Smart Notebook 11 being discontinued.

[David44]

Does SMART Notebook Basic 19.1 work on non-Smart boards?

[localzuk]

Does SMART Notebook Basic 19.1 work on non-Smart boards?

The last time I checked, the license didn't allow it. You have to buy a non-SMART hardware license to use it, and even then you'll still get a watermark on the screen I believe.

[ITGURU]

Smart Notebook 19 Basic is free.

 

So we can download and install smart notebook 19 in place of 11 and still use the boards interactively?

[Primus]

So we can download and install smart notebook 19 in place of 11 and still use the boards interactively?

 

Yes that's right.

[tmoon-mint]

I have the SB580 boards working in Windows 10 with Smart 19.1, all I had to do was open device manager and look for the Smart USB Cable which was missing a driver and point it to the Smart Notebook install directory then like magic everything works again.

[CHiLL]

I have the SB580 boards working in Windows 10 with Smart 19.1, all I had to do was open device manager and look for the Smart USB Cable which was missing a driver and point it to the Smart Notebook install directory then like magic everything works again.

From my experience, you don't even need to do that, you can just run the driver setup files manually. Once SMART is installed, my script then runs the following:

"%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\SMART Technologies\SMART Product Drivers\Drivers\x64\DriverInstaller64.exe" -i "%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\SMART Technologies\SMART Product Drivers\Drivers\x64\\"
"%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\SMART Technologies\SMART Product Drivers\Drivers\x64\STI2303X64.exe" -i "%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\SMART Technologies\SMART Product Drivers\Drivers\x64\\"

The drivers are all installed and it works correctly.

[Cat_Jam148]

Some customers have reported that version 11.4 does work on Windows 10, in the sense that touch and writing work, for a period of time. The issue is related to Windows 10 security updates. Whenever those automated updates run, they delete the SMART Product drivers. That means you would need to store a copy of version 11.4 and use it to continually re-install.

One of those customers here - not had a single issue with running 11.4 on any version of Windows 10 for the last 5 years. We're running a mix of 1809 & 1909 at the moment (LTSB before that), update over WSUS regularly and haven't once had to "continually re-install" - the drivers continue to work, even using an in-palce upgrade. It may break some day, but for the time being we'll continue to use 11.4.

Edited February 5, 2020 by Cat_Jam148

[Primus]

One of those customers here - not had a single issue with running 11.4 on any version of Windows 10 for the last 5 years. We're running a mix of 1809 & 1909 at the moment (LTSB before that) and update over WSUS regularly and haven't once had to "continually re-install" - the drivers continue to work. It may break some day, but for the time being we'll continue to use 11.4.

 

Your problem will be any new PC or any PC you need to reimage will not activate, so you'll end up with 19 on those anyways and having different versions on different PCs is going to be a pain.

[Cat_Jam148]

Your problem will be any new PC or any PC you need to reimage will not activate, so you'll end up with 19 on those anyways and having different versions on different PCs is going to be a pain.

 

Indeed, I fully expect this to happen at some point. I was just pointing out that we've had no issues running it on Windows 10 and neither have any of our local schools. Anyways, the deactivation of the activation service isn't going to really impact us - I can persuade a new 11.4 install to work without activating against the server if needed, and I intend to have us on 19 by the end of this year anyway.

Edited February 5, 2020 by Cat_Jam148

[JATSO]

I have the SB580 boards working in Windows 10 with Smart 19.1, all I had to do was open device manager and look for the Smart USB Cable which was missing a driver and point it to the Smart Notebook install directory then like magic everything works again.

 

Same here, no issues, works on Windows 10-1909 its built into my image and if updates throw it out I re-install the drivers.

[DJ-1701]

I emailed Smart as we have a range of 580, 680 and 880 smartboards and are still using 11.4 this was their very useful response:

 

I have read your e-mail and I understand that you have a number of SMART board® interactive whiteboards still using version 11.4 of SMART Notebook® collaborative learning suite and would like to know what your options would be going forward.

 

I am happy to provide some options for you.

 

Let's focus on the best options for the SB680 and SBX800 series SMART Boards first as we have good news for those. The SB580 series boards create a unique situation that I will address last.

 

First to recap. version 11.4 is a legacy version which SMART Technologies has not supported for a number of years and have been encouraging customers to upgrade. However this version has continued to work for the most part on Windows 7 and MAC editions up to the launch of Mojave and Catalina.

The issue is actually with a part of our software called the SMART Product Drivers and ink. This part of our software manages communication for touch and writing between our software, the operating system and the controller on various SMART boards.

 

Customers using version 11.4 on Windows 7 are faced with the discontinence of support for Windows 7 which means an upgrade to Windows 10.

 

Windows 10 will not recognize legacy versions of SMART Product drivers and ink. SMART Technologies has been working to update our drivers to the point where drivers fro version 16.0, 17.0, 18.0 and now 19.1 remain compatible.

 

The controllers on the back of SMART board models SB600 series and up which includes SBX800 series will recognize SMART product drivers from those editions.

We reserve version 16.0 for teachers who have SMART Notebook files containing flash objects since subsequent versions do not support flash. Users needing version 16.0 will need to purchase a SMART License in order to keep the version active.

 

All other versions of SMART Notebook (17-19.1) would be compatible with your SB600 and SBX800 series SMART boards.

 

We have learned that quite often educators choose to remain with version 11.4 because at the time of this version's release (2005) activation was done with a one time license purchase. After that SMART Technologies switched to an annual subscription in order to subsidize software re-writes to keep up with changes in computer operating systems and to add new features.

 

Based on customer feedback SMART Technologies learned many educators do not need or wish to access the premium features and in 2018, launched a free version of the SMART Notebook. It was called Limited mode in version 17 and modified in version 19.1 and re-named Notebook Basic.

 

We are recommending that you uninstall version 11.4 and upgrade to version 19.1 basic version. This is free. Of course you can certainly subscribe to the premium version and we would be happy to review the annual subscription options as well as the benefits of the premium features.

 

Here is a link to a video that highlights many of the features in SMART Notebook Basic. Your teacher will be pleased to learn that the layout is very similar to version 11.4.

 

Use this clean up tool to uninstall 11.4

 

Use this link to install SMART Notebook basic. ( be sure to click in the empty field and select "I'd like a free download fo Notebook Basic)

 

As we mentioned this will work great with the SB600 and SBX800 seris SMART boards.

 

Now for the SB580 SMART Boards.

 

Unfortunately, the controller attached to the back of the SB500 series board will not recognize current SMART Product Drivers and ink. Therefore the only option is to continue using version 11.4 on Windows 7 or Windows XP.

 

Some customers have reported that version 11.4 does work on Windows 10, in the sense that touch and writing work, for a period of time. The issue is related to Windows 10 security updates. Whenever those automated updates run, they delete the SMART Product drivers. That means you would need to store a copy of version 11.4 and use it to continually re-install.

 

In the medium term, we would suggest giving consideration to upgrading these 12 SB580 boards as the budget permits. Your local SMART re seller can work with you on this. Be sure to mention the SMART trade in program for additional discounts.

 

Downloaded and installed 19 Basic and I seem to be getting this message on launch... have to select an option to use it and attempting the old 11.4 code doesn't work.

[sted]

Downloaded and installed 19 Basic and I seem to be getting this message on launch... have to select an option to use it and attempting the old 11.4 code doesn't work.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]56632[/ATTACH]

 

as far as i can tell thats intended no login it wont do anything

[localzuk]

Yeah, you have to have a SMART account to use it. Those accounts are free though...

[DJ-1701]

as far as i can tell thats intended no login it wont do anything

 

Yeah, you have to have a SMART account to use it. Those accounts are free though...

 

Interesting... does that mean they store the files online now then? :/

[mavhc]

But you can OAuth all the things from Google or MS anyway it seems

[localzuk]

Interesting... does that mean they store the files online now then? :/

No. Just a login. If you have paid for the subscription, it gives you access to the online service also (which is basically a Notebook viewer online with a few bells and whistles).

[DJ-1701]

But you can OAuth all the things from Google or MS anyway it seems

 

If you could give me a hand with that, that would be great.

[dapaulio]

I emailed Smart as we have a range of 580, 680 and 880 smartboards and are still using 11.4 this was their very useful response:

 

I have read your e-mail and I understand that you have a number of SMART board[emoji768] interactive whiteboards still using version 11.4 of SMART Notebook[emoji768] collaborative learning suite and would like to know what your options would be going forward.

 

I am happy to provide some options for you.

 

Let's focus on the best options for the SB680 and SBX800 series SMART Boards first as we have good news for those. The SB580 series boards create a unique situation that I will address last.

 

First to recap. version 11.4 is a legacy version which SMART Technologies has not supported for a number of years and have been encouraging customers to upgrade. However this version has continued to work for the most part on Windows 7 and MAC editions up to the launch of Mojave and Catalina.

The issue is actually with a part of our software called the SMART Product Drivers and ink. This part of our software manages communication for touch and writing between our software, the operating system and the controller on various SMART boards.

 

Customers using version 11.4 on Windows 7 are faced with the discontinence of support for Windows 7 which means an upgrade to Windows 10.

 

Windows 10 will not recognize legacy versions of SMART Product drivers and ink. SMART Technologies has been working to update our drivers to the point where drivers fro version 16.0, 17.0, 18.0 and now 19.1 remain compatible.

 

The controllers on the back of SMART board models SB600 series and up which includes SBX800 series will recognize SMART product drivers from those editions.

We reserve version 16.0 for teachers who have SMART Notebook files containing flash objects since subsequent versions do not support flash. Users needing version 16.0 will need to purchase a SMART License in order to keep the version active.

 

All other versions of SMART Notebook (17-19.1) would be compatible with your SB600 and SBX800 series SMART boards.

 

We have learned that quite often educators choose to remain with version 11.4 because at the time of this version's release (2005) activation was done with a one time license purchase. After that SMART Technologies switched to an annual subscription in order to subsidize software re-writes to keep up with changes in computer operating systems and to add new features.

 

Based on customer feedback SMART Technologies learned many educators do not need or wish to access the premium features and in 2018, launched a free version of the SMART Notebook. It was called Limited mode in version 17 and modified in version 19.1 and re-named Notebook Basic.

 

We are recommending that you uninstall version 11.4 and upgrade to version 19.1 basic version. This is free. Of course you can certainly subscribe to the premium version and we would be happy to review the annual subscription options as well as the benefits of the premium features.

 

Here is a link to a video that highlights many of the features in SMART Notebook Basic. Your teacher will be pleased to learn that the layout is very similar to version 11.4.

 

Use this clean up tool to uninstall 11.4

 

Use this link to install SMART Notebook basic. ( be sure to click in the empty field and select "I'd like a free download fo Notebook Basic)

 

As we mentioned this will work great with the SB600 and SBX800 seris SMART boards.

 

Now for the SB580 SMART Boards.

 

Unfortunately, the controller attached to the back of the SB500 series board will not recognize current SMART Product Drivers and ink. Therefore the only option is to continue using version 11.4 on Windows 7 or Windows XP.

 

Some customers have reported that version 11.4 does work on Windows 10, in the sense that touch and writing work, for a period of time. The issue is related to Windows 10 security updates. Whenever those automated updates run, they delete the SMART Product drivers. That means you would need to store a copy of version 11.4 and use it to continually re-install.

 

In the medium term, we would suggest giving consideration to upgrading these 12 SB580 boards as the budget permits. Your local SMART re seller can work with you on this. Be sure to mention the SMART trade in program for additional discounts.

 

I smell [emoji90] got a load of sb580 across several sites running on window 10 ltsc.

[DrBeaker]

I smell [emoji90] got a load of sb580 across several sites running on window 10 ltsc.

 

I'll see if I can check out some of mine over half-term.

 

I've got 600 series boards here and Windows 10 with Smart Notebook 11.4 on at least 2x of our IT Suites that have one of these boards. Had no issues reported.

[mavhc]

Ah, here it is: Schofield’s First Law: never put data into a program unless you can see exactly how to get it out.

[free780]

I smell [emoji90] got a load of sb580 across several sites running on window 10 ltsc.

Unless they mean upgrading on a SAC version can remove the drivers. You'll get away with it on LTSC.

[Mr.Ben]

I have 500 series boards running on W10 1909 with 18.1. The driver doesn't auto detect, but can be manually searched for and configured.

[localzuk]

Ah, here it is: Schofield’s First Law: never put data into a program unless you can see exactly how to get it out.

Not sure that applies... Considering Smart Notebook allows export into multiple formats, including PDF, Powerpoint, CFF, web pages, and various image formats

[mavhc]

Not sure that applies... Considering Smart Notebook allows export into multiple formats, including PDF, Powerpoint, CFF, web pages, and various image formats

 

Oh, IWB CFF.

 

Wonder what features each export type supports, can't see a feature grid on Smart's site. At this point I'd think a web viewer would be most advanced and cross platform.