InFocus In26XGA

I write this review from the unfortunate position of having owned an InFocus IN26 projector for 1 year and 9 days. After 1 year and 3 days, the projector began to cut out for no apparent reason. On the 3rd such breakdown the faulty lamp light came on, but after unplugging the projector for half an hour, it worked perfectly on reconnection. Regrettably this was not to last. Several more cut outs followed, and now, nine days after its warranty expired, the projector does not function at all. I hasten to add that this projector was not being transported constantly - it was rigidly and permanently mounted for use on a single screen, so transit damage is not a possibility.

On the assumption that there is in fact a bulb failure, the manufacturers claim of 3000+ hrs bulb life is farcical - this projector has clocked up far less than 1000 hrs. For any electronic item to last only 3 days beyond its warranty is a disgrace - there is obviously a very fundamental design flaw in the electronics in this product, and regardless of the comparatively low price, I have to say that the item is entirely unfit for purpose.

On a more general note, I agree with other reviews - picture is 20% smaller than my old Epsom projector at the same distance, and the unit is not capable of producing as sharp an image as my old projector either. Performance is adequate with a VGA connection, and also with s-video, but RGB is truly horrible, with significant ghosting of images (I only use high quality video cables, so it wasn't down to the connection).

Purchased the InFocus for a friend as it looked a good spec for reasonable money. First disappointment was the input sockets. The information provided in the product specification implied the projector had video 'component' connections. Having wired up with three core 'component' cabling (15 meters of it), discovered these were not provided. The RGB connection is only via the RS 232 (VESA) port, which can be done via an adaptor/accessory but for some reason this is not provided. This is really a basic function on good projectors being pitched at the home cinema audience. Also you have to have a 'component' connection to achieve the higher levels of resolution the projector has, otherwise it is pointless paying for the extra resolution.

Soon got the impression this is not really a cinema projector. It is not designed to go on a shelf, high out of the way at the back of the living room as there are nothing provided for it to sit up side down, and a ceiling mount could not be fitted in my mates high ceiling house and is again and expensive additional option you will have to pay and wait for.

There was no manual provided and information on the CD provided was scant. This may not have been a problem but the projector only produced very small scale pictures and it was not clear if this was by design or because the zoom was not working. The InFocus web site was also of no help and just added to the disappointment, particularly as it was not clear how they dealt with faults - other than to refer to the retailer (whilst of course the retailer referred us back to the manufacturer). The model number of the projector is bizarrely also not featured on the list of projectors in the support section on the web site and the downloaded PDF files were an odd mix with only the 'reference guide' providing a minimum level of detail that was not really helpful, particularly in regard to setting this up in a home cinema situation. Even more frustrating the list of accessories on the web site for the model does not include the vital 'component' to RS232 connector they recommend you get in the setup instructions.

Really started to worry when we discovered the support telephone number was a dud and would not link us up to InFocus main office in Holland! Whilst a number of countries get their own local number - the UK is not considered important enough. The whole web site is designed to avoid giving you a phone contact point to talk to a human and you can only start the returns process online - after you have registered the product with them! It makes you think they have a lot of customers desperately trying to contact them about problems with their products.

Despite the adverts at best this is really a business model for presentations and not a projector for home cinema. The customer support is frustrating and a great disappointment once they have your money and you find things do not work.