NEC Solutions (Itasca, IL) (www.necsolutions-am.com) has shaken up the projector market by announcing that its new VT460 HTPS projector can be obtained at $995 - but only by qualified schools. Otherwise, the MSRP is $1,199. The lower price is for schools that have a Smarter Kids Foundation grant (www.smarterkids.org).

Nevertheless, these are price point breakthroughs in the projector market - and it is already starting to create ripples. We have heard a rumor that Epson may pull it 30c model from the market feeling it lower lumen output (800 lumens) cannot compete against the VT640, which has 1500 lumens. Other OEM projection makers say that the anticipated volume of the VT640 is making Sony allocate shipments of it SVGA HTPS panel to other customers, so it can satisfy NEC's needs. At Last June's Projection Industry Summit Conference, there was much debate about the emergence of the $995 projector - and now it is here and generating the anticipated response (this year's Projection Summit will be on June 1 & 2 in Orlando, Florida)

According to market research firm IDC, about 75% of school systems will be purchasing projectors over the next 12 months. IDC also indicated that the overwhelming majority of schools interviewed had not purchased projectors previously due to high costs, and cited that companies able to offer quality products at lower prices will garner significant attention from this segment.

"We are pleased to offer school systems an affordable option to help students learn faster and achieve more through the use of visual display technology," explained Bob Guentner, product manager for NEC Solutions America, Visual Systems Division. "The new VT460 projector is not only the most affordable projector available for the education market, but it's also so easy to use that any student or teacher can set up and operate it in a snap."

The new VT Series projectors, which include the VT460, VT560 and VT660 models, are NEC's first to feature automatic keystone correction, giving users the ability to turn the projector on and instantly get a squared image. Their direct-access keys for RGB, video and s-video let users switch between sources with the touch of a button, and color-coded inputs further enhance the projectors' intuitive design. These projectors automatically sync with the computer signal.

NEC's new VT Series projectors ship in February 2003. With a replacement lamp cost of $299 and 3,000-hour lamp life in Eco-Mode, the projectors offer users a low total cost of projector ownership.

NEC, Traci Schaefer, (630) 467-4567, traci.schaefer@necsam.com

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