Enterprise

With 25 years of display expertise, ViewSonic continually raises the bar to the next level of excellence in display technology. Our brand new 24” LED monitor takes innovation to the next level, with one of the world’s thinnest profile designs available for its size and class category.

At just one-quarter inch thick, the VX2460h-LED is a sleek and stylish widescreen display that pairs an ultra-slim design with advanced imaging technologies to reduce computer eyestrain after extended viewing. Partnered with a Full HD 1080p resolution, 2ms fast video response time, a high 40,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and touch-sensitive buttons, this truly is a state-of-the-art machine for consumers, gamers and discerning buyers alike who demand both world class performance and style. The dual HDMI® inputs also guarantee the highest quality high-definition audio and video. And with our ECO-mode feature, a 3-year standard limited warranty and the industry’s best pixel performance policy, you can feel good about making a long-term investment in this Energy Star® 5.1 certified display.

The ViewSonic VX2460h-LED display is now available for an ESP of $199. For additional information on the VX2460h-LED, click here. Not sure if this is the right display for you? Just ask, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have.

Corporate names and trademarks stated herein are the property of their respective companies. Copyright^©2012 ViewSonic Corporation. All rights reserved.

When should I upgrade my projector? This is a great question posed by CNET in a recent article on how to know when it’s time to upgrade, from a home cinema perspective. This got us thinking about the similarities and differences between consumer and business-focused projection offerings, so we’ve put together this guide to help businesses know when they are ready for a projector refresh. See how your company’s hardware stacks up:

1. Resolution within Reach – To avoid image distortion, make sure your projector has a matching aspect ratio to that of your content and/or source device so images stay in their native format. Most online content today is in wide format, as are many IT devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones, etc. Companies will benefit from a widescreen WXGA projector with 1280x800 or 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution. Note however that for 4:3 format support, you’ll want a matching aspect ratio like an XGA with a 1024x768 resolution for ideal image projection.

2. Bigger Brightness – For corporate environments like meeting rooms and boardrooms, it’s important to use a projector with at least 2700 ASNI lumens brightness to compensate for space size without having to turn out the lights. Does the room you’re projecting in have windows and a high amount of ambient light? Then you’ll want to make sure your projector has a minimum brightness of 3000 ANSI lumens to compensate. And for an even larger space like a lecture hall, make sure you have at least 4000 ANSI lumens for optimal image quality.

3. Compare Connectivity – There’s a lot to consider when it comes to making sure a projector has the right connectivity options for your needs. Know the number of devices that will need to connect to the projector before you start shopping to make sure it has enough inputs. For instance, two computers will need two VGA/RGB inputs on the projector. If you need a digital connection, then you’ll want a DVI and/or HDMI input. As for use with a DVD or VCR, you’ll need S-Video and/or composite video connection, and it’s all about HDMI when it comes to Blu-ray/DVR players. And with these multimedia needs, multiple audio inputs are a must. Does your office have a LAN network? Would your company benefit from being able to control, manage and monitor the projector from a PC? Then a model with an RJ-45 port with a built-in web-based setting configuration menu may also be of interest.

4. Rev up ROI – If you evaluate the above points prior to purchase, you can expect to use a projector for at least 2-3 years prior to considering a replacement. And while the cost of projectors themselves have gone down considerably, there are other factors you’ll want to take into account to maximize ROI, such as product warranty, lamp cost and hours, as well as maintenance costs like filter replacement. To protect your investment, look for projectors with longer labor warranties (2+ years) to guard against costly repairs. Replacement lamps can also be an unforeseen expense at a street price of $200-$300 a pop, so make sure you’re informed about the lamp warranty (1-year is ideal), and the expected hourly lamp life. With this information in hand, a more expensive projector unit may end up saving you in the long run.

Did your company recently upgrade its projector setup? What’s your favorite new projection advancement?

Thin client computing offers significant benefits over traditional PC deployments. In fact, IDC found that thin client users (when compared to full PC users) experience a decline in hardware and software costs of 40 percent and a reduction in IT operations costs by 29 percent. In addition, IDC concluded that a thin client computing setup increases IT worker productivity by 56 percent due to a reduction of troubleshooting and repair needs, when compared to traditional PCs.

For organizations wishing to save acquisition and operating costs, enhance security and manageability, and promote green IT and sustainability, ViewSonic’s MultiClient solution puts thin client computing in reach for cost-conscious districts and SMBs.

Following its unveiling at ISTE 2011, ViewSonic is announcing new product bundles and software support today for the company’s MultiClient computing offering. This cost-effective, scalable solution lets educators and businesses easily create and manage their own private cloud computing environment. Enabling up to 20 independent user stations (with monitors, mice and keyboards) to be powered by just one host server, MultiClient significantly lowers the cost per seat, reduces energy costs and virtually eliminates compatibility issues and IT management needs.

Now two additional energy-efficient zero client VMA Series adapters are available, each with four USB ports, so users can connect their preference of peripherals. We enable users to select their preference of software licensing between Userful MultiSeat Linux 2011™ and Microsoft® MultiPoint® WMS2011 for true customization.

To get started with a MultiClient setup, educators and businesses just need to connect the MultiClient Adapter box to a monitor with keyboard and mouse, and then plug into the host server. For more MutliClient information, click here.

Are you a thin client believer? What sort of benefits have you seen? We’d love to take your questions about thin client deployments within your organization. Share your experiences with us here!

With the surge in flexible work schedules and telecommuting in the workplace comes an increase in the use of mobile devices. From smartphones to tablets, the lines of personal and professional property are becoming more and more blurred. In fact, the occurrence of employees brining their personal devices into the workplace for professional use has been named ‘Bring Your Own Device”, BYOD for short (also known as IT consumerization). With this BYOD craze comes many questions, including those around intellectual property and device-related expense and company responsibility.

However we think a recent CNET article raised an interesting, less obvious point about what will happen to the use of traditional PCs within the workplace as BYOD continues to go mainstream. According to a recent global workforce survey conducted by Forrester Research, about 74 percent of information workers have used two or more personal devices for work purposes, and 52 percent had used three or more. Of these devices, 25 percect were mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Although BYOD is definitely on the rise, there is also evidence that the workforce still prefers to use work-provided devices. In fact, IDC found that only two out of 10 employees want to use their own device for work and personal use. However, this is likely due to the fact that employees don’t want to feel like they have to use their own personal devices within a corporate setting from a financial perspective. In other words, it looks like CNET’s article has answered the question of what will happen to the PC as BYOD becomes more mainstream – as long as BYOD means turning a company expense into a personal one, the workforce will continue to support the use of business PCs.

Do you bring in your own personal devices into the workplace? Does your company have a BYOD program or policy? Does your company offer its employees business tablets? Let us know your thoughts around the growing trend of BYOD here.

Recent advancements in display technologies have made their mark on the television viewing experience. It’s hard to believe just how far we’ve come since only a few decades ago during the times of black and white TV. Over the years, TV sets have become larger in size, while becoming slimmer and sleeker in profile and overall appearance. Paired with display advancements such as a Full HD picture, “smart” Internet connections and LED backlighting, TV has never been more exciting – for both commercial applications, such as the hospitality industry and sports bars, as well as home entertainment.

However, with this new TV technology comes more inputs and hookup ports. For someone that’s not up on the latest technology, all these new shapes and types of connectors can be quite confusing. We think a recent New York Times article did an excellent job decoding today’s 21^st Century television with easy-to-understand descriptions and useful corresponding pictures to help you feel confident in hooking up your new television:

1. USB:  A data connection, often used to connect a wireless “dongle” that can get your TV onto your home’s Wi-Fi network. Once that’s in place, your TV can become a “smart TV,” pulling in Internet content (Netflix, Facebook) that you can access directly on the screen.

2. Optical Audio:  Also known as Toslink, this standard uses fiber optic cables to transmit high-quality audio from the display to a soundbar, home theater system or an amplifier. Some audio components have moved to the HDMI standard, but there are still many products old and new that use this cable.

3. HDMI:  The current standard for high-definition video and audio connections. HDMI cables carry high-definition video and surround-sound audio in one cable. The content is transmitted digitally, so there’s little to no signal degradation, even over long distances.

4. Component:  Before HDMI, this was the only way to send high-definition video from a device to a display. Component cables are divided into three plugs — red, green and blue — each carrying a part of the video signal. Component cables are video-only, so you still need an audio connection to hear anything. HDMI is rapidly replacing this standard.

5. Composite:  The most basic — and lowest in fidelity — video connection. Good for connecting older equipment like camcorders or game consoles that lack the newer, more capable standards. Composite video is often located next to stereo outputs (not to be confused with Component plugs).

6. Audio Out:  Also known as RCA jacks, these ubiquitous ports are either red or white, to represent the left and right channels of a stereo signal. They provide low-fidelity audio connections, in that they do not support surround sound.

7. LAN or Ethernet:  A connector that looks like a telephone cable, but is a little bigger. Used to connect to wired local area networks (aka “a home network”), the LAN jack is what you would use if you did not have Wi-Fi.

8. Ex Link:  Available on some TVs, the ex link connection allows you to adjust the angle of certain wall-mounted TVs by using your existing TV’s remote control.

9. Antenna In:  Also known as a coaxial cable connection. This threaded connection is used to attach an external antenna (to receive over-the-air broadcast signals) or, sometimes, a cable set-top box. Modern set-top boxes usually have HDMI or component connections for a higher-quality connection between devices, so it is unlikely you would use this port.

10. PC In:  Also known as a VGA connector, this is a way to connect a laptop or other personal computer to a television. This connection is video only, so you would need to set up an additional audio connection to hear whatever was coming out of your computer.

Did your TV set up confuse you? Would this guide have helped you keep all the new technology straight? Or are you planning to put this article to use in an upcoming television installation? Tell us about it here on the blog.

Images Sourced from:  http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/03/21/technology/personaltech/hooking-up-a-new-tv-which-cable-goes-where.html

Chances are, you are likely using an LCD monitor setup for your home and business computing needs. You’ve recognized the benefits of replacing your antiquated CRT device to get up to speed with your desktop technology. But you might have only just started the battle.

Great benefits can be achieved by upgrading your current LCD setup for an LED monitor instead. If you’re not convinced, check out this list of the top five benefits an enterprise can expect from taking its monitor technology to the next level with LED:

1. Improved performance: Is your current monitor giving you eye strain? Are you getting headaches by the end of the day? With LED monitors, users experience even better flicker reduction over LCD for a practically flicker-free image. That means less computer eyestrain and vision fatigue.

2. Reduced power consumption: Even further reduction of power consumption over LCD, up to 60% in some cases, results in significant energy cost savings. In addition, up to 90% of the energy consumed by the average monitor is released as heat. That means powering an LED monitor will result in a long-term electric bill savings as well.

3. Improved image quality: Through LED backlight technology, monitor manufacturers are able to deliver noticeable color improvements over LCD, as well as impressive contrast ratios to achieve a brilliant picture quality. This means darker blacks and brighter whites for a wider color gamut and better color accuracy.

4. Greater environmental benefits: Even more environmental benefits from reduced emissions and hazardous materials include the elimination of mercury. A mercury-free monitor means a greener, healthier planet, and that’s great for everyone.

5. Cost savings: Still not convinced that LED is the way to go for your business? Give our TCO calculator a try. By filling in the number of monitors used in your workplace, the hours each device is in operation per day and the number of days per week, you’ll determine the money your company will save by making the switch.^[1]

Are you planning to purchase a new LED monitor? What benefit are you looking forward to enjoying most from your new display?

You may have sat at your desk, staring at your computer screen thinking, “It sure would be nice if I had two monitors.” In the following few words, we aim to give you irrefutable evidence to share with your management team about why adding another monitor to your desktop will increase workplace productivity.

Several studies have concluded that dual-monitor setups take productivity to the next level, including one done by researchers at Microsoft, who found that second monitor can boost productivity by up to 50% when it comes to tasks like copying and pasting[1]. A Jon Peddie Research survey also found that an extra monitor boosts output between 20-30%[2].

With a single monitor, every time a new window is brought up on the screen, your eyes and brain need to reorient themselves. These seconds of mental processing can add up. In fact, The University of Utah determined that workers could save up to 2.5 hours per day when using larger (24”) or dual monitors[3]. That means in an 8.5-hour workday, your employer will benefit from over an extra day of productivity per week from you, while you’ll enjoy more screen real estate and easier working. It’s a win-win.

Consider having your email up on one screen and a document you are working on up on the other. Do you IM a lot with coworkers about projects? Try reserving a screen for chats so you can still check email simultaneously. Or try using one screen to pull up websites or other documents you need to refer to, eliminating the need to print out materials. Simply sweep the mouse and files move from one screen to the other, enabling maximum efficiency.

If your boss won’t go for the argument that a dual-monitor set up will make you a happier, more productive employee, then suggest going with a larger screen next time your company is ready to upgrade. For instance, a 24” monitor is ideal for side-by-side dual document editing and viewing, and delivers about 50% more screen area than a single 19” model provides.

Are you using a dual-monitor setup at work? How do you feel it has impacted your productivity?