20. Getting Acquainted

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The esthetics of the SP5000 are basic. The shell is made of a gray plastic of average quality, in radical contrast with the stylistic excesses of certain manufacturers. The result is that it looks more like a data projector, or a model from an earlier line. The tilt adjusts via a simple button that lowers the projector's single leg. It's fairly stable, but not precise if your surface isn't perfectly flat. On the top of the shell are a number of buttons that let you access the basic functions, and also a pair of speakers.

On the back are the video inputs and outputs, with one peculiarity: The usual DVI connector is replaced here by an M1 connector. This connector is not the same shape as the DVI connectors found on DVD players and PC graphics cards. Fortunately, Infocus supplies a 2-meter (6.6 ft.) DVI-to-M1 cable with the SP5000 for your first connections. But if you need more cables, you'll have to be careful not to get the connectors mixed up. For your other inputs, you can use the S-Video, YUV, or cinch connectors. The audio signal can enter via the stereo cinch jacks that feed the built-in speakers.

Finally, as usual, the projector's front panel houses the lens, which has two dials for adjusting the zoom and focus. Don't look for other dials, such as lens shift, because the SP 5000 lacks this very useful function. In the box is also a remote control with an innovative, slightly round-bellied shape. It handles fairly well, with adjustments that are accessible without too much trouble. The backlight on the remote control is activated with a button located on the right side, away from the other buttons, which makes it easy to find.