Because of my work in IT, I get to set up and use my share of projectors. While they all basically do the same thing – put your computer's desktop up on the wall – some have features that make them stand out.

The BenQ Joybee Mini Projector GP1 is a little powerhouse.

I wasn't really aware of the mini-projector category until this year. I've seen photos of some tiny projectors – the size of a cellphone – but I wouldn't want to rely on one of those for a big presentation to the board of directors.

The GP1 ($499, www.benq.us) is a bit larger, at 5.3 by 4.75 by 2.24 inches, and it offers a few features that will attract attention.

Most important, the GP1 has a USB port that will accept input from a flash drive. That means you can run your presentation or show a movie without a computer.

Your PowerPoint presentation will have to be saved as JPG files, but that's easy to do.

There are also the usual inputs for your computer's VGA cable or the familiar yellow composite input. Unfortunately, the diminutive size of the projector means there aren't actual input ports on the back – there's a "multi-input cable" that has the VGA and composite connections on one end and a small flat proprietary connection on the other end. The cable works well, but it's a showstopper if you lose it or forget to pack it.

You can also show content from your iPod with the optional iPod connector.

The GP1 is a bulbless projector that uses LEDs as a light source instead of a traditional projection lamp. The LEDs have a lifespan of more than 20,000 hours.

If you keep track of lumens, the light output measurement for projectors, the GP1 has 100 lumens, but those are LED output lumens, so take that with a grain of salt. The output resolution is 858 by 600 pixels, and the contrast ratio is 2,000:1.

You don't have to worry about finding a white wall to project on because the GP1 has built-in color correction for five wall colors.

The GP1 can project images from 15 inches to 80 inches, but the larger the image size, the darker the room needs to be. A tripod mount is a nice addition to make placement easier.

A 2-watt onboard speaker is fine for simple presentations, but you'll want to use the headphone jack to connect some computer speakers for better sound. There's a full set of control buttons on the projector and on a credit card-size remote.

Overall, I really like the GP1. Its small size, reasonable price and vivid output make for a winning combination.Pros: Inexpensive, small, vivid output. USB input.

Cons: Proprietary input cable; external power supply is large.

Bottom line: Because it doesn't require a computer, the GP1 might be the right projector to make your backyard movie night a reality.