Slot PC vs Micro Form Factor

[EeboBebo]

Hi

 

We are looking at getting some iiyama interactive screens that come with an OPS slot for a slot PC to be installed. Are these slot PCs generally good or is it better to purchase something like a Dell optiplex microform factor and mount that to the wall/screen?

 

I know the slot PC will be a much neater solution but don’t know if they are poor from a hardware perspective and support perspective? I know Dell’s have a long road map to support newer OS’s but no idea about the slot PCs

 

Thanks

Edited March 25, 2023 by EeboBebo

[dhicks]

We are looking at getting some iiyama interactive screens that come with an OPS slot for a slot PC to be installed. Are these slot PCs generally good or is it better to purchase something like a Dell optiplex microform factor and mount that to the wall/screen?

 

We bought some OPS-capable screens when they first came out, then populated them with OPS PCs. They do make for a nice, tidy solution - the user turns the screen on, the slot PC just boots up, all nice and obvious for the user. Our initial batch of OPS slot PCs were purchased separatly from the screens, and were brand-new technology at the time, so we've had a few connectivity issues. All sorted in the end, mostly by plugging more cables in to the ports on the OPS PC, which kind of defeats the point of having them as integrated devices in the first place. Our second batch of OPS PCs we bought along with the screens they were embedded in, so they were warrentied to work with the screen, so any problems become the seller's problem, which is a much better way of dealing with things. I think at the time the only people selling OPS-capable screens and properly warrentied slot PCs were VeryPC, who's support has been excellent, and I would recommend buying your choice of screen and OPS PC from them.

 

A bit of a design issue inherent with the OPS format is that if you plug a small USB wireless keyboard receiver in it tends to have its signals blocked by the body of the actual screen itself. The same can go for wireless networking - the WiFi arial attached to the PC tends to be behind the main body of the screen, so if the WiFi point is somewhere the other side of that screen WiFi signals can be blocked. We found we needed to put the small USB receivers on a USB extension cable so they dangled just below the screen. I think the newer SMART boards have USB ports on the front linked to the OPS slot, although I'm always wary of leaving USB dongles plugged in anywhere too obvious as they can get removed.

[SamanthaD]

On the flip side we use micro form factors behind our screens, more because of the relationship we have with Dell it makes sense for us. However the issues are the same - wireless mouse and keyboard receiver issues (fixed the same say!) and WiFi is always a drag (we tend to use wired if at all possible). One bonus is we can power the PC independently so it gets its updates overnight, same as any machine on our network, and connecting the screen to the PC USB means it acts as a hub, so any front ports can be used by the user for file access etc.

 

We always use secure mounting brackets with the power and data installed behind the screen, and the PC is on a slide out tray within the backet for maintenance if needed (https://www.top-tec.co.uk/product-category/screen-brackets-and-monitor-mounts/screen-brackets/jupiter-shuttle/) makes for a nice, clean install.

Edited March 28, 2023 by SamDavis