Panasonic Introduces 3.5-pound Go-Anywhere Projector Targeted for the "Sub-$1,000" Category

SECAUCUS, NJ -Panasonic breaks the 4-pound barrier for 1,200 lumenprojectors with its new 3.5-pound PT-LM1U SVGA LCD projector. Thestylish, super-slim PT-LM1U offers an unmatched combination of weight,brightness and estimated street price. The feature-packed,ultra-portable PT-LM1U delivers a brilliant 1,200 ANSI lumens ofbrightness and a bevy of time-saving and anti-theft functions-all at anestimated price of $999.

"The PT-LM1U has the ease-of-use, time-saving and theft deterrencefeatures customers desire, plus it's ultra light, bright andeconomically priced," said Steve Abend, Director, Panasonic Broadcast'sPresentations Systems Group. "With its low cost of ownership, thePT-LM1U delivers superb value for cost-conscious professionals, fromthe mobile road warrior to small-to-mid size businesses, from corporatetraining and sales and marketing managers to the first-time user."

Thanks to its high-performance optical system and high-efficiency130 UHM lamp, the PT-LM1U produces high contrast (400:1 ratio) imagesat a crisp, sharp 800 x 600 native SVGA native resolution (whileproviding advanced resizing technology to support UXGA). Utilizingartificial intelligence (in high lamp power mode), the projectorinstantaneously adjusts lamp brightness to optimize on-screen imaging.For darker scenes, it automatically lowers the brightness to producedeeper blacks and make light areas "pop out," improving overall imagequality and heightening enjoyment of DVD and other videoprogramming.

Time Saving Set-up, Host of Theft Deterrence Functions

For super quick set-up, the PT-LM1U has a multitude of intuitiveplug-and-play functions including one-touch auto set-up with verticaland horizontal Digital Keystone Correction. Its Speed Start functionmeans that an image appears only five seconds after pressing the powerbutton. When the presentation is completed, a Direct Power Off functiondisconnects the power cable, allowing the presenter to immediately movethe projector while the cooling fan keeps operating until the lamp iscooled. Its Auto Power Off feature permits the user to specify a time(from 15 to 60 minutes in five-minute increments) after which theprojector automatically enters standby mode if unused.

The PT-LM1U is outfitted with a host of anti-theft functionsincluding a security lock, user password protection, control panellock-out (which can only be canceled by the unit's remote control), andtext superimposing whereby a user can program a text line-- such as thecompany's name, URL or warning of choice -- at the bottom of theprojected image.

Impressive List of Standard Features

Tailor-made for users of notebook PCs and DVD devices, its HDTVcompatibility ensures that the PT-LM1U can automatically resize 1080iand 720p images for 16:9 wide-aspect display; 480p, 480i and 576icomponent video signals and S-Video can also be displayed in either 4:3or 16:9. The unit provides wide compatibility ranging from NTSC, NTSC4.43, PAL, PAL-M, PAL-N, PAL-60 and SECAM. The projector is also sRGBcompatible to ensure uniform, accurate color reproduction with othersRGB-compatible imaging devices.

The PT-LM1U also includes an Index Window, which allows any image ina presentation (RGB or video input) to be frozen, stored in memory anddisplayed on the left side of the screen, while display of subsequentimages continues on the right. The unit has selectable colortemperature (standard/high/low) and picture mode(standard/dynamic/natural) that matches picture quality to the sourceand room conditions.

Among its invaluable features are: two lamp power settings (high andlow); whisper-quiet operation (only 30dB in low lamp mode); advancedshutter function for image and sound muting; projection on screensranging in size from 33" to 300"; a power 3X digital zoom; built-in2-watt speaker; eight-language on-screen menu with graphical icons;discrete S-video and video inputs for connecting two DVD/video sourcesat the same time; fan control for high elevations (above 4,600 feet);still mode; freeze function; and a card-type remote control. Thedimensions of its space-saving compact body are 10-3/32" W x 2-11/32" Hx 8-7/32" D.

The PT-LM1U is available in December.

Options include the ET-PKM1 ceiling mount bracket for permanentinstallation and the ET-RM200 full-function wireless mouse remotecontrol with laser pointer.

Panasonic offers a high level of service and support with a two-yearor 2,000-hour limited warranty (whichever comes first) on theprojector, a 90-day warranty on the user-replaceable lamp module and a24-hour "ZipIt" projector exchange program.

For more information on the PT-LM1U and Panasonic's complete line ofprojectors, visit www.panasonic.com/projectors or phone1-800-528-8601.

Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. is a leadingsupplier of broadcast, professional video and presentation products andsystems. Panasonic Broadcast is a unit company of Matsushita ElectricCorporation of America, the principal North America subsidiary ofMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC), one of the world'sleading developers and producers of electronic and electric productsfor consumer, business and industrial use.