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 
-
Every restaurateur knows about Cursed Locations, the addresses where no venture survives. More -
Detroit's churches are plowing millions into redeveloping local housing and businesses. More -
Winepod attracted a wait list of eager buyers and millions from investors. Then came the recession. More -
As other major banks withdrew, Wells Fargo stepped up its small business lending. More -
Designer Chuck Comeau set up his manufacturing in Plainville -- 240 miles away from a major airport. More
We've run a dinner theater for three decades. We've been operating at a loss for the last couple of years, and are unable to get a loan. We even closed for two months this summer to save money. We don't know what to do. More
Many of Bernie Madoff's victims would like to have a piece of the felonious financier. Now they can. This week hundreds of his and Ruth's possessions go up for auction. More
This little Italian car has the potential to be popular but it's far from a sure bet. Chrysler hopes it can deliver. More
Across the nation, the deepening economic downturn is fueling anxiety among everyday folks. See what's got them worried and how they're coping. More
More Small Business
