Toshiba TLP-X200U Projector Talks Back

Toshiba's TLP-X200U projector simplifies use and maintenance by offering a voice guidance feature to walk users through instructions, alerts, and warnings.

Toshiba’s Digital Products Division has announced its TLP-X200U portable projector, a wireless (and wired!) LAN-compatible projector sporting an XGA 1,024 by 768 resolution, 3,000 ANSI lumens of brightness, and a 600:1 contrast ratio. But none of those are the TLP-X200U’s signature feature: rather, the projector is the first in the world to offer voice guidance to help users through setup, operations, maintenance, and system alerts, with the idea of making use and operation of a project easier for non-technical folks. And, of course, good projector maintenance means a longer lifetime for the projector, and that makes everyone happy.

“Toshiba has designed, engineered and manufactured the TLP-X200U projector with its special voice guidance to help reduce projector maintenance costs,” said Toshiba marketing manager Jane Poon, in a statement. “The voice guidance system conveniently directs users with an audible message through the projector’s operating instructions and system warnings, such as the on/off status, lamp life, air filter checks, and cooling fan status.”

Like other Toshiba portable projectors, the TLP-X200U is easily portable, weighing just 4.4 pounds and standing less than three inches high. The unit features 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, close-captioning capability so users can display (and read!) close captioned content from a DVD or television signal, and a multi-screen function that enables users to network up to four TLP-X200Us to create a large image for a venue, or project two different screen images from one computer source. The unit accepts component, composite, S-Video, and HDMI input, and features a 1 Watt mono speaker for audio output in case nothing else is handy.

The TLP-X200U is available now for a suggested price of $1,739.00.