Opinions Please: Epson EB465I: Interactive LCD Projector

[6Foot2]

We have a couple of rooms where the current install of whiteboard/projector could be improved.

 

We have identified the Epson EB465I: Interactive LCD Projector as a candidate to replace the current solution in those rooms [Promethean IWB and LCD projector]

 

Does anyone have these projectors installed?

 

If you do what are your thoughts?

 

Many thanks.

[glennda]

They are ok - the pens are actually very heavy. You need to make sure you buy decent active USB extensions.

 

They have one @ previous school and the teacher loved it.

[6Foot2]

They are ok - the pens are actually very heavy. You need to make sure you buy decent active USB extensions.

 

They have one @ previous school and the teacher loved it.

 

Thanks for that.

 

1. What are the active USB extension for?

2. When you say the pens are heavy how heavy are they?

[glennda]

Thanks for that.

 

1. What are the active USB extension for?

2. When you say the pens are heavy how heavy are they?

 

The projector has a USB B output on it which is required to connect to the desktop machine. You can only run USB a max of 5m (which when run through trunking etc etc is easily done). You would require active extensions to increase the length of the cable to exceed 5m.

 

with regards to weight they are a lot heavier then a Promethean pen - they contain two AAA batteries so at least that weight plus a little - they are also top heavy which IMHO was uncomfortable to hold. Plus they are expensive to replace when a teacher breaks it!

[6Foot2]

Ok. I would expect the run to be less than 5 metres due to the current positioning of the computer but thanks for the reminder.

[broc]

We have 40+ of an earlier version EB450Wi. Staff like them, the comment about the Epson pens is true, they are a bit clunky & heavy & don't bounce well.

 

Be sure to check you have enough height in the room & the walls can take the weight of the projector & arm. height can be a problem if you want to use a big board, I think Epson have a calculator somewhere on their website. We had a couple of rooms at my school where the ceiling was too low for these. Also, make sure you use a matt finish board, glossy boards are a nightmare, semi-matt is still not as good as matt finish.

 

Watch out for software licences; Promethean wanted £500 per user to licence Activstudio for use on a non-Promethean board. We now use Easiteach Next Generation across the whole school, we bought a very reasonably priced site licence.

Edited June 20, 2012 by broc

[LeeBirdptinstalls]

My company have installed quite a few of these.......only gripe is the price of replacing the pens if staff lose them.

[6Foot2]

...only gripe is the price of replacing the pens if staff lose them.

 

How much are replacement pens out of interest?

[glennda]

How much are replacement pens out of interest?

 

about 50/60 quid

[6Foot2]

about 50/60 quid

 

Thanks.