Though most flatscreens may look the same – 16:9 ratio screen, black bezel, multiple inputs – there is a dichotomy between consumer and commercial grade screens. Consumer grade screens are those that we see at Best Buy, Target and possibly in our own homes. For most people, this is as far as their knowledge of screens goes. They support high resolutions (up to 1080p), come in sizes up to 65 inches and perform very well under normal household use. But, household use is far less strenuous on a flatscreen than the use it would get in, say, an airport. Airports are open all hours, which means their screens are almost never turned off. That means airport authorities and other deployers of demanding digital signage turn to commercial models of flatscreens from popular manufacturers such as Samsung, LG and NEC.

Here are the Top 5 reasons deployers should make the decision to go commercial:

1. The enclosures

As digital signage has matured, manufacturers have learned what works and what doesn’t. One aspect of a screen that has seen significant modifications over the years is the enclosure. A flatscreen’s enclosure is comprised of a bezel which goes around the viewable area of the screen and a casing that covers the back. Commercial screens’ enclosures have been toughened to withstand the “elements” involved in deployments. For example, digital menu boards in restaurants have to withstand high heat and even grease, while screens in rail stations have to be resistant to dust and corrosion.

2. Inputs

When most people buy a consumer grade screen for their home, the only piece of external hardware they plan on connecting to it is a DVD player. Anyone who has worked with digital signage knows that a etworked screen requires a lot more than just simple RCA connections.

For that reason, commercial grade screens provide extra inputs that

consumer grade screens don’t have. To accommodate the numerous

types of network connections and media playing devices that may be

used, commercial grade screens have PC inputs, serial ports, Legacy

and VGA inputs as well as the traditional RCA and cable

inputs.

Commercial grade screens are also now being

equipped with RS-232 inputs, which allow two-way

communicatons between the screen and the sending

device.

3. Heavy-duty hardware means a longer

lifespan

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.

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.

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.

Commercial

Designed for 24/7 use

Can be used in portrait or landscape mode

Enhanced bezels for toughness and cooling

The right choice for digital signage deployments

Consumer

Manufacturer’s warranty limited if used for digital signage

applications

Only connect to DVD players and cable

Shorter lifespan than commercial grade

Fancy bezels don’t allow for proper cooling

4. Warranties

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.

“Consumer products have a standard one year warranty and usually

specify within the documentation that use over and beyond four to six

hours a day will void the warranty,” said Brian Slowleigh, senior account

manager of ADFLOW Networks. “Commercial grade units come with

a three year warranty, but true commercial units will have a three year

warranty that covers landscape and portrait installations.”

5. The extras – Glass, clocks, air-conditioners…and

the list goes on

Lastly, like a luxury car, commercial grade screens provide users with

some amenities that make them a clear choice for digital signage.

“Some commercial grade screens have built in clocks and timers to

allow the user to ensure the unit is turned off during non-performance,”

White said. This benefit also allows users to know that the screen is on,

something that is critical for proof-of-play reporting of signage content.

Since all applications are different, commercial grade screens can

also be used in both portrait and landscape modes, while consumer

grade screens are strictly landscape.

The screen itself is also a factor, with commercial grade screens

often touting enhanced glass modules designed for long hours of

operation and that are less sensitive to image retention issues.

“True commercial models use a commercial grade glass that has

multiple layers allowing for 7/24/365 operation cycles,” Slowleigh said.

Lastly, cooling systems have become key selling points found on

many commercial grade screens.

“Consumer products use fancy plastic bezels and encasements

that don’t allow for proper cooling of internal electronics,” Slowleigh

said. “Commercial models will have full ventilation and/or cooling fans

to maintain a consistent temperature for longer life. Heat is the number

one cause of ‘tiger-striping’ or mura in LCD technology and once it’s

occurred, the units are permanently damaged.”

Conclusion

Price points for flatscreens have gone down greatly in the past

several years, and are showing signs of continuing to fall. Although

commercial grade screens still remain more expensive than consumer

grade screens, their many features and the ability to run them 24/7 ends

up benefiting the purchaser in the long run.