Interactive Projectors

[edutech4schools]

You normally use what ever software you want with them either the Promeathian or Smart an interactive projector is no different to a whiteboard or any make they are just a mouse.

 

I was speaking to someone from StoneComputers who thinks at some point the Smartboard software will not work if it does not detect the hardware.

[localzuk]

I was speaking to someone from StoneComputers who thinks at some point the Smartboard software will not work if it does not detect the hardware.

 

As far as I know, it'll be placing a watermark on the screen if it doesn't detect a board. However, I don't think they've implemented it yet. Also, you can buy a Smart collaborative license, but you have to buy them every year, and at £700+ per license, each year, they aren't cheap!

[chazzy2501]

The pens are big and expensive, also they are laggy. The batteries only last 2 months (which sound ok until the lessson starts and noone has an AA about) The pens being so laggy and large it makes handwriting all but impossible (Primary school speed and size would be ok). They don't touch my old as heck Promethean Boards for speed and accuracy. The USB ones work as fast as you can move the pen making them a real viable alternative to a whiteboard.

 

I would like to update this thread. I've changed my opinon totally. The pens are slow only in Epsons own software ,use them as a pen in say powerpoint and they work great. The pens are not clumsy when you get used to them and don't cost the earth. The other bonus is that the bulbs for these projectors are £80! Cheap... So I now Recommend. (I bought 12 more over the holidays at only £945 each) Projections from 70" plus!!

[localzuk]

These are what we appear to have settled on ourselves too. We now have 5 of these in place and we haven't had any complaints from any of the staff using them.

 

The main thing with them is the ease of installation. We put them in ourselves now, rather than £300 or whatever for installation of long throw models and the cost of boards on top.

[chazzy2501]

yeap, that's the other cool thing they are easy to self install. The line audio out can be controlled via the remote so you can use the projectors volume control for your external speakers. (I use the EDIS 15) They come with a 4.5m power cable and a 5m usb lead. (I also buy these cool vga and 3.5mm audio combined lead) so it's easy to put the cables in trunking and around the whiteboard.

 

The only gotya is when using existing whiteboards you may find they're not always perfectly flat!

[teklogic]

We have 40 of these installed, the staff are getting on with them great, we have a pc bypass connected and an audio. We have fixed pc's in every room, this means the projector does not have to be on to display on the screen and play audio. The pens work well with the Smart software.

 

The only issue we have found, bright sun light. This can stop the pens from working and also the auto calibrate. Apart from that they are a good bit of kit.

 

The Epson projector tool for the network is really handy as well. We can set times for on and off, as well as fault find for each room without leaving the office.