The tiny little road warrior
Pico projectors pack big imaging power into tiny devices.
LAS VEGAS (CNNMoney.com) -- Apparently it takes a big bad recession to revolutionize the tiny little projector.
For small businesses considering technology upgrades in 2009, there's one good reason to pay attention to what's happening here at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show: pico projectors. These near-miraculous, itty-bitty imaging systems fit in the palm of your hand and can put out a reasonable image several feet tall. Makers claim image sizes of up to 50 inches, but at that distance the image is dark and blurry.
The good news is that pico projectors run on open standards like USB (universal serial bus) technology - there's no HDMI-wrangling to muck things up. Pico projectors can handle images from PCs, media players, cell phones and pretty much any other digital imaging thingie on the market. Any sales person or do-it-all entrepreneur who has lugged around an eight-pound monster projector for a day of sales presentations knows what a big step forward this is!
My full reviews and recommendations must wait for more extensive testing, but in initial demonstrations here, these new units appear to offer nice ease-of-use, affordability and - most importantly - a wow factor that can make all the difference in critical business presentations.
Here are my picks for cool small-business-ready pico projectors.
View gallery: CES: The year of the tiny projector 
Features-
In a tough economy, more business owners are bartering for the stuff they need. More -
In Oregon, the Recovery Act is paying for a local small business to protect nearby communities from wildfires. More -
Smart entrepreneurs are now doing deals in 140 characters or less on Twitter. More -
As more customers choose - or are forced - to fill prescriptions by mail, independent pharmacies are struggling to survive. More -
A Texas hospitality company considers where to invest and where to cut back to weather the recession. More -
How 7 innovative companies are inspiring workers and boosting the bottom line. More -
42 startups duked it out in the world's most lucrative business plan competition. We trailed one team to the bitter end. More
Especially in a tough economy, plentiful job opportunities are key to making a great place to live. These 25 counties have experienced the most job growth over the last eight years. More
Holmdel, N.J., residents pull in more than $159,000 a year. Which other places have high incomes? More
Sellers everywhere have had to shave asking prices to attract buyers -- even in Money's Best Places to Live. Here are homes with some of the biggest price cuts in the top 10 cities. More
More Small Business
