Nec Nec090403 Owner's manual

A CONSUMER GUIDE:

CHOOSING THE RIGHT

NEC Solutions America

FOR YOUR HOME

Consumers are increasingly smitten by the beautiful, brilliant images and sleek, flat-screen designs offered from

plasma displays. Their sleek profile and extremely wide viewing angle addresses the functionality requirements

of rooms with minimal space, such as a living room, loft or even a bathroom. Plasma displays meet the rigorous

requirements of the most discerning home theater enthusiast, with brilliant image quality, accurate image repro-

duction and amazing brightness and contrast.

APROJECTOR can offer the same vibrant, larger-than-life viewing experience as going to the movies while

being considered an attractive, practical display option for consumers. Many home entertainment projectors are

available in a compact, contemporary design that can be discreetly mounted to a wall or ceiling, but are adapt-

able enough to be removed from the room for other uses, like projecting the latest sci-fi thriller on the garage

door for neighborhood movie night.

HERE’S THE REAL BEAUTY OF LARGE SCREEN DISPLAYS: due to their broad

signal compatibility, they offer capabilities that span far beyond a traditional TV, such as high

definition television, cable and satellite display. They can also be used for gaming, digital

pictures, computers and more. Research indicates that large screen display products are

here to stay. According to Home Theater Research Group, the plasma display market is

projected to grow 70% annually over the next three years and IDC predicts that home theater

projectors are expected to move from 9% of the overall projector market in 2004 to 20% by 2008.

LARGE SCREEN DISPLAY

Have you been dreaming about converting the living room into a decorative yet usable space?

The couches, window treatments and paint are certainly important. But, selecting the right

large screen display to complete the room may be the most critical task ahead whether you are

a first-time buyer of the technology or home entertainment aficionado.

Today, there are an abundance of display choices available for the home beyond traditional TVs. A flood of new

technologies -- such as flat screens and lightweight projectors can be found in a wide range of screen sizes and

prices to fit virtually every room of the house.

ARE YOU LOOKING TO TRANSFORM YOUR BASEMENT INTO A

HOME THEATER?

410

front glass substrate

display electrode

phosphor

grid barrier rib

rear glass substrate black stripe

data electrode

Plasma display panels consist of two thin panels of mounted

glass found within the screen. The panels are made up of an

array of cells, known as pixels, which are tiny pockets composed

of compressed gas. Each pixel contains three sub pixels made up of

red, green and blue phosphors.

When an electrical current is applied to a pixel, the gas reacts to form plas-

ma, which in turn produces UV light. The light reacts with the phosphors to

produce the colors you see on the screen. Because all the pixels emit light at

the same time, the viewers never see a flickering screen.

Pixel: The smallest discrete component of an image or picture on a screen (usually a colored dot); "the greater

Projectors are categorized into the following two primary technologies, which reference the internal mechanisms

used to compose an image:

LCD (LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY) projectors contain three separate LCD glass panels, one for red, green, and blue

components of the image. As light passes through the LCD panels, individual pixels can be opened to allow light

to pass or closed to block the light. This activity modulates the light and produces the image that is projected onto

the screen. LCD advantages include images with deep saturated colors that are sharp and accurate, bright

images and low costs for greater affordability.

DLP (DIGITAL LIGHT PROCESSING) Developed by Texas Instruments, the DLP chip is a reflective surface made up

of thousands of tiny mirrors. Each mirror represents a single pixel. In a DLP projector, light from the projector's

lamp is directed onto the surface of the DLP chip. A color wheel consisting of red, green, blue and sometimes

clear segments spins between the lamp and the chip to modulate the color. The mirrors move back and forth,

directing light either into the lens path or away from the lens path. DLP technology offers a very high contrast

ratio, with less space between pixels (reduces screen door effect) for smoother images, along with fewer

components, allowing the projector to be packaged into an extremely compact design.

WHAT IS A PLASMA DISPLAY AND HOW DOES

IT WORK?

LCD AND DLP™PROJECTOR TECHNOLOGIES. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

For more information on NEC’s industry-leading large screen displays,

please contact us at 800 NEC-INFO or visit www.necvisualsystems.com

The opinions expressed in this document are those of NEC Solutions America,

Inc., based on the current state of large screen display technologies as of

September 2004.

NEC 090403

NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. All other trade-

marks are the property of their respective owners. All specifications

and programs are subject to change without notice. DLP™is a

trademark of Texas Instruments.

Visual Systems Division

1250 Arlington Heights Rd., Suite 400

Itasca, IL 60143-1248

WHAT’S ATTRIBUTING TO THIS GROWTH?

HIGH DEFINITION CONTENT. Since all broadcasting is expected to be digital by 2006, a display product with

HDTV compatibility future-proofs the investment and eliminates concerns about technology obsolescence.

Likewise, display technology has played a significant role in progressing the emergence of media and content,

such as DVD’s, which enhance the overall viewing experience.

MORE INFORMATION AND BROADER ABILITY. The increased popularity and use of large screen display

products has led to a plethora of information about them. Along with increased awareness, projectors and

plasma displays have become more accessible and can now be purchased from the web, through a professional

installer and even in a local consumer electronics retail outlet.

COCOONING. Americans are spending more time at home and using display technology to connect with family

and friends. Projectors and plasma displays enable families to view “big screen” movies together, share digital

photos with long-distance relatives or invite the neighbors over to watch a favorite sporting event.

LOWER COSTS=MORE MAINSTREAM USE. What was once thought to be suited for only a “rich and famous”

lifestyle, large screen display technology is now a much more affordable reality for today’s conventional house-

hold. Many new home builders have even begun to offer display packages as an option so families can begin to

enjoy the benefits of the technology from the day they move in.

GREATER INTEREST. Because of their wide range of uses and capabilities, these products are attracting a

more diverse demographic. Women, for example, like the decorative look and space-saving functionality of a

plasma display, which can add style to a room while remaining up and out of the way of small children.

EASIER TO USE. You don’t have to be a “techie” to use a large screen display, in fact, many are as easy to use

as a regular TV. With color-coded inputs and cabling, quick start-up menus and intuitive, automatic features and

accessories, projectors and plasma displays can now be operated by almost anyone.

WHAT TO ASK BEFORE YOU BUY:

By working through the following three primary qualifiers, you will be in a better position to decide which large

screen display is most ideal for your home:

HOW WILL I USE A LARGE SCREEN DISPLAY? Before you make a change, you must have a need. Is your

current television about to bite the dust? Have you just moved into a smaller or larger living space? Are you

finally getting around to making the basement a home theater? The size of the room and the use of the display

will help narrow your choices to products that are most fitting for your situation. Knowledge is power so arm your-

self with information – industry association websites such as the Consumer Electronics Association

(www.cea.org), product-focused websites like Projector Central (www.projectorcentral.com) and even main-

stream publications like PC Magazine (www.pcmagazine.com) provide statistics, trend and user articles, product

reviews and more. You’ll also want to search manufacturers’ websites to learn more about the actual displays.

WHICH ACCESSORIES DO I NEED WITH MY DISPLAY? Now that you’ve selected a large screen display,

you can begin to identify which accessory options you will need. Will the display be built into an entertainment

center or do you need it to hang flush with the wall? Accessories are a vital part of the installation because they

will ultimately maximize what you can do with your display. Most projectors and plasma monitors will require

audio/speakers, a mounting system or floor stand, source equipment such as a set top box and external tuner,

and the necessary switchers and remotes to tie together all the sources and uses for the display. Some

manufacturers offer home theater “bundles” with various accessory options to help simplify the process, but

resources like those listed above will also provide specific information about all types of display accessories.

Again, knowledge is key so take the extra time to read up on the different products and how they can enhance

your viewing experience.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INSTALLATION? While many large screen display products are

now easy enough for the “do-it-yourselfer” to set-up, most consumers will still require professional help to

design, optimize and assemble the display and accessories to maximize their desired effect. Always choose a

certified professional installer for the job, as their extensive experience with the technology will assure the best

possible result. Most certified professional installers will also recommend displays and accessories for the appli-

cation, but it’s still wise to have a solid understanding of what you want and need prior to contracting with an

installer. For a list of professional installers in your area, go to organizations like www.paralink.org or

www.cedia.net.

You are now well on your way toward incorporating the dazzling, stunning images and movie-like viewing

experience capable with large screen displays into your home. Enjoy!

bedroom

50XR4

kitchen

42XR3

exercise room

42VR5

home theater

HT1100

family room

61XR3

study

HT510

°°

a projector or plasma display for every room in your house!

bonus room

HT410 °

A WIDE ARRAY OF NEC DISPLAYS