ViewSonic PLED-W500 projector review

ViewSonic's PLED-W500 projector is designed to meet the needs of business users who need to give presentations when out on the road and is also suitable for home use.

It has a small frame that packs some impressive specifications, including a 500 lumens LED lamp, 1280x800 native resolution and up to 80in picture size. However, the device is let down by sub-par performance and a high price tag.

The projector's glossy finish gives it a swish look and, at just under 1.2Kg, it is easy to carry and position on surfaces. As with most projectors, no setup is required, with users simply having to plug in a source of content. The device supports most major formats, including MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H264, MP3, VC1, WMA, WMV and RMVB.

The W500's multitude of ports means it can connect to most devices you might have scattered around the office or at home. These include HDMI and VGA ports for hooking up to PCs and laptops, while the PLED-W500 also boasts a USB port and SD card slot, as well as a built-in Microsoft Office Document viewer so you can plug in a memory stick and view content without having to connect a device – particularly handy for giving presentations when out in the field.

With an 80in maximum picture size, the W500 is suitable for use in the home as well as in the office. It is capable of projecting a 33in image from a distance of just one metre, so can be used in tight spaces. The automatic keystone correction also allows the device to be placed at an angle.

We didn't experience any problems when connecting a laptop to the projector. However, we found that the picture cut out at regular intervals when the projector was connected to a PS3 console via an HDMI cable. The projected image would abruptly cut to the ViewSonic logo as it began 'searching' for the signal and then reappear after about five seconds.