Projectors Vs. Interactive TVs

[stevenlong1985]

Hey just want to see what the everyone is using and your opinions?

 

 

I personally still in favor of projectors as they are cheaper and can provide a large display (84" and beyond)

when a Interactive TV cost about £1000 more over a projector for 64" screen.

in my eyes 64" isn't great for for large classrooms and when especially sitting at the back.

 

just reminds when back in the 80s / 90s and it was wet play and the TV on wheels rolled in and we all had to cram around to watch it.

[HBPS]

70" interactive Ctouch boards in class rooms and in breakout rooms 55" ctouch.

[synaesthesia]

There is absolutely no argument which is better in the vast majority of scenarios, and that's the interactive TVs. Price, as you say, is the big downfall though. They're dropping in price a lot but will be a while to go yet however I'm sure they won't be far off the same TCO (I haven't done the figures on that, would be interested to see some) as projectors so whilst the latter may appear to be cheaper the reality in the long run may be different.

[jmak]

I did this exercise recently, pricing 65" boards. Our Smart Boards are EoL, so we were looking at interactive projectors and I'd allowed £1200 for the Epsons which come with a Smart Notebook licence for that board. This compares with £1400 for BenQ boards without Smart licences - although they do come with Oktopus which natively opens Notebook files. If you decide you need Smart Notebook licences, they came out significantly more expensive than the 65" 6065 Smart panels over 5 years. Most expensive of all would be Clevertouch or CTouch with Smart licences. I was slightly surprised at how the TCO came out - I'd expected it to be close, but not cheaper.

 

That also doesn't take into account install costs (flat panels should be either more straightforward to install yourself or cheaper to get someone else in for) and no cleaning of filters. 65" UHD screens are clear from quite a distance.

[Jawloms]

We're about to purchase a load of 80" Genee boards for just over £2.7k each. 7yr warranty.

[pcstru]

I still favour projectors; I can't find screens at that size (84in) that compare in cost. I can have an ultra short throw fitted + sound and board substantially cheaper than any display that size. I also think a matt whiteboard is good for dual use where a display can't be used for anything else.

[NB9457]

I've been looking at this route. There are a lot of things to consider and I favour the TVs, the long term cost is less of a projector, for us at least:

 

Interactive screen:

-One off cost

-All in one solution

-Zero maintenance

-Long warranties

-Brighter picture in highly lit/open spaces

-Full HD

-Look a lot nicer too

-Easier to install

-Est 7 Year life span

 

Projectors:

-More expensive for Full HD

-More costly to install

-Est 4 year life span

-Ongoing cost for lamps, filters, cleaning/compressed air

-Multiple objects required to make a full interactive system in some cases

 

We worked out over 7 years, a screen would be a lower cost, require almost zero maintenance (mostly will be user error), better warranties and an over better experience for staff.

 

BenQ 65" Panels are £1500exVAT, chuck in £200 for fitting and a bracket it's totting in at just over £1700. And as I said, long term, in 7 years you'd likely be on the 2nd projector.

[stevenlong1985]

its a very tight budget this year, for the same cost of an Epson screen with everything 84" screen compare to a Samsung 64"

 

I've spoken to a lot of staff and they all preferred the to larger projector screen over one smart TV screen we already have.

 

they said the screen look nice, bright and clear but they have zoom into their documents at 200% to show the students, but as you zoom into a word document you only get half of the page.

a few children have said from where they are sitting,they have to move closer to the screen (anyone from about 6-7 meters away)

[Andrew_C]

A projector and screen doesn't commit you to using it instead of the whiteboard (assuming screen pulls down over board) whereas a TV will be in the way. Depends of course on users, level, subject etc.

[lyricalway]

When I look back through support tickets the vast majority were for issues related to sound/projector/IWB. Since replaced by Interactive LCD panel - almost zero. So IMO it is a no brainer!

[ComcenCraig]

Every situation is different. Each school I work with have unique circumstances and requirements and each involves a bespoke solution to them. All I can say is that since touchscreens dropped in price early last year my projector work has practically vanished when it comes to an area 70" or less. It's become no contest - touchscreens every time. For larger area's though I would say projectors are still the way to go. How long that lasts is dependant on the price of screens but eventually it will come to pass that screens start taking over this part of the market too. People forget projectors have been around for decades and it's old technology. They were always going to be replaced by an alternative at some point.

[mukz]

Does anyone use portable devices for staff? Ie use something like miracast to display the screen? Leaving just a tv on the wall?

[Blue_Cookeh]

We took out all of our Casio XJ-A130 projectors a few years ago and replaced them with CleverTouch screens. Staff find them a lot easier to use since they're basically just televisions, and we make sure to get ones with built in systems so they don't even need to use their laptop if they wish. We've found that staff really like using the class sets of iPads to AirPlay across to them, too. It makes showing the kids' work off really quick and easy.

 

We're getting a couple of new classrooms this summer and have opted for the SMART 6065 interactive displays with AM30 collaboration module and Intel NUCs. The staff absolutely love the new tech they're putting into these things and they're costing roughly the same we used to spend on IWBs 7-8 years ago.

 

As others have said though, in larger spaces like our school halls we've kept large projectors + screens up, there's no way we'd ever get a CleverTouch/SMART product to compete with those image sizes.

 

I should also say, we do provide standard whiteboards alongside the screens though, just in case. We wouldn't want OFSTED turning up on a day where a screen isn't working without one

Edited May 24, 2017 by Blue_Cookeh

[mjk]

Does anyone use portable devices for staff? Ie use something like miracast to display the screen? Leaving just a tv on the wall?

 

 

Chromebooks and Google cast for Education work nicely for this.

I think the problem is that TV's don't have the longevity that commercial displays have; and if you look at the cost of a commercial display vs an interactive LED screen there is very little in it.

[TechMonkey]

As others have said TCO is where it is at, and not just initial cost, install cost, bulb and projector replacement but technical time. Interactive displays don't need orientating, don't need maintenance, are hardier, need less installation and last longer. It is horses for courses though. If you have a classroom that is the size of an aircraft hanger then a projector is the only way to go.

 

We have gone the route of screens with PC modules in so we are covered for future developments, much simpler than even having a NUC or other SFF bolted to the wall next to the screen.

 

Our issue is actually some of our classrooms are too small for interactive displays as a lot have dropped their smaller offerings.