Selling second hand Clevertouch boards

[mundlim]

Anyone know if there is a company that would be interested in buying second hand 65" Clevertouch boards? We have decided to go for Smart boards and want to sell our 1 year old Clevertouch boards. Obviously I will try local schools, but just wondered if other possibilities may be out there?

[Tesla]

Slightly off topic, apologies, but why are you getting rid of them???

[mundlim]

We bought a couple to start a rolling replacement of our old Smart Interactive boards, but it turns out the teachers don't like them. - Partly I think because they are used to the Smart software, but there have been other complaints about Lynx is slow to convert Smart files and the conversion is not always accurate. Head wants to cut losses and restart the replacement programme using Smart.

[mavhc]

Can't you use the smart software with the clevertouch boards?

[Katy]

Can't you use the smart software with the clevertouch boards?

You have to pay an insane licensing fee to use Smart (or Promethean) software on a non-Smart (Promethean) device. Not sure on the Smart cost but Promethean charge almost £1,000 per device.

[localzuk]

You have to pay an insane licensing fee to use Smart (or Promethean) software on a non-Smart (Promethean) device. Not sure on the Smart cost but Promethean charge almost £1,000 per device.

I'm not sure of the current "non-SMART" license cost, but when we bought them a while back, they were around £300 per device.

[TechMonkey]

The licensing has changed very recently (last month or so) and it is based on the percentage of smart boards you have on site. If over 75% it isn't that bad, but speak to a supplier (Very PC is one) to make sure you have correct info.

[synaesthesia]

It may be worth popping them in the For Sale section. I'm personally interested in how much you'd be wanting for them as we would like to branch out into using touchscreens but haven't had the budget to do so.

[Cazale]

I work for a school in Sheffield that's transitioning whiteboards to Clevertouches. How much do you want for them?

[CadlaM]

Again, slightly off topic, when I last looked around thinking we could use Clevertouch (or other) in a new building as few of the teachers that moved over had much investment in Smart Documents. At Bett, several suppliers said " Yeh, we can open Smart", but it seemed to always mean exporting individually as a common IWB format, then opening on other suppliers software, then Saving As. Pain! We stuck with Smart, but not the then very expensive E70, I think it was. You're going for LED/LCD new Smart boards?

 

I have made inquiry of my supplier who does CT and Smart installs. Will let you know if he's interested.

 

I find the new type Smart very good as they don't need Aligning very often if at all. Just clean the dust off reflectors and LEDs regularly. Downside is you still have a projector with each, so not so green.

[sidewinder]

Have you actually got any Smart interactive displays (not Smartboards) before you make this decision? We have some Clevertouch and some Smart (6065's and 4065's) and while Clevertouch hasn't been perfect, the Smart displays have been infinitely more problematic. They are a constant pain, probably the most frustrating part of my job. I wouldn't touch another one with a bargepole.

 

Every time I think I've sorted one, teachers are complaining it's missing out parts oif writing - compare this to Clevertouch where writing is flawless every time. For software we still use Smart 11 , which isn't going to last forever but is fine with Clevertouch for now and saves us having to pay anything. Hoping eventually to get staff using something like Onenote, anything that's hardware neutral.

[mavhc]

Again, slightly off topic, when I last looked around thinking we could use Clevertouch (or other) in a new building as few of the teachers that moved over had much investment in Smart Documents. At Bett, several suppliers said " Yeh, we can open Smart", but it seemed to always mean exporting individually as a common IWB format, then opening on other suppliers software, then Saving As. Pain! We stuck with Smart, but not the then very expensive E70, I think it was. You're going for LED/LCD new Smart boards?

 

I have made inquiry of my supplier who does CT and Smart installs. Will let you know if he's interested.

 

I find the new type Smart very good as they don't need Aligning very often if at all. Just clean the dust off reflectors and LEDs regularly. Downside is you still have a projector with each, so not so green.

 

Who could have predicted that not using open source software would cause problems in the future with vendor lock in!

 

Which is the new type? We have the 800s with the 4 cameras here

[BenQ_Royce]

Oktopus bundled with the BenQ's natively opens files, as I'm sure the Lynx software with Clevertouch can. IMHO both brands offer a more feature rich display product.

[jon_nais]

The promethean charge is £500 at the most I gather, but depending on quantity it would be less.

To be honest we have just had Ctouch, Clevertouch and promethean 75" 4k screens in to test and the Promethean is just better, not helpful if you use SMART admittedly, but I was very surprised in the lack of responsiveness of the Ctouch and Clevertouch, their software was naff too.

[Katy]

The promethean charge is £500 at the most I gather, but depending on quantity it would be less.

Has Promethean told you this? We were told much closer to £1000 only a few months ago....

[jon_nais]

Yes it was Promethean who told us this.

They did say this was the RRP for it, but that it should cost less especially if you are buying more.

[Katy]

Yes it was Promethean who told us this.

They did say this was the RRP for it, but that it should cost less especially if you are buying more.

Hmm, we must be being ripped off by the reseller then. Luckily we don't have anything non-Promethean so aren't affected. Still even at £500 a go... I wouldn't pay 50p for that software, hate it.

[mavhc]

https://github.com/OpenBoard-org/OpenBoard/releases/latest is a decent replacement, free, open source, doesn't need installing.

[mavhc]

https://github.com/OpenBoard-org/OpenBoard/releases/latest is a decent replacement, free, open source, doesn't need installing.

[Promethean-Matt]

The software Activinsprire is free when you purchase a Promethean Panel. If you already have alternative panels and just need the software I suggest calling your local Av supplier and asking for a quote. Also if you do purchase Promethean panels but still have other panels that need Activinspire then we could have a conversation about this via your Av supplier.

[ComcenCraig]

Anyone know if there is a company that would be interested in buying second hand 65" Clevertouch boards? We have decided to go for Smart boards and want to sell our 1 year old Clevertouch boards. Obviously I will try local schools, but just wondered if other possibilities may be out there?

If you were wanting to still use the Smart software, your supplier should of advised you to purchase Benq or Iiyama screens instead of Clevertouches. Much cheaper and no need for any file conversion. This is not to say Clevertouches are bad - they are very good pieces of kit and they aren't market leaders for nothing. It's just your situation called for an alternative solution.

[lyricalway]

Have you considered RM EasiTeach. We have a site licence and it works on any brand of board giving a consistency to teachers moving around the classrooms, some with projector/IWB, some with Interactice LCD panels.

[mavhc]

If you were wanting to still use the Smart software, your supplier should of advised you to purchase Benq or Iiyama screens instead of Clevertouches. Much cheaper and no need for any file conversion. This is not to say Clevertouches are bad - they are very good pieces of kit and they aren't market leaders for nothing. It's just your situation called for an alternative solution.

 

What do the Benq/Iiyama screens do that means you can use your Smart stuff?

[ComcenCraig]

What do the Benq/Iiyama screens do that means you can use your Smart stuff?

Nothing. But that's the point. They don't provide you with software which you have to pay for but are unlikely to use. They have an android O/S and a writing app and that's it. All touchscreens do is share the screen from your laptop, which you can then control from the touchscreen. So just plug your laptop/pc in the back of it, fire up the Smart software and off you go. Provided you bought the special licence of course. Or are using something ancient like Notebook 11.

[mavhc]

Nothing. But that's the point. They don't provide you with software which you have to pay for but are unlikely to use. They have an android O/S and a writing app and that's it. All touchscreens do is share the screen from your laptop, which you can then control from the touchscreen. So just plug your laptop/pc in the back of it, fire up the Smart software and off you go. Provided you bought the special licence of course. Or are using something ancient like Notebook 11.

 

Same is true of any whiteboard then.

 

Hope they committed to security updates for android for 10 years