ViewSonic PJ258D ViewDock Projector Review
The ViewSonic PJ258D was released in 2007, and at the time, it featured a novel tool that hadn’t been introduced in many projectors: An iPod docking station. Not an iPhone, but a port for an iPod! That’s how dated the projector sounds these days. [caption id="attachment_1302" align="aligncenter" width="635"]
Viewsonic PJ258D Projector[/caption]
And that feature was the biggest selling point. The DLP-based projector was just average in other areas. For example, it offered 2,000 lumens, broadcast images in the XGA 1024x768 native resolution, and it originally retailed for $1,399 MSRP. Today, those aren’t very impressive specs, and in 2007, they weren’t that impressive either. Yet, with its iPod dock, the PJ258D did find buyers who were looking for a solution to play video from an MP3 source.
ViewSonic PJ258D: The Pros
The PJ258 did a few things right, and in some ways, it paved the way for more modern budget DLP-based projectors. Here are a few of the ViewSonic’s best features:
- Lightweight Design: Weighing just 3.9 pounds, the PJ258D was a super portable projector. Even today, 4 pounds is considered light for a projector. Plus, the ViewSonic featured a sleek piano-key black case, which was before its time.
- iPod Connectivity: The iPod dock, at the time, was a novel innovation. Now, we can see the limitation of the technology. Technology is constantly changing. The PJ258D wouldn’t support today’s iPhones. This feature, though, is built into a range of projectors today, and in many ways, the PJ258D was one of the first to popularize the idea.
- Average Lamp Life: In 2007, the average lamp life for a single-chip DLP projector was about 2,000 hours. The PJ258D was rated for 2,000 hours, with a boost to 3,000 hours in economy mode. Today, many operators are looking for replacement lamps. Fortunately, a PJ258D replacement lamp starts at $239, a small price compared to the original MSRP. The lamp part number was also known as RLC-025.
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Viewsonic PJ258D Rear Inputs[/caption]
- Poor Audio Quality: The PJ258D was equipped with a 1-watt mono-speaker. In the quietest of places, that might suffice, but it still wouldn’t be great. The audio performance was sub-par. Fortunately, the projector had an audio-out connection, and external audio was a must for this projector.
- Below-Average Image Performance: Early reviews noted a similar problem: The PJ258D was prone to the rainbow effect. Although it delivered 2,000 lumens of light with a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, the image was average at best with noticeable rainbow effect.
- Limited Connections: For a projector released in 2007, the PJ258D had a decent range of connections: S-Video, Composite-Video, and VGA inputs. Today, that would be considered a below-average range.