Take a look at the closest conference room or classroom. What is used as a visual display? You’ll probably say a TV but do you if it’s commercial or consumer-grade? It’s hard to tell by just looking at it, but there’s a big difference.
Going down the street to buy a display from the nearest big-box store can be appealing, and sometimes it may even seem like the cheapest option. What many of our clients are telling us is this route is not always the most cost-effective or sustainable. They realize relying solely on consumer technology for commercial use, has its pitfalls.
Here are our top three reasons to buy commercial-grade displays for enterprise use:
1. Usage
Commercial displays are made to run a minimum of 10- 12 hours a day and built for constant use, so whether you’re in a classroom or using it for digital signage wayfinding or announcements, it will be able to run all day. Most commercial displays have a 24/7 operational design. In comparison, TVs built for use in your home are designed to operate two to four hours a day. Heat is the biggest enemy to electronics and commercial grade displays are built to handle the heat being generated from more use.
2. Warranty and support
The warranty on commercial grade equipment is longer and more comprehensive than that of consumer-grade equipment. You’ll typically find a 2-3 year warranty on your display. Using a consumer-grade display in a commercial environment like a conference room will typically void the manufacturer’s warranty or reduce it to just 30-days of coverage. When you purchase through an AV integrator like Smarter Systems, if you happen to have any issues, the integrator will help you through any warranty or replacement issues. With a consumer-grade display you’ll be left dealing with the problem by yourself.
3. Design
You want technology designed for how you plan to use it! Commercial-grade equipment is engineered for more substantial use and more consistent uptime. Commercial displays have a durable metal protecting everything inside, including the onboard fans. Therefore, overheating is typically not an issue. In comparison, consumer displays are built with plastic housing and without cooling fans. That means if left to run all day, it will quickly suffer from thermal damage.
The most important thing to remember, is how you plan to use your display. It will make all the difference in your choice of technology. Next up, what size display you'll need in your space. Click here to learn what's the best fit for you.
