Review: Joybee GP2 Projector
By Branko Miletic
I can’t remember the last time I reviewed something from BenQ, but judging by this little portable projector, I should be reviewing their gear much more often. The Joybee GP2 may have a funny name, but there is nothing funny about what it can do.
With a resolution of 1200 x 800, brightness of 200 lumens at a contrast ratio of 2400:1, 1GB of storage space and an iPod/iPhone dock, this little marvel is what all great tech gear should be about- small, reliable, portable and useful in a daily sense. What more could one want?
With an LED lamp that is claimed to last at least 20,000 hours, a USB type thumb drive, USB mini-port, SD memory-card slot, a USB key, SD card, and 3 RCA plugs, the Joybee GP2 is a pleasure – or should say joy – to use. As well as being able to be attached via HDMI or USB cables to a TV screen, the fact that you can project more or less on any surface is a real plus in my books.
Sometimes called a palmtop projector, the 560gm GP2 proved its worth after attaching my wife's iPod to it. Looking through her stored pictures on our living room wall was fun. However, thinking about what it could do when an SD card from your digital camera was put in and the GP2 was connected to a TV was an even better option.
Overall, the colours were OK- sure they don’t compare to some top-end projectors, however when you take into account the $699 price tag and fits into the glove box of most cars, comparing it to a $10,000 unit that’s strapped to your bedroom ceiling is not fair.
Being a portable projector it offers attributes that you won’t see elsewhere. OK, you lose a bit in colour quality, resolution and even functionality, but it is meant to be used on the fly, so you gain as much as you lose in my book. Overall, the set-up was easy as one can want- plug in, turn on and run—you can’t ask for any more than that. As well as the consumer market, I can see a use for it for sales people on the road who do presentations to clients.
The only real downsides were that it took a little while to work out how to view your iPod pictures and the control wheel that had focus but no zoom functionality. Everything else was easy to do and I didn’t need to read the instruction booklet.
Small, light, easy to use, well-designed and portable along with providing decent images, the Joybee GP2 is a projector for all seasons and for just about any occasion – be that personal or business.
Pros: light, easy to use, well-designed with a decent picture output
Cons: no zoom function on the control wheel and may be a bit tricky when syncing with an iPod for first-time users
RRP
$699
4 Shacks Out Of 5
Brought to you by CyberShack.com.au
