The smallest projector in the group of 16 that we tested for our April 2006 issue roundup, the 2.4-pound MP2210 ($1500, as of January 18, 2006) is easy to carry and provides most of the basic functions you need for making presentations. The one notable exception: It's the only projector we reviewed that lacks a built-in speaker. So unless your notebook's speaker can supply the sound your presentations require, you may need to pack a portable speaker for your road shows. The MP2210 has a brightness rating of only 1500 lumens, and it is better suited for small groups than for large conference rooms.
The MP2210 scored near the average in our still-image tests, earning a rating of Good for both text and graphics display, and capturing ninth place for overall image quality. It earned its best scores for legibly rendering multiple-size fonts in a text document and for color accuracy in a photo of a colorful racetrack.
This model also scored near the average in our moving image tests, but it generally received lower marks than projectors with greater brightness ratings. We noticed some unwanted artifacts (such as false contours around moving images) during playback of some video sequences, but such imperfections are not unusual in output from DLP projectors that rely on four-segment color wheels optimized for bright presentations rather than for viewing videos. The projector offers two preset picture modes (graphics and video), plus a custom mode for saving your own image adjustments; in our informal tests, these modes enhanced the unit's image quality.
It takes almost no time to set up the MP2210, and its zoom and focus rings are easy to access. The simple on-screen menu provides basic options, with fewer adjustment tools than many models offer. Using the included credit-card-size remote control was a bit more awkward than using a standard-size remote, and often we had to use both hands to execute a command. Though the remote does provide mouse control, using the directional buttons to move the cursor around the screen was very laborious. But that may not be an issue if you just want to use the remote's page up and page down keys to move through a PowerPoint presentation.
HP keeps the connection options on this model to a bare minimum. The only two bundled cables are one for USB and one for VGA. To use any of the video inputs, you'll have to obtain the appropriate cables separately. Another shortcoming: The MP2210 comes with a one-year warranty instead of a two- or three-year warranty, as most of the projectors in this group did. HP does offer a three-year warranty option, for an additional fee.
The capable, lightweight HP MP2210 is a better match for business presentations than for home entertainment.
Richard Jantz
