The History of TV Displays
TV displays have come a long way in the past number of years. I remember when plasma monitors were introduced into the marketplace. A 40” model would sell in the $15,000 range. Back then, most of these flat panel displays were commercial products, made for business environments or digital signage applications. The image was much clearer than regular TV’s and the colors were like WOW.
As time goes by, LCD models are becoming more and more popular. That didn’t last long. Now LED TV’s have basically taken overall from the original plasma and LCD monitors. I am not sure if you can even buy a plasma monitor/TV any longer.
As with Plasma and LCD monitors, manufacturers made both consumer and commercial products. The same is with LED. Currently, there are many options available for LED monitors, both commercial and consumer grade. Size, resolution, bezel width, tuners, inputs, outputs, RS232 to name just a few.
Which Should You Buy?
So let’s get down to the question at hand. What should I buy? Are Commercial TV’s better than a Consumer TV? Why is Commercial TV’s slightly higher in price than Consumer? What’s the difference?
The difference is in the quality and components of the TV’s. For instance, a consumer grade TV is designed to run a few hours a day, whereas a commercial TV is designed (and built) to run sometimes 24/7. Having said that, there are other identifiers of commercial TV’s. The glass is made so it does not reflect as much (reflection causes issues in commercial environments) whereby a consumer grade would not require higher quality glass. Consumer TV’s simply are not made for commercial environments. Most people don’t really understand this. After all, a TV is a TV…right? Huge misconception.
Commercial TV’s have many more benefits than consumer grade TV’s. For instance, some commercial TV’s have the ability to be mounted landscape or portrait. They can also be used for digital signage, they are built to withstand heat so they can run longer, they usually have nicer bezels to look more professional. You know what one of the biggest differences between commercial and consumer? Warranty. Yes, if you choose to install a consumer grade TV into a business environment and it has issues, it is likely the warranty will not cover the repairs. It is best to read the warranty carefully. On the other hand, a commercial warranty is typically 3 years or more. Many of the manufactures offer onsite service or advanced replacement.
Which Is Right for You?
It is a fact that there are differences between consumer grades TV displays and commercial grade TV’s. So, what is best for you? You need to think about the differences between consumer and commercial. Do you need a more robust build? Are you looking for an extended warranty which can provide you a sense of ease?
If you are leaning more towards the commercial display options, check out our past blog on the 5-year warranty NEC displays. Click here.
Do you need some help with deciding? Would you like a professional option? Call or email us… we will walk you through it.