Dell finally reveals $499 M109S SVGA pocket projector

We've been waiting ever patiently for this to get official, and at long last, that Project Projector we saw leaked in July has been revealed. Formally christened the M109S, this 0.8-pound beamer arrives with a native 858 x 600 resolution, a projection distance of up to 94.5-inches and a mercury-free LED light source that lasts up to four years. Moreover, it packs the ability to suck power from a Latitude or Vostro AC adapter if you're caught in a pinch, and yes, it's available today for $499 in the United States. As for the rest of the world, you wait.

[Via AboutProjectors]

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 24th 2008 11:29AM]

...858? Can any video card actually output that bizarre resolution?

[John @ Sep 24th 2008 11:38AM]

it's probably just the largest res they could pack in, and it will either letterbox or scale whatever input it's given.
Unless they're insane...

[farfisa @ Sep 24th 2008 11:38AM]

Ha, yeah it's that new 429:300 ratio that everybody's talking about!
SVGA is 800 x 600, so it's probably a typo on the Dell site.... which was then cut and pasted by the source and then Engadget.

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 24th 2008 12:53PM]

How would 800 "typo" to 858?

[RyanTV @ Sep 24th 2008 1:47PM]

ahhh... 800x600 - those were the days!

Look how far we have come! 858x600 - I have no idea what I'm going to be able to do with that kind of screen real estate!

[Jason Litka @ Sep 24th 2008 2:00PM]

That's well below the resolution of the Inspiron 910 I just got. I don't see what use it will be if it can't even match the output from a netbook.

[bob sakamano @ Sep 24th 2008 11:30AM]

pocket projector sounds too much like pocket protector thus deeming this product UNCOOL

[rndmnme @ Sep 24th 2008 11:45AM]

Your logic is clearly inescapable.

[IT-Accountant @ Sep 24th 2008 12:26PM]

no my friend, pocket protectors are full of win. If anything, that makes this post even cooler.

[dark star @ Sep 24th 2008 11:34AM]

anyone planning to install this in the car???
would be amazing if we project movies onto the windshield while parked. the 7inch lcd screen just doesnt cut it!
i have no idea what to coat the windshield with so we could see when the projector is on. while see the road when the projector is off....

[rndmnme @ Sep 24th 2008 11:46AM]

For the sake of sparing everyone from your ideas... I suggest white paint.

[RadicalxEdward @ Sep 24th 2008 12:14PM]

Depending on how deep your pockets are you could reverse mount the hood and paint the underside white. That way you would just pop the hood up to watch.

[siva @ Sep 25th 2008 12:29AM]

may be you don't need to paint, get 3M stick it or post-it ..or there are vacuum rubber pad enable sun shield (white) may do the job

[catfish @ Sep 24th 2008 1:53PM]

polarizing film. lcd projectors polarize light, so by orientating the film/projector correctly you should be able to both see the projected image on the windshield and still see the road. and as an added benefit the cops and other motorists won't be able to see the projected image either.

[M @ Sep 24th 2008 2:02PM]

I want to drive around projecting images onto near by box-trucks or walls. People would be like "What?" It would be hilarious, but then I'd get arrested or atleast a big fine. :p

[CSPhobos @ Sep 24th 2008 11:36AM]

At least it's not $1,000... I think I'm going to wait until at least a nice 720p res is available before I even consider getting a "pocket" projector.

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Sep 24th 2008 11:46AM]

Great!! Now I can put up the bat signal wherever I go!!

[rndmnme @ Sep 24th 2008 11:46AM]

All of 95 inches away from you.....

[Tom T @ Sep 24th 2008 12:09PM]

Did anybody read the link?

This thing projects at 55 lumens??

Have they changed the rating system in the last few years, or are y'all gonna need to be in a cave for this to be of any use....

[avester @ Sep 24th 2008 12:22PM]

Or turn the curtains down...

[jUSTIN @ Sep 24th 2008 12:31PM]

But can it run Crysis?????????

[scott @ Sep 24th 2008 12:43PM]

fucking fail.

[turtlesoup @ Sep 24th 2008 12:32PM]

$499 for a pocket protector?!!!!!

I think I'll just keep my pens on my desk.

[Tom T @ Sep 24th 2008 12:51PM]

"Or turn the curtains down..."

Uh, not.

I've got an 800 ansi lumen projector that I used everyday for years in lecturing in a classroom (on about a 5ft x 5ft screen). The thing was very difficult to see even with all the drapes pulled. Finally upgraded it to a 2200 ansi lumen unit - much better.

I get this image of a bunch of suits sitting three feet from a 9 inch diagonal screen with all the shades pulled and still not being able to see it.

[quiwiz @ Sep 24th 2008 2:06PM]

What makes this better than the last generation of pocket projectors?

[Kimleng @ Sep 24th 2008 1:32PM]

I could use one of these to bring along for wedding shoots. After the ceremony, I can edit a dozen photos or so quickly before reception and throw it up on this bad boy and watch my stack of business cards vanish!

[ericw1024 @ Sep 24th 2008 1:48PM]

Open the pod bay doors, HAL.

[phanbouy @ Sep 24th 2008 2:31PM]

i'm sorry dave, i'm busy watching projections of Sopranos reruns.

[VampireHunter Z @ Sep 24th 2008 2:46PM]

Calling it a Pocket Projector doesn't give any indication of the size. What are the dimensions of this thing and what connections does it support other than VGA?

[betelgeuse @ Sep 24th 2008 3:02PM]

how this ever got to the manufacturing stage is beyond me.50 lumens? you wouldnt even be able to see it in a black hole,and what does it plug into?.presumably a laptop which you have to carry with you and has a 1,000 times better picture so whats the point?

[phanbouy @ Sep 24th 2008 3:45PM]

although in fairness the black hole would be sucking all the light in anyway

[Tdburn @ Sep 24th 2008 3:05PM]

The dimensions are something like 3.4in by 4.5 by 1.3. I read it this morning and don't remember exactly. So it is way small but not yet 'pico' projector size.

[nova62400 @ Sep 24th 2008 3:58PM]

because light can't escape the black hole?

[blah-blah @ Oct 12th 2008 8:39PM]

why so pessimistic? 50 lumens yes but i don't think that its same lumens as u imagine and then again from the videos on (aol-videos) i am getting a picture that this thing works great for what it was built for 2-4 people watching it not audiences ... and no black holes around or those who like em either :) i wouldnt mind buying it right now if i had 100pounds from someone to support me its just 270 pounds not allot to have such convenience , over 5KG beeaMER