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99 of 99 people found the following review helpful.
Teacher review: Works great for movies, may be more than you need if you are just doing presentations.
By Two kids mom
I am a teacher and am using two versions of this projector currently in my classrooms, the EX7210 and the EX3210. This review includes both general information about the two projectors and describes the differences between them. General review of the Epson Multimedia Projector: Applicable to both modelsThe projector itself is smaller than I expected. It is also reasonably light and comes with a carry case for easy transport. As teacher who moves from room to room the portability is handy. The carry case has a strap long enough to throw it over your shoulder, a real plus when you are juggling stuff between classrooms. The case has a front pocket for the power cord and remote as well. The manual and CD (for extra info) are originally packed inside this front pocket of the case.Inputs:The projector is absolutely idiot proof when it comes to inputs. You can push the button that says Source Search and it will find where you are trying to input and start displaying the information.Light output: Light output is strong enough that Powerpoint presentations can be seen with the projector 20 feet away from the screen (this is as far back as I can get it in the room in partially lit room. Partially lit in this case is defined as the overhead lights are off but the three windows do not have blinds. The room is bright enough that the students can easily see their papers and take notes (and I can see the students!). These projectors put out 2800 lumens (a lumen is a unit of visible light emitted by a source). The school has 1500 lumen projectors, which I rarely used because the lights had to be all the way off for the student to see the projections, and that leads to trouble.Sound output:It has built in speakers and they are loud enough for use in a room with 50 students but just barely. In the smaller room with 25 kids it is great. If you use it with a laptop I would suggest adding some speakers for sound.Noise and Heat: They hum. The fan whirs. Not very loud but it is audible. They get hot, and fast. This is one problem because you need to let them sit for a few minutes after using so the fan can cool the bulb down before you unplug it. That means I have to remember to turn them off a few minutes before class ends. If you are leaving it in one place this is not a problem. If you have to run, it might be.Differences:Want to watch movies? You want the EX7210 with the HDMI input.I see two main difference between the EX7210 and the EX3210 (besides the color) . The first is the inputs. The EX7210 has HDMI inputs and a higher resolution (1280 X 800 for the EX7210 and 800 X 600 for the E3210). The difference is clearly visible. If you are using the projector for video (or showing movies) the EX7210 definitely provides a clearer picture. Projected on a screen from 10 feet away movies are clear, sharp and very little pixilation is visible.Just want to use it for presentations?If you are using the projector for business presentations (Powerpoint and such) the lower end EX3210 is plenty good enough. I have often been using it to project a grid onto the classroom chalkboard for graphing. I can then switch to the next image with the answer and the student can see if their solution was correct. This is a godsend, as it is difficult to graph on a chalkboard with any accuracy without a grid. The projector even has a setting for the chalkboard, which takes into account its greenish grey color and counteracts the color change. It is bright enough to project a clear grid. The only small problem is keeping out of the way so you don't block the image.And other usesThe projector can also be used in science class to project a clear slide of one color of light to show color absorption and reflection. I know this is not what it was designed for at all, but it works very well for this purpose. I simply made an image of the various colors I want to compare and since the projector uses LCD to make the light the wavelengths are very precise. Although this will probably not be useful for most users it does show you how clear a projection the device yields.Other issues:I originally tried to use the projectors with really cheap (think less than a cup of high end coffee) 25 foot long HDMI cables. This caused some problems, with the signal dropping out every once in a while. Digital is either all there, or not. With a slightly better (think two fast food dinners) 25 foot cable I did not have this problem.The replacement lamp is currently just over 160 dollars on Amazon. Since it is rated for 4,000 hours that is a lot of science and math.I cannot speak to the price/value for these projectors (as I only have these and the school ones but they are a LOT better than the school provided ones. Everybody wants to borrow them, and since they are easy to move around it is simple to loan them out.
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful.
No Brainer Setup & Operation - Android Tablet Compatible
By Kaio
Epson has gone the full 9 with this projector. It's compact, comes with most of the cables a majority of users will need, and even a nifty carrying case to fit everything into. I think the part that impressed me the most was the exclusive tech support phone number right on the bottom of the projector itself. Clearly, Epson is aiming for the business class and intend to stand behind their product.Easy SetupI recently got an Epson printer and had nothing but trouble with the software setup right from the get-go -- a tell-tale sign of a piece of junk in my book. Well, it looks like they got their act together this time around, by contrast, the setup for this projector was as uneventful as it should be -- no issues whatsoever installing the software on Win 7 Pro 64bit; just a clean seamless install and use. Silly as it sounds, that's often not the case. Truth be told, there's little to no setup if you're doing slideshow presentations off a USB flash drive; everything can be done on the projected screen right out of the box. The same holds true of your laptop has an HDMI port -- just plug in the cable from laptop to projector and operate your computer as normal. But here's the real kicker...Android Tablet projection via Toshiba ThriveToshiba Thrive is the only tablet, Android or Apple, to offer a full-sized HDMI port -- I just plugged in an HDMI cable (not included) from my tablet to this projector, and voila, my Android tab is being projected onto any surface I want. Now that's forward thinking technology in my book. Tired of all work and no play? How about playing Angry Birds projected on a huge screen? Or maybe you're an app developer wanting to show your latest creation to a room of clients. The possibilities are endless, that is, if you have a Thrive with full-sized HDMI ports.Speaking of InputsThis projector has every port I'd ever want -- USB, HDMI, S-Vid, RCA -- even the arcane VGI port if anyone still has the need (eek! I guess the only thing missing as an SD slot, which might have been good for certain slideshow presentations. But with all the other connectivity options, the oversight is no big deal. After all, at the end of the day, it's all just multiple options of doing the same thing.Image Quality & BrightnessThe quality of the projected image is superb -- naturally some environmental factors come into play, such as, the surface being projected on, and lighting environment. But I was able to get clean, crisp images, even in a room with the lights on! I'm quite happy with how everything looked. And yes, even text was crisp and perfectly legible. And it doesn't take much tweaking with the focus and projection angles to find the best settings. Perfect!QuietThe unit itself is fairly quiet. It does have internal fans to dissipate heat, but the sound wasn't distracting or loud by any means. Over time, as the fan blades collect dust, that may change. But most times I can quiet down a noisy fan by just blasting it with a shot of compressed air.It Gets HotThe projector does get hot quite fast and blows warm air from its vents almost immediately. It's not scalding hot or anything. And the manual does say you don't have to wait for it to cool off before packing it away. But it's just worth mentioning that it heats up fast.Boot UpThis projector boots up and is ready to go in less than 30 seconds. So if you're running late and everyone is waiting for you to get going, this Epson won't hold you back at all.RemotePretty much everything this projector does can be controlled with the wireless remote, including switching input sources, e-zoom, volume, etc; offering all the flexibility and control I'd want or need. And I don't even have to point the remote directly at the projector to make it work; in fact, I intentionally pointed the remote away form the projector at extreme angles and the IR signals reached the projector with no trouble at all.SoundThe built in speaker is surprisingly loud. It's not HiFi stereo or anything, but people shouldn't have any trouble hearing audio during a presentation.Light & CompactThis projector isn't overly bulky or heavy, which is great, because I'm disabled and don't need to lug bulky, heavy peripherals around. I have some applications for this in mind which will all occur on the road, so this lightweight projector is a plus for me. It's about the size of one of those big 4" 3-ring binders, only nowhere near as heavy as those get if loaded to the max with paper. Another nice touch is the carrying bag is marked on the inside, reminding me to put the projector inside with the lens facing up (if it were facing down and the bag was accidentally dropped or set down too hard, the lens could shatter.)Bottom Line -- this is a pretty straight forward projector -- everything works as I expected and was easy to operate. I really didn't need to refer to the instructions for much of anything. This is a great projector, and compared to how expensive these used to be, the price is good for the quality. I don't recall the brand I used to use in the past, but I remember it was 3x the cost of this Epson, and didn't have all the features. But then, rapidly changing tech is just a sign of the times. If you don't need HDMI, Epson even offers a cheaper model than this one; just figure out what inputs you need most, cuz there's no need to break the bank buying features you'll never use. Though IMO, the HDMI is the most indispensable and the port I'll use most. I may even project video off my HD video camera! Kudos!
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful.
Projector and Roku - a match made in heaven
By Nuknuk
Just recently, very few people can afford a projector for home use. Now that they are everywhere, even high definition projectors are cheaper than LED or even LCD HDTVs. What is great about projectors? You get a giant screen that you can practically place anywhere as long as you have a wall.Epson is a well known brand when it comes to projectors. The EX7210 has a WXGA resolution which is 720 x 1280, hmmm... not 1080P, but close. My intent is to use it as a portable home mini theater having just the perfect size walls (in our master bedroom, living room and basement) to project widescreen images at 120 inches or more.WHITE BLANKET:We tried using a white blanket. The problem with a regular blanket is that you can easily see the creases unless it is completely flat. This is more visible if you are projecting in an angle. Not that it will not work, but if you are not planning to spend a fortune for dedicated screens, a white blanket will do.The best choice is a wall big enough to project the image. Our wall is not completely white but a bit of a beige; still, the colors are rich and you can see the vibrant colors of red, green, or blue. Our master bedroom on the other hand is light mocha, but we really cannot tell the difference. Anyway, there are special paints available that are specially made for projection. Just make sure you don't have objects on your walls like picture frame nails or holes as they can be annoying when you are watching.2800 lumens is sufficiently bright, the images can be clearly seen even on daytime, as long as you don't have pretty strong lights coming from the windows.EXTENDING LAMP LIFE TO 5000 HRS:For home use, one of the first things I did was to change the setup of the projector to ECO mode. This extends the life of the lamp to 5000 hours. The lamp currently sells at Amazon for about 160$. You will need the remote for that - go to Settings/Power Consumption/ECO.CONVENIENT CONTROLS:Keystone, zoom and focus ring are all very accessible, they are located just right on top of the projector lens. The permanent lens cover slides to protect the glass so there is no cap to lose. Keystone adjusts the image for a perfect rectangle if you cannot position the projector exactly in the middle of the room. If you are still not satisfied, you can adjust each corner individually using the remote.UP AND DOWN TILT:Push the front button and a mini stand will fall and lock into position at the height you choose when you release the button."SOURCE" BUTTON:If you have multiple sources and cables attached to the projector, a push of this button will automatically cycle to different video inputs and stop where there is a video signal, whether from a DVD player, a setup box, a camera, or a laptop.2 INFRARED RECEIVERS:Whether the projector is in front or on your back, the remote control will not have any problem sensing it. It has infrared sensors on the front and at the back.***NOW THE ROKU:For my purpose, my biggest question is if it will work with the Roku. Roku is as small as a hockey puck. Add that to the EX7210, and you have a super portable entertainment set combination. It took me a few days to get the right answer. I thought it was funny that both Epson and Roku customer service doesn't have a ready answer. I chatted first with a Roku rep and asked if it will work with my projector using HDMI and the analog A/V output to an external powered speaker.ROKU chat Rep: "It will not run because of HDCP issue".Email response from Epson: "This should work with the Roku. The projector is HDCP compliant."Email from Roku: "Normally we recommend the customers to connect the Roku player directly to the TV. We never tested Roku with the projector. However you can try connecting the video via the HDMI to the projector and the audio via the A/V analog to a pair of powered speakers. You may get the output."- Was a bit surprised there that they have not tried their product on a projector and wasn't sure if the external speakers will work.--------------Cons:The main reason why I have to contact Epson and Roku is that the projector doesn't have an audio output (something more common with HDTVs via an optical output). You'll have to get the audio from your content source device, which in this case is the Roku.And so, I bought a Roku. Since the projector is not 1080P, I just chose the LT which is the cheapest but still capable of displaying HD contents via Wifi. I hooked them up together and so happy that it worked. Amazon Video on Demand HD and Netflix HD contents are gorgeous.I also hooked up the projector using my PC computer, my WD TV player and directly to a Flip camera. They all worked.Finally, although it lacks a little bit of padding, it is nice that they have included a carrying bag.
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Lamp burns out quickly- Poor Optoma customer service
Great projector for a great price!!
