Not everyone can fill a room with a superwide 2.35:1 aspect ratio image or house a screen that’s 130 inches. Still, watching video on a large projected image can be more fun than on the usual screen sizes, right?

Sanyo has come out with a projector, the PLC-XW60, that it says is the industry’s smallest and lightest XGA LCD model, at just 3.6 pounds. The company says the projector was designed for on-the-go applications like business presentations, or for educational use in classrooms.

Those sound good, and with an aspect ratio of 4:3 and resolution of 1024 x 768, we can certainly understand this projector as being commercial-minded.

We think this one could also be a neat solution for your children, though. Heck, don’t even worry about a screen—just project some Nickelodeon, Noggin or ABC Family programs onto a wall in the bedroom or kids’ playroom. Video inputs accept component and composite connections, and Sanyo says only 9 to 11 feet are needed to throw a 100-inch image. It’s light and portable enough so you don’t have to leave it plugged in.

Sanyo’s Color or BlackBoard Mode (red, blue, green and yellow) allows for clear images against almost any solid-colored surface, it says, and the lamp has 2,000 lumens of brightness. There’s even an easy-to-use remote.

I know my daughter would be quite happy to see Elmo in a 100-inch image, even though I might be a little scared by it. The PLC-XW60 will be available in April at an MSRP of $795.

Arlen Schweiger
Managing editor of Electronic House, EH Publishing

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!

Arlen Schweiger can be reached at aschweiger@ehpub.com