Gone are the days when advertising was enough to notify the consumer about the availability of a product. Now, even the slightest nuances affect the effectiveness of a campaign. Of course. You need to start with the design and content of your ads.
Look at the creative materials on the vivid ads site to see what we mean. Advertising should be eye-catching at first sight. However, the technical means of presentation are also necessary. In this article, we will tell you why you should not skimp on commercial-grade monitors.
The Difference Between Display Types
Consumer TV monitors suit typical home environments and can be found in any retail store. On the other hand, commercial models are designed for the specifics of a business environment. Most displays used in businesses for information and advertising purposes are commercial grade.
However, the difference between these display types goes much deeper. It consists of four main aspects, based on which it makes more sense to choose a commercial display for advertising systems than a consumer one.
Technical Specifications and Design
It is worth starting the analysis of differences with technical characteristics.
Design and Size
The first thing that catches the eye when visually comparing various display types is the difference in design. The design of commercial models matches the environment in which they are used: it is a distinctly minimalist business style. The style of consumer displays is more variable, and they are usually equipped with a TV stand. The optimal size depends on the room. Screens with a diagonal of 32 to 39 inches are suitable for small rooms. 42–55 inches are suitable for more spacious rooms, and with diagonals from 58 inches are an option for large halls.
Durability
The designs also differ in durability and longevity. Consumer screens are not designed for long-term, non-stop operation and are easily damaged by falling from a height or colliding with other objects. Commercial models are designed for 24/7 operation and have a more durable case that protects them from impacts, dust, high temperatures, and other adverse environmental factors. A commercial display is the only reasonable option if you need a monitor for outdoor use.
Brightness
Consumer screens designed for use in apartments usually offer a better picture in dim external lighting. But in most places where large information displays are used – shopping malls, outdoor areas, airports, and medical facilities – the lighting is usually very bright, which means that the brightness of a typical home monitor in such conditions will most likely not be sufficient to provide a visible image. To better illustrate the difference in brightness, here are some specific numbers: the maximum brightness of a consumer type is usually 350 cd/m². In contrast, the brightness of commercial monitors can reach 2500 cd/m² or more.
Content
Technical differences also determine different capabilities for playing various types of video content. It is important to note that the central application of consumer displays includes watching movies, TV programs, and video games. Commercial monitors are designed to demonstrate all types of content—web pages, social networking content, online videos, moving graphics, slides, presentations, advertising, etc. Of course, everything that a regular consumer displays can show.
Connections
It is critical to ensure the monitor’s ease of use.
Digital Signage Media Players
If you deploy a Digital Signage system, you must provide it with a corresponding media player that will deliver content to each screen. However, this is not the case unless your commercial display has a built-in media player that delivers content from a content management system (CMS) to the screen. Note that none of the consumer TV displays on the market have a built-in media player.
Interfaces
Consumer models are pretty limited in terms of input ports. They are usually equipped with HDMI ports only, while commercial displays offer a more diverse set of interfaces, including HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort, USB, and DVI. Commercial TV displays also support loop video connections used to create video walls.
RS232 Control
The presence of an RS232 port allows owners of Digital Signage systems to control monitors without using a remote control. This is a significant option, as it provides precise control of all display functions from a personal computer. Consumer displays rarely offer this port, and even if they do, their functionality is usually minimal. However, most commercial displays support full RS232 functionality.
Front Panel Lockout
The last thing you want is for pranksters to switch your screens as they please and at your expense, which is relatively easy. All they need is a smartphone with an infrared emitter that functions as a remote control or just physical access to the buttons on the TV itself. Commercial displays are designed to protect against this kind of prank, with the IR receiver and front panel buttons locked, making any unauthorized screen control impossible.
Warranty and Maintenance
Typically, commercial monitors have a 3-year warranty, while most consumer TVs have a 1-year warranty. In addition, consumer displays sometimes have a “reassuring” statement in their documentation that the warranty will be void if the model is used as a commercial display.
Most commercial displays come with a warranty that includes after-sales technical support. It is beneficial if the installation process is a bit of a hassle. Additionally, they usually have a warranty that provides for on-site repair. Consumer TVs are limited to in-store repair, which can be a big problem if you have a 60-inch (or larger) display that you must haul in for repair.
Conclusion
High standards of commercial-class displays also imply the use of high-quality LCD panels with good LED backlighting. True commercial displays are less sensitive to image retention issues – the so-called ghosting, when the previous frame is partially present on the current one, which is possible even in the 24/7 class. So, when choosing a commercial display for Digital Signage, buy a truly commercial-grade model. Suppose the display manufacturer does not declare a 24/7 operation mode or specify a sufficiently high brightness in the specifications. In that case, there is a high probability that this display is not very different from a regular consumer TV.
