PRODUCTreviews
J.V. Bolkan
Epson’s BrightLink 485Wi is a top-end interactive ultra- short-throw projector. Epson
has basically thrown down the feature
gauntlet with the 485 and set the standard for this type of device. Of course,
the price—about $2,200—is a few
hundred dollars beyond the competition as well. Determining whether the
value is worth the cost is all about
deciding if you need all its features.
I’m betting that for the classroom
you will.
Because it is an LCD-based projec-
tor, the 485 provides exceptional color
saturation, evenness, and virtually
none of the rainbow artifacts associ-
ated with less expensive DLP-based
projectors. Contrast and brightness
are top notch thanks to the power
of 3,100 lumens—among the highest
of any short-throw projector. The 485
offers full interactivity at full intensity,
unlike many projectors that require
you to shift to a lower-powered inter-
active mode. This is key in classroom
settings, where you either don’t want
to lower the lighting or you can’t. I
tested it in a room with bright sunlight
and overhead lighting and was amazed
that there was virtually no washout
when projecting at normal sizes.
