Interactive Projectors VS Interactive Whiteboards

[enjay]

Don't forget to think long-term - while the purchase costs are similar between interactive boards and projectors, an interactive board will outlive its projector, so if you buy interactive boards, you just need replace the projector after 3-5 years and leave the original board in place.

[timp]

Don't forget to think long-term - while the purchase costs are similar between interactive boards and projectors, an interactive board will outlive its projector, so if you buy interactive boards, you just need replace the projector after 3-5 years and leave the original board in place.

 

If cost of ownership over time is an important criteria then an interactive LCD would be the answer.

[enjay]

If cost of ownership over time is an important criteria then an interactive LCD would be the answer.

 

I was starting to think the same, and am off to look at some touch LCDs this afternoon! Anyone know what sort of lifespan can be expected from them?

 

Whereabouts in Berkshire are you, by the way?

[timp]

You can expect anything from 10 to 15 years life span, manufacturers quote 50,000 hour minimum back light life. However lamp replacement isnt possible. I'm over Newbury way, any questions on touch LCD am happy to answer, hope you managed to get to see some on Monday!

[Achandler]

So we now have two Smart Projectors in the school.

 

What can I say about them, they are much better then the Hitachi one we trialled. They work using Infra-Red, which means they don't need calibrating as such like a board does. The projector detects where the infra-red is on the wall/ whiteboard and moves it accordingly. Although we don't have the problem of the wall shaking, I would imagine that using infra-red like this means that shaking isn't a major issue. All in all I am actually very impressed so far, and so are the teaching staff that have tried them.

 

They have a HDMI in for those lovely Apple TVs.

 

The downsides are, the pens need charging via a USB, they are meant to last 20 hours off a 2 hour charge. But since you only get one pen with each projector, the staff have to remember to charge them. The pen holder/ box effort they provide feels cheap, and although it has a gap so you can dangle a cable into it, I think they should have basically made it a charger like an electric toothbrush where it just slots into place, plugging in a USB is stupid. The pens are also ~£100 to replace and although they look pretty sturdy, pens being lost or broken is still an issue. The cost of them also puts me off having "spares" just sat around.

 

Your also only get a 3 year warranty, not the standard 5 like SmartBoard.