NEC VT570 LCD Projector

I bought the VT570 sight unseen, as it was difficult to find somewhere I could actually look at one in person. I wanted a short-throw (~3 ft.) projector for a rear-screen application and when searching various sources for short-throw, this model (and the related vt470,vt670) seemed to be the only ones that showed up with that characteristic. Found the detailed specs online, which stated it would focus as close as 0.7 meter. Once I actually bought the unit, I found it would focus far closer than that-- it focuses at around 1 ft. at the closest (though you'll get a picture about the size of a small monitor at that range)!

Footprint is consistent with other models of the type (LCD) such as made by Epson, Invision, etc, though seems to be better constructed than some of the superlight models-- it does have a little heft to it (weight-wise) but that's ok by me, it feels like you actually have something rather than some of its cheezy plastic competitors. Comes with a lens-cap attached on a cord.

Bulb doesn't come on immediately-- there's a little "warm-up" phase which probably extends the bulb life. Built in bulb-timer, they suggest you change it at 2000 hours regardless (or 3000 in "eco" mode which I'm still trying to figure out). There's some kind of auto-power-off timer of some kind. I figure 2000 hours is about 1 year worth of 8-hours 5-days-a-week (50 40-hour weeks) which is pretty heavy usage. Replacement bulbs look to be in the $250-$300 range, which is typical for this class of projector.

The manual (PDF on CD) was a bit terse in the functions area, and little or no mention of available accessories such as mounting bracket, etc.., but I consider that rather minor. Wish it would zoom a little larger when projecting close, but it's not bad (the online specs go into great detail on what it will do in this regard).

It has Composite, S-video and two computer inputs, so you can switch between two computers (and/or comp/s-video) from the remote. Includes the switching for stereo sound between the computer/comp/s-video inputs, but there's only one sound input for the two computer inputs (apparently, anyway) so I'm not sure if you can switch sound as well as picture between two computer inputs (not completely sure about this, an assumption from the connectors on the back). There's also a keyboard/mouse-like "PC Control" connector on the back that is for some kind of PC communication, but at the moment I'm not sure how you use it or what cable I'd need-- there's a section in the manual with a bunch of codes that can be sent to control it. Also, there's some mention of mouse features of some kind as well, so you can use the remote as a mouse, but that may be only for one or two of the other models as the manual covers the VT47,VT470,VT570 and VT670-- the VT670 for example, has a somewhat different remote and appears to have a couple of features related to mouse operation that the VT570 doesn't have.

Has an "auto-keystone" feature, but I'm not sure how useful it is for me-- fortunately there's a manual as well. The manual says something about keeping it level, so it may be using some kind of level detection to determine how to adjust. My rear-screen setup is too wacky for the auto to be of much use.

Pretty quiet during normal operation, once you turn it off it throttles up the fan for cool-down for a brief period then shuts it off (pretty quickly, actually, so you don't have to wait around for the fan to cool it for a very long time before you unplug it).

There's a carrying case, but it's pretty cheap-- I don't want to bundle the cords in with it as it'll scratch the unit, the pocket isn't very well designed for cords, and I can't find anywhere to put the remote in the case where it won't cause the buttons to get pushed on and thereby wear out its battery. I may consider getting a hardshell case or something for it...

Menu terminology for image orientation is rather odd-- "desktop front, desktop rear, ceiling front, ceiling rear" which is confusing. I just flip through them until I get what I want. It'll do left-right and top-bottom flip in any combination, so what you need is all there.