Dell debuts wireless, 3D-capable S300w short-throw projector
By Donald Melanson 
posted March 18th 2010 2:56AM
posted March 18th 2010 2:56AM
Sure, we may one day all simply carry pico projector-equipped phones and ditch any other sort of display, but until then, there's still a place for projectors like Dell's new S300w model. Designed mostly with presentations in mind, the projector can produce a 90-inch, 720p image from a distance of three feet (or 60-inches from two feet), and it packs both built-in wireless capabilities and a so-called "Plug-and-Show via USB" feature for some added flexibility. You'll also get Crestron RoomView Express software bundled with the projector for remote operation and monitoring, and some decent enough all around specs, including 2200 ANSI lumens of brightness, a 2,400:1 contrast ratio and, of course, 3D capability (though not out of the box) -- all for $999.
Not bad, but its not 1080P
1080p or gtfo I mean cmon
3 feet. Can somebody make a suggestion as to where I can put this. PS my couch sits 9 feet from the TV and I have no coffee table.
I'm curious: Does anyone *really* care about 3D viewing?
@J1024 good question! maybe not today but as soon as the first Movies appear on the market in 3D then you might be happy to have such a device that can actually create a minimum of 3D feeling in your living room.. but right now its just a "nice to have"... in 2-3 years from now it´ll be a common thing to watch action/scifi/fantasy/adult flicks in 3D i guess
@theswiss See, that's the thing though: 2-3 years. Technology increases so much in 2-3 years there is no way I'd spend $1000 now when I could get a lot more for my money once there is actually media that the device can play because of increased technology.
And you said a *minimum* of 3D? What other dimensions do you think they might add, exactly? IMHO watching a 2D movie is just fine by me.... but I guess that might change in 2-3 years. ;-)
Has anyone heard any company explain why there are no 3D 1080p consumer projectors? My best guess is something to do with the refresh rate and how DLP works, but I've seen _no_ official word from any company regarding this...
booo. gtfo, we want mini 5 dell. MINI 5.
Not projectors :P
Can you use this for non-3D projection?
A listed feature on the Dell website
"Shadow-Free Capability: Unlike some projectors, the S300w doesn’t cast shadows on the presentation screen when the presenter is between the projector and the screen. This makes for clear, understandable presentations."
Has Dell figured out how to bend light on the cheap or something, this statement doesn't make sense to me from a physics standpoint.
@RandomGuy
Sarcasm, or grammar police? Which one were you going for? It is pretty obvious that they are pointing out that with the short throw, the presenter would never be between the projector and the screen.
@glennS Neither sarcasm nor grammer police. If someone states that their projector will not cast a shadow if a person is between the projector and screen, I want to know how. If they are simply stating that with a short throw projector you can be near the screen without getting between the projector and the screen and thus casting a shadow that makes sense, but they should state that. Otherwise they are making a statement that this thing somehow emits light and doesn't cast shadows.
I wish that they would use this 'short throw' design in a real home theater projector. It is somewhat more practical to think about ceiling mounting a project 4 or 5 feet from the front wall, that 9 to 15 feet. In the former case you can console game on a Wii (or Move or Natal) without casting shadow.
Anyone who is serious about their 3D probably has two projectors already, with opposing polarizing lenses on each.
You connect both to a 3D capable graphics card with dual outputs, then strap on your glasses and play GTA.