Epson Brightlink Pro 1430Wi Projector Review

Based on my earlier review of the similar BrightLink 595Wi, I expected Epson’s BrightLink Pro 1430Wi to be a great performer, and it didn't disappoint.  This top-of-the line interactive business projector offers similar performance and interactivity as the 595Wi but adds a external control pad that should prove convenient in a business environment.

Sharpness, often a challenge with ultra short throw projectors, is not an issue for the 1430Wi, as it offers excellent focus, rivaling traditional throw distance projectors.

This model is well suited for installation just above a white board in a corporate boardroom, conference room or training room.  It’s also very suitable for use at trade shows and other events where it can quickly be set up for presentations where interactivity is needed, and fast, smooth operation is demanded.

Networking features are advanced.  Network administrators should find all the features they are looking for.  The 1430Wi has both wired – LAN networking, and Wireless.  Wireless is accomplished by simply inserting an optional wireless dongle into its slot, and, of course configuring with the projector's wireless networking menus.

Being a business interactive projector, I would expect it to normally be mounted to a wall, using the optional Epson mount (model V12H675020 with a suggest price of $209), just few inches above the vertical projection surface (typically a wall mounted whiteboard).  As an added bonus, it can be used to project down onto a horizontal 'screen' including using a table top as the display surface.  This creates an interactive table.  That may work well for some commercial or business applications such as for  an engineering station, or a museum display.  The interactivity is the key reason for these types of setups and the 1430Wi with both interactive pens and multi-finger touch sensing enables really advanced interactive capabilities.

The following illustration from Epson shows the typical wall mounting for creating an interactive whiteboard.

Interactive Whiteboard

The following illustration from Epson shows the mounting setup for creating an interactive table.

Interactive Table

The 1430Wi comes with two interactive pens and a pen case along with a "finger touch module", that enables the simultaneous touch locations of up to 6 fingers to be detected.

Remember, if you plan to use this projector interactively, that a traditional screen surface really doesn’t work with the supplied interactive pens.  A whiteboard or a “hybrid” combination of screen and whiteboard work better.  The primary reason are the pens.  They are pressure sensitive, so pressing against a traditional screen surface is just going to push that surface in an inch or so, before the pen’s contacts click.  In other words, you’ll end up stretching the screen surface, not a good thing.  Also frequent finger touches to a traditional "soft" screen surface would, over time, soil and produce wear on the screen surface.

This projector review is included in our 2015-2016 Best Classroom Projectors Report, which is sponsored by Epson America.

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