Interactive Whiteboards

[Sunderwood]

Trying to put a case forward to our SMT...

 

 

Smartboard

 

or

 

Promethean

 

 

You Decide!!

[ICT_GUY]

Promethean?

 

Just remember to look into what projector they are supplying, I would go with buying your own. Sanyo do a plc-xw55a for around £400 with a 3 year warranty including bulbs and insight are giving away 7MP cameras too.

[Wedgedout]

Just avoid Starboards (Hitachi)

 

We've had some hassle with these, and found installation problems like spliced power cables, spliced VGA Cables, falling out of sync etc.

 

And the software is bloated, and often just doesn't work.. for no real reason.

 

things.

 

Our Promethean ones haven't been too bad.

[Sylv3r]

We have 44 Promeathean boards here and will continue to buy them as and when we need new boards but this is only because I want to keep the software and hardware consistant.

 

If your buying your first board it will be probably worth getting a quote for both to compare prices.

 

I must admit I think the ACTIVStudio software is a little clunky to me.

 

Overall, it doesn't really matter which board you put in place as long as you put time in place for training and inset for staff.

 

What you don't want is for the newly purchased IWB to be an expensive blackboard used for just displaying powerpoints.

[sahmeepee]

We have Promethean although my last place has Smart. TBH it used to be that Smart had better hardware (i.e. no pen to lose) and Promethean had better software.

 

I think that gap is narrowing now with multitouch options from Promethean and apparently improving software from Smart.

 

I would say it doesn't matter greatly as long as you buy the same make throughout as the biggest problem is probably getting staff to get the best use out of what you buy, i.e. training. Promethean do have an online training course you can do for free, delivered via Moodle, as well as some paid-for advanced courses which might be a bit much for most staff. Their ActivStudio software really is good though and allows all sorts of clever magic since v3 came out.

[sahmeepee]

We have Promethean although my last place has Smart. TBH it used to be that Smart had better hardware (i.e. no pen to lose) and Promethean had better software.

 

I think that gap is narrowing now with multitouch options from Promethean and apparently improving software from Smart.

 

I would say it doesn't matter greatly as long as you buy the same make throughout as the biggest problem is probably getting staff to get the best use out of what you buy, i.e. training. Promethean do have an online training course you can do for free, delivered via Moodle, as well as some paid-for advanced courses which might be a bit much for most staff. Their ActivStudio software really is good though and allows all sorts of clever magic since v3 came out.

[witch]

I have Smartboards in one school: in 4 years I have NEVER had an issue with the boards, and never need to clean the filters on the NEC projectors (this is because the contractors put them up such that I would have to take each one down to clean them and I don't have the time). And no bulbs have blown either

 

I have Prometheans in the other school: in 4 years I have had: 3 VGA cables fail, 3 power supplies fail, countless pens fail,one set of speakers fail, 5 bulbs fail (one exploded) and the projectors have hissy fits if the filters aren't cleaned every 4 weeks (I know that is the projector not the board but these Epsons were provided by Promethean).

Also, I get a call about the boards not being interactive about once a week - this could mean that it all has to go off and on again or I have to reinstall the driver

 

So...SMARTs all the way:D

[BaccyNet]

We're Smartboard here. We are also trying to move towards a standard model accross the site (the 680 is quite nice and seems to be holding up well:)) We currently support a local Primary that has some older Promethean boards, the software just seems to lose the boards on those (and I have installed the latest software/drivers) Then again its what they like and they are the ones who use them.

 

Slightly off-topic, anyone know of some free Smart training materials or other online training? I was asked the other day to show some teachers how to use the boards as well as some advanced things on them, which would be great if I had been able to spend some time teaching myself:D

[ZeroHour]

Smart, we have had a large amount of problems with drivers/software with the Promethean. We also bought a large amount last summer and within a year 1/5th of them needed a engineer to repair them.

[Oops_my_bad]

We only have smart boards here - 680's to be specific. We are an all boys school and have teachers with fudge-fingers, so they get loads of stick. Never had any probs with the smartboards/software itself, just make sure you go for decent projectors

[HodgeHi]

I worked in a school with promethean boards in. I found them to be a pain to support. One guy had a laptop and his board was connected via USB and for some reason some often than not the board would not respond to any input. He had re disconnect and then reconnect the USB to re-establish connection. It seemed to be after his laptop went into standby /screensaver mode after sitting idle for a while. Never really managed to sort it out completely before i left.

 

There were also numerous support issues and i never liked the installation of the software.

 

I use smartboards now and although i have not used the software on the Smarts that much i think they are more refined than the promethean software.

 

We use our Smarts with a range of projectors but when the new school is built we will most likely be getting the Hitachi short-throw projectors. A-100 i think they are.

 

Smart software also works great on OS X and is deployable through ARD as well. Makes it real easy to install :-)

[Mainy]

I would DEFINITELY go with Smartboards everytime, i have had experiance of both and find Promethean to be very unreliable, - same as HodgeHi, i have experianced some very annoying problems!

Smartboards just work and are definitely worth the extra money for this reason alone! The software is great and easy to use.

 

some good info:

Interactive WhiteBoards

Edited June 28, 2008 by Mainy

[SteveMC]

I'd also go for the SMART Boards - although it's worth seeing what other schools in the area are using, and if the majority use Promethean then maybe go for those (makes things easier for staff if they transfer between schools).

 

Both SMART and Promethean do all-in-one systems, with built-in projectors on a boom arm. These can save a fair amount of hassle with regard to mounting projectors on dodgy ceilings and running cabling.

 

Stephen

[stevenlong1985]

Smart is the way!

[KarlGoddard]

Just like SteveMC said.... see what other schools in your area use. Get the opinions of the teachers that use them. If you have to pitch to SLT, getting the backing of the teaching staff will get you far further than pitching from a purely technical point of view.

 

I've used Smartboard, Promthean and even the horrid Mimio devices at various schools I've worked at and Promethean were / are my recommendation.

 

Never had any issues with them technically, plug them in install the software and away you go.

 

More importantly, the staff at my school love them. The ActivBoard software is pretty easy to pick up and as my boss said above, there's some realy good online courses (moodle based, in fact ) available on one of the promethean websites.

 

But no matter which you choose make sure the staff get on with them...

Edited June 29, 2008 by KarlGoddard

[eean]

It really depends on what you want to use them for.

I'd say Smart for primary, promethean for secondary but there are pros and cons for both.

 

I like smart because:

• - There is no pen to loose. Not just permanently but just over the course of a lesson. When I used marker pens, I was always shoving them in my pockets and could never find them. With smart, I can just use my finger and the software pretty much forces you to get into the habit of putting the pens into the pentray. With the promethian pen, I kept putting it down somewhere, that meant I was less inclined to use the board to, say, quickly demo small things preferring to just explain it, which isn't as good really.
  It's a small thing, but it means that you can operate it very quickly. This helps keeps lessons pacy, which is one of the main advantages of IWBs in the first place.
  
• - Great for younger children, especially if you are playing games, involving hitting the board etc... I can’t imagine playing some of our fast maths games with pen – the kids hit the board so hard you’d probably snap a pen.
  

 

Promethian,

• Are probably more accurate, lots of handwriting on a smart board can be tiring. I wouldn’t want to demo graphics editing on a smartbaord.
  
• Software is supposedly better. TBH, I've never felt I've been missing features from the smartboard software though.
  
• Kids find drag and drop is hard on a smartboard. Promethean is smoother.
   
  

Edited June 29, 2008 by eean

[john]

Smarts all the way for me, had both and fine I guess theres a need for the Promethean someplaces but to me they fall over at the key IMHO to interactivity is touchey feely and they don't do that so Smart have it.

[FatBoy]

We only have Promethean at my school and I have had no experience with smarts. But I find the Promethean boards are fine and no problems with software really, the only problems we have had is with new software and really old boards (4/5 years) but that’s it.

[farmerste]

we have 20 smartboards, and 2 rear projection 2000i smartboards, they are usually very good, the problem i have found are :-

 

version 10 of the software is awful,

 

software after version 9.5 does not control 2000i smartboards correctly, one example of this is the lamp on projector no longer gets switched off when you shut down the pc.

 

getting an onsite replacement under warranty can be a very lengthy process, and i have heard that smart have lost their database of registered boards, so it seems to take ages, tho i cannot confirm that they have lost the database for sure.

 

although software up to version 10 is quite good, it really nags the user, and requires a bit of fiddling with the registry in order to remove those nags, and other things it tries to install/update all the time. i also feel smart have the same opinion as microsh@ft, where they actuall ' know whats best', not the end users.

 

[roty80]

We have about 10 of each type. While I do like the Smartboards we have had some problems.

 

We have had a problem with a few PC's not booting when connected to Smartboards. After some searching it turns out they don't work with some Intel boards (ours are Intel d102 motherboards), the computer freezes before it completes POST and had to replace the PC's with ones with Asus boards.

 

The Pens go missing/get stolen a lot.

 

For a faulty board we had a member of technical support out 3 or 4 times before they agreed it was faulty and needed replacing.

 

Promethean boards have been more robust/damaged less.

 

On the other hand though, most teachers love the Smartboards. The software is good and the interfaces are easy to use. Just don't let the naughty kids near them.

[Psymon]

Projector + Tablet PC + Old-School White Board.

 

Can do more with a tablet and projector, apart from that interactive voting thing that some have.

 

We have 2 smartboards, and staff also use tablet laptops with projectors.

[dave007]

Trying to put a case forward to our SMT...

 

 

Smartboard

 

or

 

Promethean

 

 

You Decide!!

 

Depends on the School, both are very good manufacturer of interactive Whiteboards.

 

Primary School's usually prefer Smartboards and Secondary Schools generally opt for Promethean. If a School has used one type of board then they tend to stick with same board.

 

Do you currently have either Smart or Promethean Boards?

 

I would recommend Smart over Promethean, due to me being Smart certified and have no problems with the software. Version 10 of Smart is also an improvement.

 

hope this helps

[bossman]

45 Promethean here, having looked at the smart boards in primary schools to which they were developed for they are too fragile, the membrane easily gets torn when the kids deliberately drag a ballpoint pen along it resulting in new board.

 

Promethean are not that expensive as to what they were a few years ago so remain very sustainable and the software and firmware is good.

 

Best practise is to attach them to desktop computer in classroom for the teacher to work off as using with laptops can be a nightmare for the teachers if they have to configure using keyboard short cuts. Also do not extend the usb cables as this can cause spiking of the board as there is not enough power getting to the board from the USB connection.

 

hope this helps

[eean]

Best practise is to attach them to desktop computer in classroom for the teacher to work off as using with laptops can be a nightmare

Absolutely agree with this. It means that who ever walks into a room (cover teacher, etc...) they have a whiteboard that works without any faffing involved. Also means that Staff laptops aren't so 'mission critical'!

[dave007]

Having a PC is a good idea, but I would still recommend laptops. Smart have launch the 'Gowire cable' which plugs into the USB port of the Smartboard.

 

You can instantly connect your laptop to the USB cable and can use the Smart board, no install, just plug and play. This allows any teacher entering a classroom and plug in laptop and use the Smart board without any problem and fuss.

 

With the quote 'Smart boards too fagile', i would disagree:

 

Smart board do have a softer material to promethean, but these are not fagile and of a hard wearing material.

 

If someone goes out of their way to damage a Smart board, then they could damage any brand of Interactive Whiteboard if they wanted too.

 

david