Best system for a district to handle when UF55 and UF65 lcd projectors need maintenance.

[Carrie Bush]

Hi,  I work for a district that is getting many SMART short throw projectors installed.  We are in the hundreds at this point of UF55's and UF65's.  My question is how are other schools handling when a projector malfunctions?  We have an extended service warranty, however, many teachers can not survive a week without their SMART board, and if parts have to be ordered... oy!

 

Does anyone out there have a system for keeping an inventory of lcd projectors as backups in order to swap out unworking projectors with good projectors and then have the bad one's serviced while not installed?  I would like to make this as seamless for teachers as possible.

 

Also, if swapping out is possible, can you replace a UF55 with a UF65 and visa versa?

 

Thanks for any help that you can offer!

 

Carrie

[Lloyd Summers]

Hey Carrie,

 

Great questions - i can't answer them as fully as I would like - and some of this information is not fully accurate but:

 

Also, if swapping out is possible, can you replace a UF55 with a UF65 and visa versa?

 

Yes and no.  Namely, you can change the projectors and run the cables straight from the PC to the projector.  But the ECP (Extended connection panel) is specific to the projector because it sends speciailized commands for that model of projector.  You would need to change both the projector and the ECP connector at the bottom for maximum compatibility. 

 

Does anyone out there have a system for keeping an inventory of lcd projectors as backups in order to swap out unworking projectors with good projectors and then have the bad one's serviced while not installed?

 

Another really good question.  I haven't met many schools that do this with like-model projectors but certainly spares are helpful.  For example, the CBE where I am has thousands of projectors, so a backup plan does become necessary.

 

But, I mostly work with our resellers and I know that some of them have opted in to a personalized projector pool system with SMART.  They are able to purchase very discounted units that they can use for their own pool.  I don't believe we've extended this to end-users yet, and I'm pretty sure this has more to do with contracts and liability than anything, but it is certainly an option.  Now, here is where marketing at SMART would argue with me.  I recommend keeping some temporary portables for emergencies (a set of low-cost projectors) that are table mountable like a small epson.  I honestly would not recommend investing in a high-end projector but low-cost residential level for the spares because they will get knocked around a bit in a classroom.

 

Now, to give you a bit of information on all of this...

 

The issues you describe (moving from a UF55 to a UF65, and different replacement options) are both being actively investigated at SMART and was a topic discussed at a meeting I was at this morning.  We have some great plans to address these questions coming 'down the pipes'.  The only teaser I can really leave you with this early is you will see these being addressed in part in about 4 months if everything goes according to plan.

 

Until then, I would recommend against purchasing a large projector pool if avoidable.  Albeit having some kind of pool (both for PC's and Projectors, and really any critical equipment in a classroom) is highly recommended to some degree because we all know how crazy the year can get.

 

-ls