The TLP-B2 LCD projector, one of the most recently released from Toshiba's consumer products division, is not perfect. At 2.6 kilograms and having dimensions of 7.1 x 23 x 27.1 cm, it's one of the heaviest and bulkiest machines in its class. One of its two remotes is very cumbersome; luckily, the other one is much more useful. That said, the magnesium-encased projector's performance turned out to be amongst the best we've evaluated and proved to be among the easiest to use, and others in its class cost thousands more. Overall, the TLP-B2 is a solid performer that will please the bean counters.
The projector's documentation and manuals make the unit easy to set-up and use. Quick-reference card's illustrations make set-up a snap, with all ports, cables, and connections accurately. The projector auto-scanned the source video signal at start-up and adjusted its geometry accordingly; we had no trouble navigating the user controls and tweaking the image to our satisfaction. The only feature we missed on this unit was a DVI (Digital Video) port, for sharper output, but few relatively few LCD projectors we've tested recently have had one.
It took slightly more effort to set up the remote mouse. To set up the remote mouse you'll need to consult the manual. To activate it, you must connect a serial or USB cable to a separate, remote-mouse receiver. However it's worth taking them time to do so.
The palm-sized remote receiver gives you free range as you roam around the room during a presentation, but it's also easier to leave behind when you pack up. You get two remotes--one oversized control that's heavy and cumbersome to use and a much smaller counterpart (which you'll turn to immediately).
It's Toshiba's thoughtful little touches that will endear the TLP-B2 to the user. Once you power up the unit, the control buttons on the projector light up, making them easily readable in the dark. Toshiba includes sheets of stickers with port and control-button commands in ten different languages--handy if you're outfitting an international sales force.
The Toshiba TLP-B2 has the best image quality of any LCD projector we've seen recently. It performed well on focus and greyscale tests, projecting consistently sharp images and very pure whites. Artefacts showed up in a few tests and some Photoshop images looked pale. Overall, however, we were impressed with the sharpness and clarity of the TLP-B2's image. It's especially good for numeric and text-based presentations.
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Toshiba Consumer Products' service package is on a par with that of other leading projector vendors. The TLP-B2 comes with a two-year parts and labour warranty-90 days for the lamp exclusively. The lamps cost around AU$825 and are rated to last 2,000 hours. Toshiba's Web site offers FAQs, tech bulletins, downloadable manuals, and a form for emailing questions to support technicians.
The TLP-B2 is a top-notch projector, which, for some, will be worth its trade-offs compared with two other outstanding projectors. While Compaq's MP2800 and InFocus's Proxima UltraLight X350 are a lot lighter, the TLP-B2 gives you nearly the same features and quality at a much achievable price. If you can shoulder the extra three pounds and stick to the less annoying of its two remotes, it's a big winner for your bottom line.
Company: Toshiba
Price: AU$7,200 from most authorised resellers
Distributor: Toshiba Australia
Phone: (02) 9887 6000
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