Epson Launches PowerLite Widescreen Projectors

Printers and 3LCD projector manufacturer Epson America announced two projectors aimed at small to medium-size businesses (SMBs) that the company said would be sold exclusively through distribution, value-added resellers (VARs) and direct market reseller channels. The Epson PowerLite 1220, which retails for $649, features XGA resolution and the PowerLite 1260 ($749) features widescreen WXGA resolution (16:10 aspect ratio) to utilize the capabilities of a widescreen notebook; both projectors offer 2600 lumens color and white light output.

The 1200 series offers features such as automatic keystone correction and 1.2x optical zoom, direct power on and off to allow for an installed projector to be powered on and off with a flip of a wall switch, Instant On/Off, which helps presenters to avoid delays when starting and finishing presentations and be up and running in seconds, and an A/V Mute Slide, which instantly turns off the sound and images to create a pause in the presentation

"Small and medium-sized businesses want their projectors not only to be easy-to-use and affordable, but also to deliver bright, true-to-life image quality," said Jason Meyer, product manager for Epson America. "Epson designed the PowerLite 1220 and 1260 specifically to meet SMB needs and is making them available through the distribution channel to simplify integration into business environments."

The PowerLite 1220 and 1260 are currently available through national resellers, mail order, and distribution and are part of Epson ImageWay Partner Program. Epson's PowerLite projectors come with a two-year limited warranty that includes two technical support services - two-year Epson PrivateLine phone support where projector owners can directly access an expedited support telephone line by using a phone card that is included with the product, and a two-year Road Service projector replacement program that includes projector exchange in one business day.

The PowerLite 1200-series' addition features include USB Plug 'n Play instant setup, which instantly projects images and presentations from a PC or Mac computer via a USB connection. The company said this eliminates the need of dealing with VGA cables and toggling between computer keys. In addition, both models have an additional USB port for direct connection of a USB memory device, enabling PC-free slideshow capabilities and eliminating the need to carry a computer. The PowerLite 1260 also features an HDMI audio/video connection to provide high-definition video content.