Do you need to pay for the difference?
When it comes to choosing an LCD or LED display/panel for your premises,
there are clearly two options, being a commercial grade panel or Domestic/Consumer version. To look at, they
may seem the same, however like all things, there are several important differences to
consider before you charge off to you local retailer.
The differences between the two types of displays are summarised below.
Designed specifically for compatibility with PCs and AV standards.
Most models recognize all PC resolutions in addition to TV/video resolutions. Domestic
Most are designed specifically for TV/video formats with very limited PC resolutions.
Most support VESA mounting configurations and can be oriented in a variety of angles including: horizontal, vertical and in some cases angles in between. Domestic
Newer screens support VESA mounting configurations do to the popularity of wall mounting screens, however not all do and in some cases additional hardware may be required Portrait orientation mounting is typically not available with domestic/consumer grade models.
include ways to protect controls in a public environment including the ability to lock out the use of button on the actual panel or use of the manufacturer remote control.
Domestic
No ability to lock display control
Commercial grade flatscreens are built with heavy-duty parts and components designed to handle the wear and tear. Along with an increased resistance to deterioration, these high-quality parts also extend the lifespan of commercial screens far beyond that of consumer models, something that is critically important when one considers the difference in operating hours between the two.
NB: Since manufacturers build commercial grade screens to last, they also stand behind the production quality of those screens. Many of the top-grade manufacturers will do so by offering a more robust warranty program for their lines of commercial grade screens than they do for consumer grade models.
While Consumer products may have upto 3 years warranty, they usually specify within the documentation that use over and beyond four to six hours a day will void the warranty, whereas the Commercial grade units come with a three year warranty, and covers all the other criteria such as landscape and portrait installations.
Most models Include:
Control - IR & RS232 for control by a 3rd party control system
Video - PC, RGBHV on BNC connectors, Composite, S-Video, Component, DVI-D, HDMI
Audio - Option to include or remove speakers
Domestic
-Most models offer:
Control - Infra-Red (IR) control only
Video - PC, Component, Composite, HDMI
Audio - Inbuilt speakers on RCA connectors
- The majority (if not all) provide bi-directional serial control allowing a third party processor to control the screen. One of the main advantages of using a commercial grade screen with a third party control system is the ability to switch directly to an input source on command or when an input is sensed.
Domestic
- While domestic LCD screens can be used to integrate with larger systems, it is much more 'clunky' as most of the time, inputs can only be selected by via scrolling through all the inputs until the appropriate one is available.
Not all commercial screens support interconnecivity but generally the top models support this ie NEC's tilematrix mode. This special mode allows many screens to be connected together through their cabling systems and be treated as one big screen.
Domestic
...they just don't support it natively. If you want multiple screens to be treated as one big screen, you are going to have to supply Computers that have multiple video ports and connect them virtually through the software drivers.
Can be configured, but generally the default mode is to start automatically. ie... if the power goes off, you can expect these panels to start back up and display your content without human interaction.
Domestic
Are generally the opposite, any power loss generally means any restart is in 'standby mode' and someone will need to push the on button.
Have models that they call in the trade as 'high brights', which are generally models that are 700lumens / Nits, and are required for locations that face outdoors ie shop windows
Domestic
Are around the 350 to 500 lumen levels
While this is a good list and should help you justify the right investment, it's not the definitive list, and I'm sure there are other reason, but it should give you an idea on why Commercial Panels are more expensive and why they exist in the market.
As most things these days, they cost more, because they do more. It's up to you to decide on what you need.
Viv
.
The differences between the two types of displays are summarised below.
- Image compatibility & resolutions
- Mounting options & orientations
- Suitability of environment
- Operating hours & heat management
- Audio & video inputs
- Integration with a larger system or control via a third party control system.
- Interconnectivity to/from "video walls"
- Boot up/power up modes
- Brightness levels
Image compatibility & resolutions
CommercialDesigned specifically for compatibility with PCs and AV standards.
Most models recognize all PC resolutions in addition to TV/video resolutions. Domestic
Most are designed specifically for TV/video formats with very limited PC resolutions.
Mounting options & orientation
CommercialMost support VESA mounting configurations and can be oriented in a variety of angles including: horizontal, vertical and in some cases angles in between. Domestic
Newer screens support VESA mounting configurations do to the popularity of wall mounting screens, however not all do and in some cases additional hardware may be required Portrait orientation mounting is typically not available with domestic/consumer grade models.
Suitability of environment
Commercialinclude ways to protect controls in a public environment including the ability to lock out the use of button on the actual panel or use of the manufacturer remote control.
Domestic
No ability to lock display control
Operating hours & heat management
CommercialCommercial grade flatscreens are built with heavy-duty parts and components designed to handle the wear and tear. Along with an increased resistance to deterioration, these high-quality parts also extend the lifespan of commercial screens far beyond that of consumer models, something that is critically important when one considers the difference in operating hours between the two.
Commercial screen models are now being designed
specifically for extended-use applications and some also
include features such as enhanced burn-in protection and
cooling mechanisms.
Domestic
Consumer screens in people's homes are turned on anywhere from one to eight hours a day, and serious TV watchers or gamers may even have them on for 12 or more. But, many deployers demand 12-15 hour days out of their screens and locations like airports may never turn the screens off. Designed to be run as a TV installed into a home would be. Approximately 8-12 hours of daily use would be the maximum recommended amount. I also think that
Domestic
Consumer screens in people's homes are turned on anywhere from one to eight hours a day, and serious TV watchers or gamers may even have them on for 12 or more. But, many deployers demand 12-15 hour days out of their screens and locations like airports may never turn the screens off. Designed to be run as a TV installed into a home would be. Approximately 8-12 hours of daily use would be the maximum recommended amount. I also think that
NB: Since manufacturers build commercial grade screens to last, they also stand behind the production quality of those screens. Many of the top-grade manufacturers will do so by offering a more robust warranty program for their lines of commercial grade screens than they do for consumer grade models.
While Consumer products may have upto 3 years warranty, they usually specify within the documentation that use over and beyond four to six hours a day will void the warranty, whereas the Commercial grade units come with a three year warranty, and covers all the other criteria such as landscape and portrait installations.
Audio & video inputs
CommercialMost models Include:
Control - IR & RS232 for control by a 3rd party control system
Video - PC, RGBHV on BNC connectors, Composite, S-Video, Component, DVI-D, HDMI
Audio - Option to include or remove speakers
Domestic
-Most models offer:
Control - Infra-Red (IR) control only
Video - PC, Component, Composite, HDMI
Audio - Inbuilt speakers on RCA connectors
Integration with a larger system or control via a third party control system
Commercial- The majority (if not all) provide bi-directional serial control allowing a third party processor to control the screen. One of the main advantages of using a commercial grade screen with a third party control system is the ability to switch directly to an input source on command or when an input is sensed.
Domestic
- While domestic LCD screens can be used to integrate with larger systems, it is much more 'clunky' as most of the time, inputs can only be selected by via scrolling through all the inputs until the appropriate one is available.
Interconnectivity to form "video walls"
CommercialNot all commercial screens support interconnecivity but generally the top models support this ie NEC's tilematrix mode. This special mode allows many screens to be connected together through their cabling systems and be treated as one big screen.
Domestic
...they just don't support it natively. If you want multiple screens to be treated as one big screen, you are going to have to supply Computers that have multiple video ports and connect them virtually through the software drivers.
Boot up / power on mode
CommercialCan be configured, but generally the default mode is to start automatically. ie... if the power goes off, you can expect these panels to start back up and display your content without human interaction.
Domestic
Are generally the opposite, any power loss generally means any restart is in 'standby mode' and someone will need to push the on button.
Brightness
CommercialHave models that they call in the trade as 'high brights', which are generally models that are 700lumens / Nits, and are required for locations that face outdoors ie shop windows
Domestic
Are around the 350 to 500 lumen levels
While this is a good list and should help you justify the right investment, it's not the definitive list, and I'm sure there are other reason, but it should give you an idea on why Commercial Panels are more expensive and why they exist in the market.
As most things these days, they cost more, because they do more. It's up to you to decide on what you need.
Viv
.
