NEC Display Solutions Europe introduced the PA803UL and PA653UL at ISE. These projectors have 8,000 and 6,500 lumens output, respectively. The most notable new feature included in these 3LCD projectors was a sealed optical system that made the projectors filter-free, eliminating filter maintenance over the life of the projector. Previously, filter-free projector designs had been based on DLP imagers. Since they both have laser-phosphor light sources with a 20,000 hour life, the maintenance-free life of the projectors are pretty long. These WUXGA (1920 x 1200) projectors support input resolutions up to 4K60P. There also is a similar PA803U projector with the same sealed optical engine but with a lamp light source instead of laser, for people that want the resolution and other features of the PA803UL but don’t need the very long life or can’t afford the higher price of a laser-phosphor projector compared to a lamp projector.
Ceiling mounted NEC PA803UL with one of five NEC PX10004UL with its short throw lens in the background.
The PA653UL laser projector will be available in April 2017 and the PA803UL laser projector model will follow with availability in August 2017.
NEC was also showing the 10,000 lumen PX10004UL laser-phosphor projector. This projector also had WUXGA (1920 x 1200) and was filter-free but was based on a single 0.67” DLP imager. This projector is available now at a price of $19,899. In the NEC booth, five of the projectors equipped with short throw lenses were ceiling mounted and were showing contemporary art on round screens.
Five NEC PX10004UL projectors with short throw lenses were showing contemporary art on five round screens at ISE.
NEC was showing its MultiSync monitors, models P554 and P484. These monitors will accept either an OPS module, a Raspberry Pi computer module or both. The Raspberry Pi module can be used to provide a complete self contained digital signage display, with the Raspberry Pi computer supplying the images for display. According to the NEC rep, normally both an OPS module and a Raspberry Pi module would not be needed. They could if needed be used together, for example with the Raspberry Pi module supplying the compute power and the OPS slot used to supply a monitor interface that is not native to the system. (NEC Display Adopts Raspberry Pi for Digital Signage)
NEC MultiSync monitor with the door covering the Raspberry Pi module removed. No module is installed in this monitor.
NEC was also showing its new 65” InfinityBoard. This system includes everything needed for a basic collaboration room, including touch system that works with either a fingertip or a pen and can tell which is being used, speakers, teleconferencing hardware and a Windows 10 computer. This computer allows an end user to install whatever graphics or other software is needed. The system also includes NEC’s MultiPresenter, which allows multiple users to use a common display as part of a collaboration effort. The InfinityBoard will also be available in an 84” size. Both sizes will be available starting in May 2017.
NEC rep demonstrating the 65” InfinityBoard collaboration system
In addition to the projectors shown at ISE, NEC Display Solutions of America announced on February 15th the new ME series of 3LCD projectors, targeted at classrooms and meeting rooms. The line includes four XGA (1024 x 768) and four WXGA (1280 x 800) projectors and range in price from the NP-ME301X (XGA with 3000 lumens normal light output) at a minimum advertised price of $529 to the NP-ME401W (WXGA with 4000 lumens normal light output) at $949. All of the projectors have 4000 hours lamp life with normal output, 9000 hours in the Eco mode. Light output in the Eco mode is not specified. All of the XGA projectors use three 0.63” diagonal LCD panels and all the WXGA projectors use three 0.59” diagonal panels. These projectors are designed for simple replacement of legacy LCD projectors with same footprint, lens position, and throw angle. They utilize NEC’s MultiPresenter, a multi-user (up to 16 connections from smart phones, tablets and PCs) collaborative screen-sharing solution that allows students and instructors to share images, files, documents, presentations, and more simultaneously over a wired or wireless network. –Matthew Brennesholtz
NEC NP-ME401W announced after ISE
NEC was showing the new V series of monitors which are intended as value products, but still have 500 cd/m² of brightness and are rated for 24/7 operation. The displays do not have an SoC but do have other features such as a real time clock and 16GB of memory for automated media playback.
Of course, one of the big points for NEC at the show was the development in LED displays which now extend down to 1.2mm in pitch and that size is available now. NEC has designed its modules to be the same in size and connectivity, with 4 x 4 modules creating a 110″ diagonal display. The matching sizes means that as prices for smaller pitch modules come down, resolution can be increased. It also means that, feasibly, different pitch displays can be used on different parts of the display if viewers are close to one part, but distant from another.
NEC has added to its range of desktop monitors and had the EX241UN which was announced back in October and has narrow bezels and looks very professional. A completely new model at the show was the EX341R. This is NEC’s first curved monitor and NEC expects it to replace multi-display installations with a single screen. The monitor has a ‘three side narrow’ bezel design and fits well next to the EX241UN. The monitor has an 1800R radius 3440 x 1440 SVA panel with 290 cd/m² of output and 2,100:1 contrast and 5ms response. The monitor has a flicker free mode and meets TCO 7.0. There are dual HDMI and DisplayPort inputs and a DisplayPort output.
