Looking to replace projectors with Touchscreen Televisions. What to consider?

[snagrat]

I thought that firstly you need the Smart Notebook license (about £300) and then Advantage to have newer version and support.

 

The Advantage is a fixed price regardless of hardware I think

[ass17]

We looking into replacing our 65" smart boards for 65" smart interactive flat panels (4065 model), I dare say they for one thing will be of similar price to an interactive monitor and probably lighter in weight. But what is most important is child proof and bright enough and sensitive. Our bursar saw a demo of a Promethean board that had a chair thrown at it, didn't break due to gorilla glass or something as strong!

[tmcd35]

I thought that firstly you need the Smart Notebook license (about £300) and then Advantage to have newer version and support.

 

The Advantage is a fixed price regardless of hardware I think

 

Quite possible, I may have misunderstood the quote I got for advantage. I can't put my hands on it right now (is on my desk *somewhere*). I could have sworn the the annual price for the Promethean boards was significantly higher than the annual price for the Smart boards. As I say, I'd love to be wrong as I can re-evaluate our long term plan around different choices of boards. Like a lot of places we're heavily invested in Smart now, changing would be a pain, so we have to get this right.

 

EDIT: I've re-dug out the quote and have very obvious reading comprehension skills deficiencies. You are right, the £300 licence included the 1st year advantage, then advantage at the same cost after that! Bonus! I'll adjust our plans accordingly (after a trip to Specsavers!)

Edited June 23, 2015 by tmcd35

[ProjectorCentre]

Hi there,

 

I would seriously recommend the Clevertouch units, either the V Series or Plus units.

Both come with integrated Android O/S and have a vast array of free software, that will remain free forever.

 

If you're looking to buy direct, Genee are the only ones that do this, much to the displeasure of suppliers.

Edited June 25, 2015 by elsiegee40

[paulellam]

We have started rolling out/in lol the Smart 4065 and very pleased with them, they look great and just work as you wish. We trialled all brands and concluded this was the one for us.

 

My advice is trial as many as you can/onsite for a few days let a get the staff involved, get feedback and make a desicion based on your findings as once you roll out you will carry a heavy can.

 

I know of others who purchased on whim (I wont name the board brand as its not the boards fault) and it was not the correct product for the school and staff, they regret not trialling other brands.

 

Check my earlier thread for some of our feedback, but make the desicion based on your school needs.

 

Only tip I make is avoid non anti-glare boards, in my view antiglare should be standard.

[jmak]

I'm a new convert to interactive projectors having tried a couple recently. Now that they have finger touch capability as well as pen, they're equally suitable for our younger users. In my tests, they tracked better than our 680 Smartboards. Hitachi and Epson come with a 5 year warranty at the minute - Epson told me (and I've checked rrp on their website) that bulbs cost around £50 once the guarantee has expired and also that the filter is a replaceable cartridge with 5 year life, so no cleaning. Not sure how clogged it will get - but if it's under warranty, it's their problem. Obviously projecting onto a wall or whiteboard gives you an unbeatably resilient surface and better viewing angles than any flat panel. Advertised prices seem to start at around £900 for Hitachi and £1200 for Epson - I'm sure there are deals out there for the more tenacious amongst you!

 

You still have the same issue with Smart licencing, but you can buy a bundle through Epson (not sure about Hitachi) which seems to be considerably cheaper than the prices mentioned above. I really want to wean our staff off Smart Notebook, but that's another story......

[DavidScott]

Just to clarify that SMART subscription costs under Notebook Advantage do not vary according to hardware - if you have paid for a Notebook license for use on non-SMART panels it is yours to keep (this allows you to use Notebook on it) but after your included subscription period has ended then you will need to re-subscribe to keep Notebook up to date and for certain items to continue working.

 

The price for a Notebook license key for use on a non-SMART panel is typically SRP £299 including 1 year of Advantage or SRP £349 if 3 years is included.

SMART interactive panels include the Notebook license key and 3 years of Notebook Advantage subscription as part of the panel price. They also come with 5 years onsite warranty too these days.

 

Notebook Advantage subscriptions are available typically around SRP £34 per display for 1 year or SRP £75 for 3 years. It doesn't matter if you have SMART or not now as you have acquired the Notebook license. This can be reduced if you are looking to provide the latest Notebook for your school by way of a Site license purchase - this can take the price down to SRP £16 for the 1 year product but certain rules are administered, the main one being that you need to have Notebook licensed for all classrooms, either by owning a SMART interactive display or buying Notebook licenses for rooms that do not have it.

 

Your local channel partner can provide you with a personalised quote, and VeryPC who have been part of the conversation here are very good (every pun intended)

[Townsend]

I don't think you will have a site licence on the SMART - I don't think they actually exist anymore.

I may be a bit late with this but I would suggest that - if you want the SMART software on something of that size then you need to look at the BENQ RP790.

That will be by far the best value option for you if you want to use the SMART software

[localzuk]

I don't think you will have a site licence on the SMART - I don't think they actually exist anymore.

 

Site license means something slightly different to SMART. It means "buying licenses for every classroom that doesn't have SMART equipment in it already", rather than buying individual classroom licenses piecemeal. It isn't actually a "single license covers all machines" site license, so it is badly named really.

[Guest WMITTech]

Don't, they are an absolute pain!

[dcsdne]

We moved from projectors to Promethean Active Panels this summer. Staff/Teachers/Students all love them.

[AlfaOggie]

I am a Smartboard licensed installer and have been for 5+ years now and other than certain Government Official companies who insist on using the Smart products due to extensive software testing and approval I'm finding that I'm removing more Smartboard based products and replacing with the newer all in one interactive Epson 595wi's /1430 wi Projectors which by purchasing with a wifi dongle gives you wireless Laptop connectivity with the advantage of dual finger touch so no special pens required.

 

I have also fitted several C-Touch and Clevertouch systems the latter being the better screen at this moment. The company I work for purchases the Clevertouch from Sahara so not limited to a single UK based company as mentioned above.

 

The only Smartboard based product that work well are the expensive Smartboard Go-Wire which still require a touchscreen of sorts to use with your PC/Laptops but there is no license issues and will work without any software installation as its built in to the cable!.

 

Just my 2 penneth worth!.