To support the growing use of visual display technology in the education market, NEC Solutions, Inc. has announced that its new VT460 portable desktop projector is available with a SMARTer Kids Foundation grant in North America for $995. Additionally, as part of the "NEC Idol" promotion in the U.S. and Canada, one school that purchases a new VT Series projector and submits a short video demonstrating its ease of use will win $50,000. (Complete contest details are available on the NEC Visual Systems Web site at www.necvisualsystems.com.)

The new VT Series projectors, which include the VT460, VT560 and VT660 models, are NEC's first to feature automatic keystone correction, giving users the ability to turn the projector on and instantly get a squared image.  The projectors' direct-access keys for RGB, video, and s-video let users switch between sources with the touch of a button.  In addition to interface features, NEC's Advanced AutoSense also automatically syncs the projector with a computer signal with no addition required adjustments.

The 1500 ANSI lumen, SVGA resolution VT460 comes with an estimated retail price of $1,199 ($995 with SMARTer Kids Grant).  The XGA resolution, 1300 ANSI lumen VT560 is priced at $1,795 and the XGA resolution, 1700 ANSI lumen VT660 is $1,995. All three projectors are a portable 6.6 pounds and replacement lamps for all three models run $299, lasting up t0 3,000 hours in Eco-Mode. The VT Series projectors are scheduled to begin shipping this month.

(http://www.necsolutions-am.com), (http://www.smarterkids.org)