NEC Value Series Projectors Cut Price

NEC's NP100 and NP200 cost roughly half as much as its standard mobile projectors with only slightly dulled specs.

High-end projectors with 1080p resolution and through-the-roof contrast ratios may garner the lion’s share of attention when they’re first announced, but with prices that rival those of most compact cars, they’re also out of the question for most people. NEC made an appeal to more budget-minded consumers on Monday with the release of its NP Value Series of mobile projectors, both of which offer portability and reasonable resolution without the need for a second mortgage.

The NEC NP100 and NP200 DLP-based projectors are nearly identical, save for resolution and light output. The NP100 offers only SVGA (800 x 600) resolution and 2,000 lumens of brightness, while the NP200 offers XGA (1024 x 768) resolution and 2,100 lumens.

Besides these two differentiations, both projectors share all other features, including a 1,300:1 contrast ratio, lamp life of up to 4,000 hours, BrilliantColor technology for color accuracy, and a built-in two-watt speaker.

“These two new mobile projectors bring a practical solution to users looking for a high-performance, yet cost-effective, model,” said Bob Guentner, NEC’s product manager for mobile projectors, in a statement. “The NP100 and NP200 are perfect for small offices, home offices and growing businesses looking for a bright, easy-to-use, portable projector at an affordable price.”

The NP100 will sell for $499 upon release, while the NP200 will hit $649. Both are slated for availability in April.