One definition of success is when performance exceeds expectation, and when I got my hands on the new 3,000-lumen WXGA resolution Casio XJ-M255, my expectations were high since this projector embodies the latest version of Casio's proprietary laser/LED light engine. By definition, then, a successful evaluation of this DLP projector would require more than just a good image and some nifty bells and whistles. To add some anticipation to the mix, this was the first time I had seen Casio's laser/LED light engine since I last saw it in their XJ-A250 which came up well short of its brightness rating and didn't do well in the image quality department.

At first glance, this $1,499 8.6-pound projector looks like it might be a good candidate for a cart or ceiling mount since it's a bit heavy to lug around. However, it was clearly designed with multimedia in mind, and its wide variety of input modes and wireless capability makes it a natural for collaborative sessions where multiple PCs may be connected simultaneously. I had two wireless laptops displaying together on a split screen, and the XJ-M255 can handle four at a time. So, even though mobility isn't its strongest suit, the XJ-M255 is nevertheless a good candidate for road warrior applications where everything from mobile phones to iPads and laptops are in play.

I connected everything but the kitchen sink to the XJ-M255 including HDMI digital sources and USB memory sticks. In each case, the images were on the mark for color balance and saturation, and the 5-watt speaker was a nice improvement over the previous 1-watt speaker in the XJ-A250V. However, like its predecessor, the XJ-M255 fell short of its brightness specification by nearly 25% preceded by a gradual decrease in brightness during its warm-up phase. The decrease is less than it used to be (9% vs. 15%), but it is still surprising to see. Once the projector has been operating for fifteen minutes, the light output is stable . . . well below its rating, but stable.

A classroom could definitely get some extended use out of the XJ-M255 as it is solidly put together with low maintenance costs if the laser/LED light engine meets its intended 20,000-hour life. But its versatility suggests that it moves easily among the widely varying environments found in conference rooms and boardrooms, so I would expect professional presenters to find a lot to like in this projector.

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