It's Portable! It's Scalable! It's Networked!

By, Peter Putman, CTS

There was plenty to see cruising the aisles, but three big themes this year were portability, interfacing, and networking. Everywhere you looked, there was a super-small DLP or LCD projector resting in someone's booth; an RGB/video scalar/switcher/distribution amp, or a Cat-5 transmitter/receiver. Here are some highlights

Sony rolled out an SVGA upgrade to their crowd-pleasing VPL-CS1 ultraportable (VPL-CS2), an XGA version using .7" polysilicon (VPL-CX1), plus new VPL-CS10/CX10 portables. Hitachi had a new 5-pound LCD model in their booth (CP-S220W), while Sanyo brought along the PLC-SW10, another 5-pound SVGA warrior.

Epson - not one to sit on their laurels- showed an upgrade to their popular Commuter series of XGA LCD ultraportables, the PowerLite 715c (it's networkable), while Toshiba exhibited a new twist in projectors - five custom color options for the new TLP-B2 XGA microportable (supposedly inspired by Apple's iMac series). Panasonic played a full hand with three new ultras (the PT-L711, XGA, microlens array; PT-L701, XGA; and PT-L501, SVGA) and even showed a microportable DLP design.

In the DLP camp, PLUS led the way with the new U3-1080 (XGA) and U3-880 (SVGA) microportables, both 2.9 lb. boxes measuring 1.8" thick. Similar designs popped up at NEC Technologies (LT85 and LT150), Sharp (XG-M10U), and Mitsubishi (LVP-X30 Mini Mits). InFocus showed their lose it in the couch cushions ultraportable (LitePro 335), as well as a yet-unnamed micro with XGA resolution.

Compaq - emboldened by the successful launch of the 4.4 lb. MP1600 last year - rolled out new versions with such options as a zoom lens (MP1600) and bare-bones SVGA imaging (MP1400). And Proxima's motto was three's the charm, with the UltraLight DS2 (SVGA), UltraLight DX2 (XGA) and UltraLight DX3 (also XGA, but higher light output).

There was a lot of interest in the installation category. Sharp plunged in with the XG-V10W, a 50-pound, 5000 lumens, 3x LCD model with full connectivity and SXGA resolution. Ditto Sanyo, with the PLC-XF20N (also 5000 lumens, 1280x1024), NEC (MT1150, 1024x768 XGA LCD, 3000+ lumens) and Epson (PowerLite 8100i/8150i, XGA, 3000 lumens, networking capability). JVC finally figured out a way to shrink the complex prism and ductwork in their D-ILA projectors, resulting in the first sub-15 pound 1280x1024 projector of any kind (DLA-3010Z).

Christie Digital Systems showed another way to the system integration projector market with the DLV 1280-DX; a 3-DMD, 24/7 control room projector with SXGA resolution, while Digital Projection featured their HighLite 5000 gv, a sub-100 pound 3xDMD chassis based on the Thunder DLP engine. Look for similar developments from other DLP manufacturers in the future. And Sony finally brought their long-awaited VPD-LE100 (10,000 lumens, 1280x1024 DMDs) to a trade show floor.  

Got plasma? Just about everyone did at INFOCOMM. Electrograph showed a 100% digital plasma interface (DVI and SDI video), while Pioneer covered the floor of their booth with 50" PDP-502MX screens (yes, they sold every one before the show was over). NEC unveiled new 42" multimedia and public display panels (PlasmaSync 42MP2 and PlasmaSync 42PD1), while Hitachi showcased a 37" 4:3 XGA design (CMP307).

Fujitsu brought along their latest 42" designs, the 1024x1024 PDS4221 (Wide XGA) and 852x480 PDS4209 (Wide VGA), while Sony exhibited the PFM500A3WU (Wide VGA) and PFM510A2WU (1024x1024). Panasonic not only toted their 60" panel, but a new 50" design (TH-50PHD30V) and a dazzling 42" screen (TH-42PWD3V) that was one of the brightest at the show.

In the non-plasma category, Samsung Digital had a wealth of screens using both rear-screen ferroelectric LCDs (SPD-433F, 436F 43" and SPD-506F 50"), and direct-view TFT LCDs (SLD-24S1, a 16:10, 1920 x 1200 pixel panel). Clarity Visual Systems showed the Lion 67" direct-view RP display, while Mitsubishi unveiled the world's first 55" DLP rear-projection monitor (MegaView Pro 55, 1024x768 DMD).

And what would a show be without interfaces? Last year, one company (Analog Way) showed a multi-input RGB switcher with fade and key effects. This year, Folsom Research (ScreenPro), FSR (Graphic Navigator) and Extron (SGS 408) jumped on the bandwagon with their eight-input, dual-output (with preview) versions. The main difference is that Extron's box requires additional remote control panels and only accepts progressive-scan video, while the FSR and Folsom entries are self-contained and accept all composite and component formats, interlaced or progressive.

Next door, Clark Williams, of Vista Control systems, was apparently trying for a new world record for switcher buttons. His multi-source, 16-output ScreenMaster II staging switcher has over 70 of 'em! (Vista's products provide a broadcast studio-like interface to Folsom's VFC-2200 series scalars.) Analog Way toned things down a bit in their booth, showing the familiar Graphic Switcher, but also a new Smart Cut 2 with expanded RGB/video switching capabilities.

Extron also rolled out a compact RGB/video switch with room control, the System 7sc with 7 inputs, dual outputs, and a host of other goodies. Magni Systems unveiled an inexpensive scan converter (MC-2410) that's super small, outputs composite and S-video, and includes genlock. RGB Spectrum took aim on the videoconferencing and command/control markets with the SynchroMaster DualView, a side-by-side video/computer scalar for single screens and projectors.  

Covid is also active in this market with the CVD 6000, a do it all scan converter/audio amp and mixer/video switcher/washer/dryer/microwave (okay, I made the last three up, but they should be included!) that even includes a digital video effects generator and frame buffer. And Sierra Video Systems jumped into the RGB market with a new line of RGB switchers in 8x8, 16x16, 32x16, and 32x32 configurations.

Let's not forget networking! Solutions were shown in the Sony, Sharp, NEC, FSR, Proxima, Extron, Epson, and InFocus booths that dramatically demonstrated the emergence of IP-addressed network control. In the future, many projectors, monitors, interfaces, and switchers will reside on LAN-type networks, passing a digital cornucopia of video, audio, and control signals over Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and other protocols. Right now, the emphasis in many booths is on Cat-5 cable converters, but look for pure serial digital interfaces (using single coax, fiber, or telco wire) to appear in the next year or so.

This article was first published in Video Systems.