After comparing the M2 and M2e, I went and bought the M2e. There wasn’t much difference between the two, except the M2e was slightly cheaper, slightly less brighter, and was not listed as supporting 3D. This article will go through doing an initial setup of the M2e and list some of the things I had discovered with the M2e.
Unboxing the ViewSonic M2e
The box containing the M2e is surprisingly big. The device itself is about the same size as an old ADSL router. The box came with the power adapter, which plugs into the M2e, and comes with different types of power cords for different regions’ power outlet styles. It has a remote control and batteries supplied, as well as a projector case for carrying the M2e.
Configuring the M2e: Initial Setup
There were no instructions in the box. I didn’t bother to search online for the manual and decided to just see how I go configuring it. For my setup, I have deliberately set the ViewSonic at an angle to the wall to test out its Auto Keystone.
Steps
At this point, the projector is ready for an input source to start displaying. However, the screen is not very rectangular due to the way my projector was placed relative to the wall.
Configuring the Horizontal and Vertical Keystone
Because of the angle of the projector to the wall, the image will be skewed, as you can see from the screenshot. The Auto Keystone didn’t really do a good job, so I would have to configure the Horizontal and Vertical Keystone manually. My wall probably didn’t reflect enough signals back to the projector to adjust the keystone settings. Use the remote to navigate to the Setting option and press OK. Navigate to the Basic Settings icon and press OK. Use the down arrow on the remote to highlight Auto Keystone. Use the right or left arrow to change Enable to Disable. This will then show the V Keystone and H Keystone values. Highlight V Keystone and H Keystone and use the remote’s left and right arrow keys to adjust the values until you can see the contents are displayed on a nice rectangular screen. You may also need to align the projector to get the best results.
Update the Firmware
The next thing you should do is update the firmware in case there are bug fixes to the original release. Navigate to the Firmware Upgrade icon, which is also in the Setting menu. Since we have connected the projector to Wi-Fi and the internet, we can just select Software Update Online.
App Center
The M2e comes with an App Center, based on Aptoide rather than the Google Play Store. There is a very limited number of apps that are available to be installed in the Viewsonic modified App Store. You can install Netflix, Prime, and a few other apps. If you’ve got a Prime and Netflix account, this will get you up and running and be able to stream straight away. You can install apps that are not available in the App Store by downloading an .apk app file and installing it. You can either download the file from your PC and transfer it to the Viewsonic M2e via USB or use the Chrome browser on the projector to download it. The Chrome browser can be installed from the App Store. You can use the on-screen keyboard to type and use the remote control’s arrows to navigate the fields and hyperlinks. You can also plug in a USB mouse to make it easier to navigate. The Viewsonic has the File Management app, which you can use to browse to the .apk file and install it. The File Management app is on the initial screen when you turn the projector on. I have tried installing DisneyPlus by downloading and installing its .apk file. Unfortunately, it only allows you to log in with your account, but it will not let you stream any movies or shows. It seems the Viewsonic Projector is not one of the many allowed devices to run DisneyPlus.
Plugging an External Source
My recommendation is to forget about the built-in App Center but instead purchase an Apple TV or Google Chromecast with Google TV or similar devices and use their Apps. I’ve got an Apple TV (4k), Google Chromecast with Google TV, and I tried them both on the M2e. They both look great. I don’t have a special projector screen and only use my white wall, and the picture quality is still very good. For portability, I attached a tripod to the M2e and use the Google Chromecast with Google TV with it. The room doesn’t have to be that dark, and the picture quality is amazing. Of course, during the day, it is harder to see the image, so you would really have to try darkening the room. In the evening, you can even have a light on nearby and the image is still bright enough to watch and you don’t have to be in the dark. The sound is very good. It uses Harman Kardon speakers.
Motion Smoothing
The original Viewsonic M2 model has motion smoothing. Motion smoothing sometimes causes shows and movies to have the soap opera effect. I won’t talk about the soap opera effect in this article, but needless to say, if you’ve seen it, you will know what I mean. Some people like it, and some people don’t. The original M2 had it turned on automatically, and a later firmware update allows the motion smoothing to be turned off. However, the M2e does not have the option to turn it on or off. When I was first using it, there was no motion smoothing. Then one day, I don’t know exactly what settings I used, it’s showing mild soap opera effects on a lot of the shows and movies I streamed. I quite enjoy it as the effect seems to bring out more details, such as the way someone walks, and you seem to even notice creases in the actor’s clothing. In some shows, it seems to give a sense of depth in the scenery. Sometimes, in some shows, it looks like you are seeing actors wearing a costume rather than just seeing the characters they are playing. Since the M2e does not advertise that it can do motion smoothing, it is possible that this soap opera effect that I am seeing is just an illusion caused by the colours that are used in the shows or movies.
Conclusion
The Viewsonic M2e Projector is a very good projector. I am happy with my purchase. The Full HD image quality is excellent even when shining to a white wall, and not a special projector screen. The colours are very good, except some shades of blue or purple can look too blue or purple, and sometimes look “electric”. But I don’t really care about that as I care more about the overall quality of the picture, and it did not disappoint me. The sound is very good. Out of 5, I would have to give the M2e a 4.5. It lost 0.5 points due to the “electric” blue. This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. © 2022 sengstar2005
