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Tech Decisions: The low-down on high-tech TV’s

commspartner — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 11:13:02 +0000

In part 1 of our boardroom technology series (The basics of display system selection), we looked at the factors that come into play when selecting your TV or projector. In this second part, we take a closer look at TV’s. What the differentiating factors are between various models – and how these affect that all-important consideration: price.

There’s nothing more tiresome than being invited to a braai and having to hear your best mate go on about his latest, state-of-the-art TV. Unless, of course, you’re watching the rugby at his place – in which case, that gorgeous new screen is simply another token of your friendship, reaffirmed.

But life isn’t all braais and rugby. Many of us need to do our time in the boardroom, so we may as well ensure that we make the most of it, with technology that supports and enhances our business efforts.

No two TV’s are the same

We’ve certainly come a long way since the days of tube televisions, where the biggest decision was in choosing between black and white, and colour. These days, a trip to the local AV store will have your head reeling with all the options available to you. So let’s have a look at the various aspects that come into play:

Screen Size

The bigger the screen, the bigger the price-tag. However, if your room is small, there really is no need for an extra-large screen. Screen sizes are depicted in inches, which indicate the diagonal measurement from corner to corner (e.g. bottom left to top right).

HD Ready vs Full HD vs 4k… What does is all mean?

Native resolution is simply an indicator of the picture quality of a display. The higher the resolution, the clearer your on-screen image will be. With HD Ready, there are 720 horizontal lines of picture. With Full HD, there are 1080. And with 4k, there are 4096 horizontal lines of picture. (This is an improvement of over 600% from the minimum 576 horizontal lines of standard definition.)

You’ve probably also come across resolution descriptions containing a “p”, e.g. 1080p. This means that the technology uses progressive scanning, which means that full frame images are rapidly updated, as opposed to interlaced scans, which update half the screen at a time. While your eyes cannot detect the interlaced scanning updates, it will give more of a flicker than the progressive scan, which provides a smoother, more lifelike picture.

Inputs and outputs

The amount and types of inputs and outputs will vary between TV’s. For instance, some TV’s will have one HDMI input, where others might have four. The amount and type of inputs you need will depend on the number and type of devices that that you would like to connect to your TV. If you’re planning on using older technology alongside your TV, you do have the option of using a convertor as an interface between the two – however, you might experience loss of quality.

Built-in media players

Some TV’s have a built-in media player, which will automatically play video or audio via a flash drive. This provides a “plug and play” environment, which is particularly useful for guests and presenters, who don’t need to worry about compatibility issues.

On board apps and internet connectivity

SMART TV’s often come pre-configured with various social media and entertainment apps games, etc. Certain brands may offer exclusive apps, but most will provide access to the most popular apps.

Internet connectivity allows your TV to connect to a wireless network to stream a variety of online content – and with built-in wi-fi fast becoming a standard in SMART TV’s, there’s no need to plug in an external wireless adaptor, or run metres of Ethernet cable.

So, what will it be for your boardroom? If you’d like us to help you find the best options to suit your business needs, brand and budget, we’re happy to assist.

At CommsPartner, we realise that the difference is in the detail, no matter how small. We apply this thinking to our designs, our installations and our after-sales service delivery.

Ready to take the next step? Want to work with our professional team to assist with your project?

We will assist you with:

Consultation Services. We will identify the correct solution for your project.
Design Services. We have access to top professional brands from around the world and will quote you on the suitable solution for your project.
Project Management Services. We will deal directly with your Interior Designer, Architects, Electricians or Electrical Engineers to ensure the successful planning of the project.
Installation Services. Our installation teams are trained to handle any size Corporate Audio Visual, Video Conferencing and IT project throughout Africa. We have installation and support teams in Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa & Uganda.
Preventative Maintenance and Service Level Agreements.
3-Year Guarantee on all installation and programming work.

And a whole lot more! Contact us today for a free consultation meeting.

Download Company Brochure

Get in Touch

The post Tech Decisions: The low-down on high-tech TV’s appeared first on CommsPartner.

Tech Decisions: Your guide to a well-equipped boardroom

commspartner — Fri, 06 May 2016 09:48:37 +0000

Part 1: The basics of display system selection for a boardroom

Executive meetings, staff meetings, client meetings, presentations, training… With so many uses, the boardroom is undeniably one of the most important spaces in your office environment. Consequently, your boardroom technology decisions are bound to have a significant impact on various aspects of your business.

Selecting the right technology for your boardroom might seem like a straightforward, budget-based task – but a number of important factors are often overlooked. This is especially true when it comes to selecting the perfect display option.

For instance, many of our clients are keen on specific display systems that they have seen in other boardrooms. Or they revamp or move to new offices, assuming that their existing technology will work just as well in the new space. However, every boardroom is different, with different technology needs.

In this first part of our boardroom technology series, we take a look at the basic factors that we consider before we make our recommendations on boardroom display systems. We also look at the differences between TV’s and projectors, and the pro’s and con’s of each.

Factors to consider:

Budget

If your room is small enough for an average sized TV, this is definitely the most cost-effective option. However, as soon as the screen requirement is larger than 65”, we start looking at projectors as an alternative.

Ease of use

Devices that are difficult to operate can cause unnecessary delays and embarrassment during meetings, with a direct effect on productivity, employee morale and visitor perception. In addition, you most likely need to cater for presenting visitors, who might use different devices to your team – or have had no training on your display system. Ease of use, including inter-operability, is therefore always top of mind when making our technology recommendations to clients.

Content

The type of content that you intend to display on your screen is one of the most important factors to consider. If you expect your attendees to read graphs and data, you need to ensure that the display is large and clear enough for this purpose.

Room size

Size matters! Along with the type of content that you wish to present on your screen, the size of your room – or more specifically, the distance to the furthest point of your boardroom table – determines how big your screen should be.

TV’s vs Projectors: What’s best for your boardroom?

Let’s have a quick look at the pro’s and con’s of each option:

TV’s

Pro’s

Easy to install
Usually has multiple inputs (3 x HDMI; multiple USB’s, etc)
Provides a crisp, bright image (particularly important for Video applications)
Depending on size, it works out less expensive than a projector and screen installation
Has built-in Audio
Low cost of ownership

Con’s

Not too many screens have VGA inputs (though this can be overcome with VGA to HDMI convertors)
Can be very expensive when looking at sizes over 65”
Take up “permanent” space on the boardroom wall

Projectors

Pro’s

More cost-effective when large images are required
Motorised projection screens do not take up “permanent” wall space

Con’s

Entry level models do not offer the same level of brightness as a TV. For this, one would need a more expensive model and specialised screen
Requires maintenance, e.g. cleaning of filters
High cost of ownership – projectors work via lamps, which have a “lamp life” of a certain amount of hours. This varies between projectors, where lamps can last anywhere between 3000 and 8000 hours. These lamps can cost several thousand rand to replace
Employees often forget to switch them off, which results in wasted lamp hours

While budget is probably the biggest consideration when choosing between a TV and a projector, it’s clear that there are various other factors that you may wish to consider before taking advantage of the latest promo at your favourite audio-visual outlet.

However, we’ve barely covered the basics! In part 2, we’ll look at some of the technical differences between the various types of TV’s and projectors available, to further assist you in making your technology decision.

At CommsPartner, we realise that the difference is in the details, no matter how small. We apply this thinking to our designs, our installations and our after-sales service delivery.

Ready to take the next step? Want to work with our professional team to assist with your project?

We will assist you with:

Consultation Services. We will identify the correct solution for your project.
Design Services. We have access to top professional brands from around the world and will quote you on the suitable solution for your project.
Project Management Services. We will deal directly with your Interior Designer, Architects, Electricians or Electrical Engineers to ensure the successful planning of the project.
Installation Services. Our installation teams are trained to handle any size Corporate Audio Visual, Video Conferencing and IT project throughout Africa. We have installation and support teams in Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa & Uganda.
Preventative Maintenance and Service Level Agreements.
3-Year Guarantee on all installation and programming work.

And a whole lot more! Contact us today for a free consultation meeting.

Download Company Brochure

Get in Touch

The post Tech Decisions: Your guide to a well-equipped boardroom appeared first on CommsPartner.