Because these smaller projectors are beginning to dominate, some industry observers are even predicting the portable category will eventually disappear entirely as projectors become lighter and brighter. Personally, I'm not so sure about that. I happen to like portable projectors, because they have a wider variety of interfaces and features, as well as screen-scorching brightness, and they aren't so heavy that you can't carry them around. That's why I think the category that's in the biggest trouble is conference-room projectors weighing from 24 to 50 pounds. True, these projectors have more inputs and interfaces, but it's hard to justify an extra 20 pounds for a few more inputs, and many of today's portable projectors can match their brightness.
Lighter projectors are easier to install, too.
If that's not a convincing enough argument, I've also heard a number of people are buying ultraportables and bolting them to the ceiling in fixed installations. For instance, if you believe what the manufacturers say, demand for the new fleet of 3-pound projectors introduced at this year's Infocomm trade show is supposedly high. But actually finding available units is a challenge, because most of the 3-pounders evidently aren't shipping yet. The manufacturers are still tweaking the designs so they have a chance of hitting their published specs. Although the designs are completed, shortages of key components have made it impossible to make enough projectors to ship.