The projectors we purchased are the Eiki LC-XB23. They're an easy to use projector that stand up to heavy regular use, and have many features making it a friendly and invaluable tool for school or office. My XB23 is mounted in the ceiling, with an included ceiling post and mounting plate; I didn't do the installation myself, but the people who did install it were able to do it in about 45 minutes. If you're not mounting it, it's very portable--about the size of a ream of paper, and weighs approximately five pounds.
My XB23 is permanently connected to both my computer and my DVD/VCR combo, which is in turn connected to a cheap Surroundsound system. It's a nice setup, but none of it would be possible without the projector. Teaching 249 seventh-graders, I didn't want to have the projector until it could be mounted in the ceiling, away from prying hands. Having it in the ceiling has also saved me some valuable classroom real estate, as I've been able to get rid of my television, television cart, and overhead projector. It's opened up the classroom, and made it easier to do other activities where students would be out of their seats.
Compared with other LCD projectors, the XB23 has a quick warmup time--within ten seconds of being turned on, it's ready to go. Similarly, when you're done using the projector, you can just turn it off, unplug it, and go. Other projectors I've used have a "cooldown" time you need to use for the lamp--leaving the fan on for up to ten minutes to make sure everything is cooled off before you can actually turn off the projector or unplug it. I've used the projector for up to eight hours straight without turning off the lamp or the projector, and never had any problems with the unit. The fan is remarkably quiet--in a classroom it seems like any noise at all makes the students raise their voices louder to talk over it, and the XB23's noise (from its onboard fan) is actually quieter than other machines in the classroom (my computer, DVD player, etc.).
The projected image is crisp; at least as clear as on my old television screen. The projector accepts Composite, S, and Component Video in all major standards, and displays both regular (4:3) and widescreen (16:9) ratio video formats. My projector is mounted approximately fifteen feet away from the screen, and the screen is a standard five feet across. The image fills the screen completely, and is bright enough to watch without turning the lights off.
The XB23 has many other features that I don't completely understand, either because I take them for granted or because I'm not a "techie." I'm a teacher, and I love my projector, but I don't necessarily know all the important things I feel like I need to know to do justice to this review. Here are some stats from the Eiki website that will hopefully make sense to some of you:
New compatibility with UXGA and WXGA (plus 2-2 pulldown: 575i).
2nd VGA input/monitor port. Countdown OFF option.16 language menu.
2000 ANSI Lumens, 85% uniformity, and TBA contrast ratio.
3 panel LCD imaging delivers a rich, color saturated picture.
True XGA resolution.UXGA~ VGA & MAC compatible.
Smart data compression / expansion, and video scaling.
Convenient wide range (1.2:1) manual zoom and focus lens.
Preset image offset. Vertical digital keystone correction.
Supports all HDTV resolutions. Converts Interlace to Progressive scan.
Variable Power Management option. Optional local or remote keylock.
VGA-type computer input. Slideshow Page Up/Down on remote control.
The remote control is essential to the operation of the projector; where mine is mounted on the ceiling, there's no other way to operate the unit. The input toggles back and forth between computer and video settings; the main menu is accessed and selected with the remote, and the digital zoom is controlled through the remote as well. I don't use the volume controls on the remote as much as I use the settings on my DVD player or Surroundsound system to control the sound. The button I use most on my remote is the "No Show" feature, which blacks out the image being projected without turning off the lamp or stopping the program. It's useful for multiple classes or meetings when you don't want the students/attendees to be distracted by the image.
There's a standard three-year warranty for the XB23; I've had my projector for just over a year now, and haven't had any problems at all with the unit. If you're in the market for an LCD projector for school or office, this is an affordable and effective model. The MSRP is $1,295, but the XB23 usually sells for just over $900. Through our school or district, we paid about $850 per unit. For more information about EIKI LCD Projectors, visit the EIKI website: http://www.eiki.com.
My next step is to get a SMART Board--an interactive white board that interacts with the projector. Several other teachers at my school already have one, and I'm not exactly sure how I'd use one in the classroom yet. That day is coming, but I'd say it's still at least two years off.
Already have an LCD Projector? Get a Targus Wireless Remote to make your presentations shine!
Review #23 in CopeSullivan’s Fifty Reviews By Halloween Write-Off. Will I make it? Probably not.
Recommended:
Yes
Purchase Price (if leased, monthly payment): 850
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
JediKermit
|
 in Movies, Kids & Family, Books |
 - Top 100 |
|
Member: Quinn
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Reviews written: 1995
Trusted by: 591 members
About Me:
Books, Movies, and Toys. Is there more to life?
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.