Dell 1430X

Dell 1430X

Add the Dell 1430X to the list of inexpensive XGA (1024 by 768) data projectors that are both suitable for a small to mid-size conference room and light enough to serve as a regular traveling companion. More expensive than the Editors' Choice Epson PowerLite 93+ , it justifies the extra cost by being both brighter and lighter. That's not enough to make it Editors' Choice, but it is enough to make it a strong contender. Like most projectors in this category, with the notable exception of the LCD-based 93+ but including the NEC Display Solutions NP-V300X for example, the 1430X is built around a DLP chip. It offers a 3,200 lumen rating, which is at the high end of the brightness range for this class of projector, and it weighs in at only 5 pounds 11 ounces, making it more than a pound lighter than the 93+. It's also a bit smaller than the 93+, at 3.6 by 11.4 by 9.3 inches (HWD), which helps make it a touch easier to carry. As with the 93+, it comes without a carrying case, although Dell offers one as an option ($59.99 direct). Be sure to add that cost to the price if you compare the 1430X with other models that include cases.