Hands-On With the Microvision Pico P Projector

It seems like it was just yesterday that the LAPTOP crew glimpsed a very early build of Microvision’s pico projector (”The Show”) at CES 2008. The prototype was raw, but held promise, and we were eager to see how the product would turn out once it was closer to completion. Today, we had a chance to follow up, and we’re happy to report that Microvision’s product (now known as “Pico P”) is coming along quite nicely.

Unlike “pocket projectors,” the Pico P is a truly mobile video device that slides easily into a pocket. We had time to play with a prototype (in the video below) and it was incredibly light in hand; it weighed about as much as a cell phone. In fact, the final production model is going to match the iPhone’s dimensions almost dead-on.

Video quality was quite good even in the prototype stage, and as it’s powered by lasers it always remains in focus; no adjustments are required. It looks to be a great accessory for notebooks, cell phones, and other mobile devices that contain content that you’d like to project onto a wall, floor, ceiling, or the back of an airplane seat (you can expect approximately 2 hours of battery life). Microvision has partnered with Motorola, so hopefully we’ll see the Pico P engine integrated into phones (no ETA was given). Check the video below for availability, pricing, and hands-on sweetness.