ASUS P1 LED Projector – A Bright New Venture

Physique and Features

ASUS In A New Light

While ASUS is strongly associated with PC gaming solutions, the brand is also known for products that are meant for business and productivity. As a matter of fact, ASUS’ arsenal is rich with various models of business notebooks and desktop monitors. To further expand its lineup of business solutions, ASUS has introduced the P1, the company’s first foray into projectors.

Given its compact size, the ASUS P1 falls under the portable variety of projectors. It is not as small as the Samsung SP-H03, but rather it is more comparable with the Acer K10 in terms of size. Although the P1 is not pocketable like the Aiptek PocketCinema V20, one can easily slip it into a small bag. Touting a black plastic chassis, the P1 weighs light (415g) and is easy to transport. It comes with a carrying case together with the video interface cable and the power adapter.

Leveraging on the LED-based DLP projection technology, the P1 has a native resolution of 1280 x 800 with a brightness level rated at 200 lumens and a contrast ratio at 2000:1. The P1 is capable of throwing projected images at a minimum distance of half a meter and a maximum of three meters. The screen sizes that it can project range from 20 to 120 inches. Logically, as the distance of the P1 from a projected surface and the screen size increase, the clarity of the projected image decreases.

The ASUS P1’s image focus can be adjusted by moving the manual lever above its lens. The buttons are located on top of the projector’s body. These allow for the easy navigation and adjustment of settings such as brightness, contrast, keystone correction, and many more. Along with the buttons, the projector also has a tiny indicator for temperature. Underneath the P1’s body, it has a built-in kickstand and a tripod socket. Even a small GorillaPod can support the entire weight of the P1. The video interface of the P1 is located on its side. It is neither a typical VGA nor an HDMI port, but rather a 30-pin PDMI (Portable Digital Media Interface).

The P1 also integrates the Splendid feature which we first saw on ASUS’ line of desktop monitors. On the P1, the Splendid feature is composed of presets (Black Board, White Board, Dynamic, Game, Scenery, Theater, and Standard). These presets directly suggest that the P1 is not just made to handle work stuff, but to entertain users as well.