NEC NP41 DLP XGA 2300 Lumens Projector

The NEC NP41 is a small but powerful multimedia projector. How small? Smaller than a letter-sized sheet of paper and less than three inches thick. How powerful? You be the judge.

It can project in enhanced definition (EDTV) and 720p and 1080i high definition (HDTV). It can power itself on when it senses a signal from a connected computer and you can set it to turn itself off after a set interval—great for making those meetings end on schedule.

At its heart is a Texas Instruments DLP chip with BrilliantColor, the world-renown light engine that processes six colors (RGBCMY) at a time instead of the usual three, for unsurpassed vivid and lifelike images.

In fact you could say the NP41 is the strong, silent type. Its fan noise is just 32 dB in Eco mode, which is about the same as a whispered conversation. Running in Eco mode has another important advantage. It extends lamp life by up to 40 percent. That's about 3500 hours.

A projector this small is likely to be pressed into service by road warriors so it's a good thing it boasts an international 100 to 240 volt power supply, a 21 language onscreen display (OSD) and NTSC, NTSC 4.43, PAL, PAL-N, PAL-M, PAL-60 and SECAM video capabilities.

If you need a very powerful but highly portable projector, the NP41 should be on your short list.